Russian Folk Tales as a Means of Forming a National Code

The article reveals the potential of Russian fairy tales as a means of forming a national code, cultural mentality, value-semantic attitudes in modern society. The relevance of the study is determined by the need to maintain the unity of our country’s peoples, restore their self-development processes taking into account cultural traditions, national norms and attitudes. The author conducted an online survey involving respondents of various ages and social categories. The results indicated that the majority of participants associate the concept of “Russian citizen” with spiritual and moral qualities, courageous actions, and respect for domestic history and culture. It was also established that alongside these positive traits, citizens exhibit certain negative character traits, such as irre-sponsibility, extravagance, a tendency to deceive and bad habits. Furthermore, respondents perceive Russian folk tales as literary works that instill universal social and spiritual values rooted in national culture among members of Russian society. The study also identified a need for increased promotion of folk tales as embodiments of authentic existence and as concentrated expressions of genuine cultural heritage. The findings underscore the importance of leveraging traditional narrative forms to reinforce national identity and cultural continuity in modern Russia.