Fairs and festivals are an integral part of the cultural heritage and history of any state. They became widespread at the beginning of the XIII-XIV centuries, when trade between cities and neighboring states was gaining momentum and required the demonstration of goods. In addition to trade, the fairs provided an opportunity to exchange experience and knowledge, and were also entertaining and were a place for folk festivals.
History of the appearance of fairs
The formation and development of fairs has a long history. Initially, fairs contributed to the founding of new settlements and cities, as they were located at the intersection of major trade routes and roads. Part of the proceeds from sales went to the construction of urban structures and the development of the city's infrastructure.
The development of fair activities, in addition to the formation of cities, contributed to the emergence of markets and bazaars - important economic components of successful trade. And also contributed to the emergence of craft schools, tk. the master, who received popular recognition at the fair, had the right to recruit and train students.
The main period in the development of fairs is the XII-XIII century. At this time, fair trade became widespread in Europe, Asia and the Middle East. Initially, they were timed to coincide with religious holidays, but already in the Middle Ages, fairs reached a new level and began to personify the most important event in the life of the city. During the fair, merchants, artisans, traders, touring artists, fortune tellers, musicians, etc. came to the city. A huge number of visiting people contributed to the economic and tourist development of the city, as well as for a long time made it a place of festivities and entertainment.
History of fairs in Russia
The first fairs in Russia appeared at the beginning of the 11th century and were called "torzhok". They took place, as a rule, at the intersection of major trade routes, were confined to one type of product and lasted only a few days. By the middle of the XIII century, foreign merchants began to come to the local "bazaars", which contributed to the development of fair activities. By the end of the 17th century, steel fairs were held throughout the country.
The most famous fairs of the Russian Empire were:
- Nizhny Novgorod
- Moscow
- Orenburg
- Barnaul
- Irbit
Large-scale fairs lasted about two months, during which time it was possible to buy anything, from food products to single foreign goods. The Nizhny Novgorod Fair was especially famous, since the beginning of the 19th century it became the main fair of the country. In addition to Russian merchants, Persians, Armenians, Chinese, Europeans and many other foreign merchants came here. At that time there was even a saying: "Moscow is the heart, St. Petersburg is the head, and Nizhny Novgorod is the pocket of the Russian Empire."
During the Nizhny Novgorod Fair, the number of people living in the city increased from 20,000 to 200,000! Security for townspeople, merchants and vacationers was provided by the police and guards who arrived from neighboring cities.
