Exploring Modern Russia: A Photo Journey Through Everyday Life

6. What Does "Red" Mean?

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From the 16th century, Russia's capital has revolved mostly around the famous Red Square, which sits right in the middle of Moscow. Reflecting the political, social, and cultural change of Russia over the centuries, its history is as rich and multifarious as that of the nation. Though many people's minds associate the square's name with the colour red and its later link to communism, the actual origin and meaning of the name tell another story. Built during Ivan the Terrible's rule in the sixteenth century, the Red Square was first intended as Moscow's principal market. Its prime position near the Kremlin made it a natural gathering place for city people. From royal proclamations to public executions, from joyful festivities to military parades, it changed throughout time from a busy market to a major national square of great relevance. The square's development into a political venue was slow but significant. It turned become the scene for numerous turning points in Russian history. During their coronation rites, Czars would move across the square, signally tying their power to the core of the Russian state. Later on, it would serve as the background for Soviet military parades, therefore highlighting the USSR's global might. Against common assumption, the "Red" in Red Square has nothing to do with the colour red's connotations of communism. This is a prevalent belief, especially among Westerners who link the colour red with the Soviet era. Actually, the name comes before the Russian Revolution several centuries ago. The Russian word "krasnaya," which in modern Russian does indeed mean "red," had a different main meaning in Old Russian: it was a word for "beautiful" or "attractive." This linguistic evolution offers a key insight into the name of the square. Originally called "Krasnaya Ploshchad," or Red Square, it was really known as "Beautiful Square," or "Fine Square." This reading fits Russian urban planning and nomenclature based on past methods. In Russian cities, central, significant places were sometimes referred to as "krasny," meaning lovely. Thus, the choice of "krasnaya" to characterise the square reflected rather than a reference to its colour or any political ideology the square's significance and central part in Moscow's life. The dual meaning of "krasnaya" as both "red" and "beautiful" in Russian has produced a remarkable language and cultural phenomena. The square's name became dual over time as the word's main connotation moved more towards "red" in daily use. It might be taken as a description of its colour, especially fitting given the red brick buildings all around it, including the famous State Historical Museum and the Kremlin walls, or as a reference to its beauty and importance. The Soviet era strengthened the link between the square and the colour red. The red flags and banners of the communist government that regularly covered the area during parades and celebrations strengthened the link between the space and the colour in the public memory. With May Day parades and other state events often hosted there, this time also saw the square come to represent Soviet dominance. Still today, the Red Square is Russia's symbolic centre. Approved for historical and cultural value, it is a UNESCO World Heritage site. Among Russia's most well-known monuments on the area are the State Historical Museum, Lenin's Mausoleum, and St. Basil's Cathedral with its vibrantly onion domes. Still a site of national celebration, it hosts yearly Victory Day parades honouring the end of World War II. The name of the Red Square reminds one of the several layers of significance buried in cultural emblems and place names. It shows how language changes throughout time and how the political and social settings affect the meaning of words and names. From its beginnings as a large central plaza to its later connections with Soviet authority, "krasnaya" has dual meaning as both "beautiful" and "red," therefore capturing centuries of Russian history. Knowing the actual source of the Red Square's name helps one to have important understanding of Russian history and civilisation. It's an amazing illustration of how subtleties in language could affect our impression of historical locations and events. Knowing this history helps Moscow tourists to see beyond the surface and connect with the profound historical currents that have moulded Russia's capital over the ages, therefore adding an extra degree of appreciation to their experience of standing in this famous venue.