Preserving National Traditions and Religion in Interethnic Families: the Case of the Republic of Tatarstan (Based on In-Depth Interviews)

Abstract. An analysis of demographic data for the Republic of Tatarstan shows that the pro-portion of children born to interethnic families increased between 1990 and 2010, and from 2010 to the present, over a third of all newborns are born to mixed marriages. Interethnic families often face challenges associated with preserving and transmitting religion and national traditions to their chil-dren. An interview conducted in 2025 among such families identified the main ways in which reli-gion and national traditions are preserved and transmitted. The study revealed that for most couples, the decision to enter into an interethnic marriage was based on love, shared values, and shared views, while the partner's ethnic or religious affiliation was less important. Moreover, the partner's religious affiliation was fundamentally important only for respondents who strictly observed reli-gious norms and considered a common faith a prerequisite for marriage. In interethnic families where spouses practice different religions, some religious rites are often partially or completely omit-ted. For example, traditional rituals such as baptism or naming may be absent at the birth of a child, giving the child the opportunity to independently choose a religion in adulthood. Most respondents strive to preserve and pass on national traditions through joint celebrations of national holidays, pre-paring traditional dishes, and listening to music in their native languages. National holidays take on special significance in such families, as they help create a shared cultural space, strengthen family ties, and bring spouses and children closer together.