Ishim
The birth of the city
In 1632 in the mouth of the Ishim river was built Ishim outposts designed to protect local residents from attacks by troops remaining loyal to the Khan Kuchum. This settlement became one of the first strongholds of the development of Russian Рriishimie. Today in its place is the village of Ust-Ishim. In 1687 near the Ishim outposts on the Ishim river was built Korkina Sloboda. Work on construction of the settlement was headd by Tobolsk nobleman Peter Onofriev. In 1720, Peter I introduced the administrative-territorial division into districts (counties). Korkina Sloboda became the center of Ishimsky district. In 1760 in the Korkinа Sloboda exiled serfs were settled, who later formed the basis of its population. By the middle of the eighteenth century was completed the process of mastering the Russian Priishimie, as а fertile agricultural district. In 1782 under the decree of Empress Catherine II Korkina Sloboda acquires the status of a town, hereinafter referred to as Ishim.
Nikolskaya fair
One of the most important for the history of Ishim traditions certainly can be called Nikolskaya fair. The city, located on a busy route between European and Asian parts of Russia, between the South, where there were caravans of spices and leather, and North, rich in fish and furs, was destined to become one of the largest centers of trade, had a huge impact on the exchange of a wide variety of goods and crafts, not only between cities of Ural and Siberia, but also many other parts of Russia and some foreign countries. St. Nicholas fair was first held in 1721 —the year of foundation of Ishim district.It started to draw a significant number of traffickers, since the end of XVIII century —the time when Korkina Sloboda acquired status of a County town called Ishim, and the construction of the first stone Cathedral of the Epiphany.The opening of the Fair traditionally began with a solemn prayer service. At that time in Ishim officially established three fairs: in May — the day of St. Nicholas, in August — the day of the Assumption of Our Lady, and in December — the day of St. Nicholas. If the first two fairs were mostly of local importance, winter Nikolskaya fair soon became one of the most important trading cities of the Urals and Siberia event, comparable only with the famous Irbit fair. Products, piles lying on the shelves and hanging from carts, were the most motley and varied — smoked ham and veal frozen carcases, salmon and sturgeon, Arctic Fox and Fox skins, glassware and kitchen utensils, products of masters of Tagil and frozen cranberries in barrels. Among the sold products at the fair the most important place took lard, served as raw material for candles and Soaps manufactured by the manufacturers of Tyumen, Yekaterinburg, Shadrinsk, Moscow and several other cities. Nikolskaya fair had a significant impact on the cultural life of Ishim. Communicating with the visiting vendors, locals became acquainted with the best samples of folk crafts and decorative styles. The performances of itinerant musicians and comedians, songs and stories heard from visitors formed the oral folklore of the Ishim, where one could see echoes of the folk traditions of different regions of Russia.