slavs

what is it that makes a Russian Russian? A Pole a Pole? A Slovak a Slovak?
is it food?  is it clothing? is it religion?
asked the professor.

yes, and no, I said.  language defines culture and culture defines language, so the answer is language.
if you understand a language well enough, you understand the culture.
the reverse isn't true.

we all have gods, and even the Irish have cabbage........