These centers have Circassian institutes and schools, and some Circassian have moved there to be near their work. Outside of the cities, the extended family is the most common unit, sometimes containing as many as four or five generations. Marriages are based on love or mutual interest and occur when the couple is in their early thirties. The wife has authority over many of the household matters, but the husband has the final say in disputes. A man was traditionally never without his dagger, and few things were more important to him than his weapons.
Circassian folklore is rich, varied, and has served as a basis for modern literature and poetry.
In recent years, the areas in which the Circassian live were elevated in status to republics and were allowed to fly the old Circassian flag. An effort is now being made, through land grants and other incentives, to have the scattered Circassian return to their homeland. In fact, a number have returned, and some even dream of the return of all Circassians to the Caucasus. Christianity was brought to the Circassian between the sixth and twelfth centuries, but they have been Muslims for the past three or four hundred years. Nevertheless, many pagan relics and some forms of Eastern Orthodox Christianity still exist in their oral traditions and religious practices.