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Tags: Russian Customs

Articles:

	Snegurochka (The Snow Maiden)
	Snegurochka, i.e. Snow Maiden, is an indispensable New Year's character from Russian fairy tales, the charming granddaughter of Father Frost, his constant companion and assistant. Sometimes she is depicted as a little girl, and sometimes as a young lady.
--13-12-2011--
	Halloween in Russia: How to Scare Baba-Yaga and Stay Alive
	Halloween is a very popular holiday which is now celebrated in many parts of the Western world. Of course, Russia, under its cultural and religious traditions, doesn't look like a country where such holiday can be very widespread. But why are there so many vampires and witches on Russian streets on October 31? And what have Russians added to this traditional celebration? Read this article and you'll see. Just don't get scared...
--28-10-2011--
	Tradition of Merry Russian Sleighing
	Sleighing has been a traditional Russian winter entertainment, especially popular during Christmas-tide, Maslenitsa (Pancake week), and saints’ days.
--28-08-2011--
	New Year Traditions and Beliefs in Russia
	January – the first winter month – was once called prosinets (azure-like) in Old Rus’, because after the low gloomy sky of December it brought islets of clear dark blue sky. But January was also famous for its blizzards and frosts. Hence is its ancient name of sechen’ (whipping one). Besides, January also used to be the month of Vasily (Basil) in honor of St. Basil, whose day fell on January, 1st – the turning point of winter.
--25-10-2011--
	Samovar – Russian Tea Machine
	The Samovar – the Russian tea machine, as it was referred to in Western Europe – stands out against all other water-heating devices.
--28-08-2011--
	Russian Drunkenness
	Everywhere we hear statements that Russians are the nation most intemperate in using of alcoholic drinks and it was allegedly like that from time immemorial. Often we, the Russians, also repeat the affirmations about the "historical predisposition" of Russians to alcohol. However, the history of Russia refutes this myth.
--28-08-2011--
	Ivan Kupala Day: Looking for Fern Flower
	Day of Ivan Kupala (aka John the Baptist, or Ivan the Herbalist) in the olden days was one of the most sacred, important and the most rackety festivities for the Russian people. All partook in the celebrations: they would gather herbs and flowers, twine wreaths, make bonfires, jump over them and play, bathe in rivers and lakes and perform divinations about one’s intended.
--25-10-2011--
	Bright Holiday of Pascha, or Russian Easter
	The festival of all festivals – this is how Pascha was called in pre-revolutionary Russia. In those days it was a custom to make merry at fairs, entertain on see-saws and merry-go-rounds, pay visits, and give and take presents. Yet, the greatest pleasure after many days of Lent was certainly the Easter feast.
--28-08-2011--
	Maslenitsa, the Holiday of Spring and Sun
	The tradition of Maslenitsa takes its roots in pagan times, when the Russian folks would bid farewell to stark winter and welcome long-awaited spring with mouth-watering pancakes, as round, yellow and hot, as the Sun itself, as well as with games, songs, dances and burning down the Winter effigy.
--28-08-2011--
	Russian Wedding Beliefs and Superstitions
	Marriage being sort of a turning point in life, wedding ceremony and everything related to it has always been accompanied with variety of traditions and beliefs, some rooted in hoary antiquity, some recently devised, but all targeted at bringing good luck to the newlyweds and averting misfortune from them.
--28-08-2011--
	Traditional Old Russian Wedding
	Usually a wedding lasted for three days, but sometimes could run for a whole week. During the Marriage church service the bridegroom was to hold the bride’s hand and not release it for a second. They brought bread wine with them, and the priest treated them with it for three times. After drinking it for the third time the bridegroom threw the wine goblet on to the floor and trampled down on it.
--28-08-2011--
	RUSSIAN NEW YEAR
	New Year is the main holiday of the year in Russia– the most welcome and the most beautiful one, rich in history, fascinating traditions and amusing customs.
--28-08-2011--
	Manners and Customs of the Russians
	If you ask a Russian "How are you?" / Kak dela?", you risk to get a complete report on how he/she really is. The formalism of the Europeans or Westerners at this point can hardly be understood in Russia. Do not be surprised at the ease with which the Russians discuss their personal life.
--28-08-2011--