Family
Families in Russia are large and friendly. Russians believe the meaning of family does not only include husband, wife and children, but expands to grandparents, aunts and uncles, brothers, sisters, nephews and nieces. The members of the Russian family closely communicate with each other and often spend time together, especially on special occasions as birthdays and anniversaries. Russians cherish their families and are always willing and ready to help their family members during difficult times. The tradition that everyone should love their own home and protect their family is instilled into Russians very early on in childhood.
Source: http://masterrussian.com/russianculture/russian_family.htm
Hospitality
The idea of having a friendly attitude towards guests in other parts of the world is very different from the Russian tradition of hospitality. Russians make great hosts and love to accept guests into their homes. Special occasions are not needed in Russia to go visit a friend or neighbor. Russians enjoy visiting each other, meeting in friendly companies for dinner, or just stopping by to catch up on what's going on.
Source: http://masterrussian.com/russianculture/russian_hospitality.htm
Families in Russia are large and friendly. Russians believe the meaning of family does not only include husband, wife and children, but expands to grandparents, aunts and uncles, brothers, sisters, nephews and nieces. The members of the Russian family closely communicate with each other and often spend time together, especially on special occasions as birthdays and anniversaries. Russians cherish their families and are always willing and ready to help their family members during difficult times. The tradition that everyone should love their own home and protect their family is instilled into Russians very early on in childhood.
Source: http://masterrussian.com/russianculture/russian_family.htm
Hospitality
The idea of having a friendly attitude towards guests in other parts of the world is very different from the Russian tradition of hospitality. Russians make great hosts and love to accept guests into their homes. Special occasions are not needed in Russia to go visit a friend or neighbor. Russians enjoy visiting each other, meeting in friendly companies for dinner, or just stopping by to catch up on what's going on.
Source: http://masterrussian.com/russianculture/russian_hospitality.htm
Food
Russian cuisine is known for its exotic soups, cabbage schi and solyanka, which are made from assorted meats. Russians also love pelmeni, which is a small Siberian meat pie boiled in broth.
Each home has their own recipes for pies, pickles, and sauerkraut. There is even a more varied choice of recipes for mushrooms, which is one of the most abundant and nourishing gifts from the woods of Russia. The mushrooms are made many different ways -fried, pickled, salted, boiled.
There is a Russian saying that goes, "No dinner without bread". There are dozens of varieties of wheat loaves. Russians eat more rye bread than any nation in the world, which makes it a peculiarity of the Russian diet.
Russian custom has it that a festive table is not complete without a bottle of vodka. Russian wheat vodka is known as the
world’s best. The best-known soft drink is kvass, which is made of brown bread or malted rye flour. When you add it to chopped-up meat and vegetables, you get okroshka, a very tasty and exquisite cold soup.
Source: http://www.rusemblon.org/сuisine/
Communal feasting is at the heart of celebrating birthdays, weddings, anniversaries, achievements, significant purchases, and major public holidays. The feasting table is spread with salads, appetizers, sausage and cheese, pickled foods, hot meat, potatoes, and pirozhki (meat or cabbage pies). Throughout the meal vodka and wine are also readily available. The communal feasting can last six to ten hours. Although table manners and hosting rituals are complex, the most important concern the rituals around vodka drinking. Vodka is always drunk straight, and then is accompanied by a pickled or salty food. Toasting during these feasts are elaborate and can involve a variety of emotions - sentimental, humorous, poetic, ribald, or reverential. Many Russian also observe Lenten fasting. During this fasting they do not consume meat, butter, or eggs, and at times do without vodka. Easter also provides an opportunity for a fast-breaking celebration with special foods.
Russian Meals Vocabulary
за́втрак - breakfast
обе́д - lunch or dinner
у́жин - dinner or supper
обе́денный переры́в - lunch break
ко́мплексный обе́д - set lunch, lunch special, prix fixe
би́знес-ланч - lunch special, prix fixe
пе́рвое блю́до - first course (full name)
пе́рвое - first course (short name)
второ́е - second course (short name)
тре́тье - third course (short name)
ржано́й хлеб - rye bread
чёрный хлеб - rye bread, brown bread, "black" bread
квас - kvass
окро́шка - okroshka
во́дка - vodka
Source: http://masterrussian.com/russianculture/meals.htm
Russian cuisine is known for its exotic soups, cabbage schi and solyanka, which are made from assorted meats. Russians also love pelmeni, which is a small Siberian meat pie boiled in broth.
Each home has their own recipes for pies, pickles, and sauerkraut. There is even a more varied choice of recipes for mushrooms, which is one of the most abundant and nourishing gifts from the woods of Russia. The mushrooms are made many different ways -fried, pickled, salted, boiled.
There is a Russian saying that goes, "No dinner without bread". There are dozens of varieties of wheat loaves. Russians eat more rye bread than any nation in the world, which makes it a peculiarity of the Russian diet.
Russian custom has it that a festive table is not complete without a bottle of vodka. Russian wheat vodka is known as the
world’s best. The best-known soft drink is kvass, which is made of brown bread or malted rye flour. When you add it to chopped-up meat and vegetables, you get okroshka, a very tasty and exquisite cold soup.
Source: http://www.rusemblon.org/сuisine/
Communal feasting is at the heart of celebrating birthdays, weddings, anniversaries, achievements, significant purchases, and major public holidays. The feasting table is spread with salads, appetizers, sausage and cheese, pickled foods, hot meat, potatoes, and pirozhki (meat or cabbage pies). Throughout the meal vodka and wine are also readily available. The communal feasting can last six to ten hours. Although table manners and hosting rituals are complex, the most important concern the rituals around vodka drinking. Vodka is always drunk straight, and then is accompanied by a pickled or salty food. Toasting during these feasts are elaborate and can involve a variety of emotions - sentimental, humorous, poetic, ribald, or reverential. Many Russian also observe Lenten fasting. During this fasting they do not consume meat, butter, or eggs, and at times do without vodka. Easter also provides an opportunity for a fast-breaking celebration with special foods.
Russian Meals Vocabulary
за́втрак - breakfast
обе́д - lunch or dinner
у́жин - dinner or supper
обе́денный переры́в - lunch break
ко́мплексный обе́д - set lunch, lunch special, prix fixe
би́знес-ланч - lunch special, prix fixe
пе́рвое блю́до - first course (full name)
пе́рвое - first course (short name)
второ́е - second course (short name)
тре́тье - third course (short name)
ржано́й хлеб - rye bread
чёрный хлеб - rye bread, brown bread, "black" bread
квас - kvass
окро́шка - okroshka
во́дка - vodka
Source: http://masterrussian.com/russianculture/meals.htm
The Arts
Literature from Russia is considered to be among the most influential and developed in the world. Some of the most famous literary works come from Russia. Russia's literary history can be dated back to the 10th century. In the 18th century its development became even greater, and by the early 19th century a modern native tradition emerged, which produced some of the greatest writers of all time. This time of great literature and poetry (The Golden Age of Russian Poetry) began with Alexander Pushkin. Pushkin is considered to be the founder of modern Russian literature and has often been called the "Russian Shakespeare" or the "Russian Goethe".
Among one of the most important cultural symbols of Russia is the Russian ballet, with its rich traditions and famous Russian ballet dancers. The Russian school of classical ballet is considered to be the best in the world. Originally, the purpose of the ballet in Russia was to entertain the imperial court. The first ballet company was the Imperial School of Ballet in St. Petersburg in the 1740s. The Ballets Russes was a ballet company founded in the 1909 by Sergey Diaghilev. His dance company and travels abroad have profoundly influenced the development of dance worldwide. The Bolshoi Ballet in Moscow and the Mariinsky in Saint Petersburg remain famous throughout the world.
Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Russian_culture
A special place is also held for Russia's architectural monuments as part of its cultural symbols. The development of Russian culture and architecture is deeply rooted with religious tradition. When Orthodox Christianity came into Ancient Russia in the 10th century, the churches, cathedrals and monasteries constructed in different centuries have reflected the spirituality of Russia. The Basil’s Cathedral in the centre of Moscow, the Hermitage, Russian Museum and Mariinski Theatre in Saint Petersburg, the Bolshoy Theatre and Tretyakov Gallery in Moscow are all recognized as significant symbols of cultural Russia.
Folk art is also very important for Russian culture. Russian fine arts, literature, music and dancing art incorporate centuries-old national cultural traditions and achievements.Originality and national peculiarity are reflected in folklore music and dances, in legends and tales, and in the traditions of national crafts.
Source: http://www.everyculture.com/No-Sa/Russia.html#ixzz2Z4kdyGir
The Official Holidays
1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 January — New Year Holidays
7 January - Christmas, Russian Orthodox
23 February — Defender of Motherland Day
8 March — International Women’s Day
1 May — Spring and Labor Day
9 May — Victory Day (Over German Nazism in the WW2)
12 June — Day of Russia
4 November — Day of the National Unity
The New Year is first on the calendar and in popularity. Many celebrate it twice, on January 1 and 14 (which corresponds to January 1 in the Julian calendar, used in Russia before 1918).
February 23, until recently it was known as Soviet Army Day, popularly viewed as holiday for all men.
Women’s Day, March 8, is a holiday to celebrate women and they receive flowers, presents and are toasted by
men.
The holiday on May 1st, was known as International Workers’ Solidarity Day until recently, it is now known as Spring and Labor Day. On some years, it occurs on or close to with Russian Orthodox Easter, so some people celebrate in church while some attend customary demonstrations.
Russia celebrates Victory Day on May 9 to commemorate the millions fallen in World War II. Flowers and wreaths are laid on wartime graves on this day, and veterans come out into the streets wearing their military orders and medals.
June 12 is Russia’s Independence Day, which commemorates the adoption in 1991 of the Declaration of Sovereignty of the
Russian Federation.
November 4 - Day of the National Unity is the newest Russian holiday.
Church feasts in Russia have been reborn. Easter is celebrated nationwide. Muslims, Jews and Buddhists are also able to celebrate their feasts without fear of secular authorities.
Source: http://masterrussian.com/russianculture/Russian_Culture.htm
Literature from Russia is considered to be among the most influential and developed in the world. Some of the most famous literary works come from Russia. Russia's literary history can be dated back to the 10th century. In the 18th century its development became even greater, and by the early 19th century a modern native tradition emerged, which produced some of the greatest writers of all time. This time of great literature and poetry (The Golden Age of Russian Poetry) began with Alexander Pushkin. Pushkin is considered to be the founder of modern Russian literature and has often been called the "Russian Shakespeare" or the "Russian Goethe".
Among one of the most important cultural symbols of Russia is the Russian ballet, with its rich traditions and famous Russian ballet dancers. The Russian school of classical ballet is considered to be the best in the world. Originally, the purpose of the ballet in Russia was to entertain the imperial court. The first ballet company was the Imperial School of Ballet in St. Petersburg in the 1740s. The Ballets Russes was a ballet company founded in the 1909 by Sergey Diaghilev. His dance company and travels abroad have profoundly influenced the development of dance worldwide. The Bolshoi Ballet in Moscow and the Mariinsky in Saint Petersburg remain famous throughout the world.
Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Russian_culture
A special place is also held for Russia's architectural monuments as part of its cultural symbols. The development of Russian culture and architecture is deeply rooted with religious tradition. When Orthodox Christianity came into Ancient Russia in the 10th century, the churches, cathedrals and monasteries constructed in different centuries have reflected the spirituality of Russia. The Basil’s Cathedral in the centre of Moscow, the Hermitage, Russian Museum and Mariinski Theatre in Saint Petersburg, the Bolshoy Theatre and Tretyakov Gallery in Moscow are all recognized as significant symbols of cultural Russia.
Folk art is also very important for Russian culture. Russian fine arts, literature, music and dancing art incorporate centuries-old national cultural traditions and achievements.Originality and national peculiarity are reflected in folklore music and dances, in legends and tales, and in the traditions of national crafts.
Source: http://www.everyculture.com/No-Sa/Russia.html#ixzz2Z4kdyGir
The Official Holidays
1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 January — New Year Holidays
7 January - Christmas, Russian Orthodox
23 February — Defender of Motherland Day
8 March — International Women’s Day
1 May — Spring and Labor Day
9 May — Victory Day (Over German Nazism in the WW2)
12 June — Day of Russia
4 November — Day of the National Unity
The New Year is first on the calendar and in popularity. Many celebrate it twice, on January 1 and 14 (which corresponds to January 1 in the Julian calendar, used in Russia before 1918).
February 23, until recently it was known as Soviet Army Day, popularly viewed as holiday for all men.
Women’s Day, March 8, is a holiday to celebrate women and they receive flowers, presents and are toasted by
men.
The holiday on May 1st, was known as International Workers’ Solidarity Day until recently, it is now known as Spring and Labor Day. On some years, it occurs on or close to with Russian Orthodox Easter, so some people celebrate in church while some attend customary demonstrations.
Russia celebrates Victory Day on May 9 to commemorate the millions fallen in World War II. Flowers and wreaths are laid on wartime graves on this day, and veterans come out into the streets wearing their military orders and medals.
June 12 is Russia’s Independence Day, which commemorates the adoption in 1991 of the Declaration of Sovereignty of the
Russian Federation.
November 4 - Day of the National Unity is the newest Russian holiday.
Church feasts in Russia have been reborn. Easter is celebrated nationwide. Muslims, Jews and Buddhists are also able to celebrate their feasts without fear of secular authorities.
Source: http://masterrussian.com/russianculture/Russian_Culture.htm