Archive for 'Culture'
Russian Golden Autumn Posted by Nadya on Sep 14, 2020
Officially, autumn (о́сень) in Russia begins on September 1 and ends on October 31. In each climatic zone, fall (о́сень) has its own characteristics and duration. Nevertheless, it is the shortest, but for me the most picturesque and romantic season. Autumn in Russia The weather in early September (сентя́брь) is usually cool (прохла́дно). Then the…
We’re not in Kansas anymore Posted by bota on Sep 4, 2020
Somewhere between me reading Greek myths and then diving headfirst into The Chronicles of Narnia, I remember being perfectly lost in the lore of the “Волше́бная Страна́” (Magic Land) created by the great Soviet author Alexander Volkov (Александр Во́лков). You might be thinking, Volkov who? Fear not, my friend, for I’m here to tell you…
Examining a Russian spice rack. Part II Posted by bota on Aug 28, 2020
In the second part of examining a Russian spice rack, we will explore the most common спе́ции (spices) used in baking recipes across Russian households. At the end of the post is a playlist of Russian words to help you practice pronouncing them. For starters, let’s cover the most basic baking ingredients: Са́хар (Sugar) is…
Давай Дружить! – Let’s Be Friends! Posted by Nadya on Aug 24, 2020
Friends play extremely important roles in our lives. Friendship in Russia means a lot and is appreciated. To be honored to be called a true friend, you need to do certain things. A close friend is almost a family member. We have already discussed the types of friendship (дру́жба) in Russia in this blog. Today…
Examining a Russian spice rack. Part I Posted by bota on Aug 18, 2020
There are a number of припра́в, пря́ностей, и спе́ций (spices) that are considered standard in any Russian household, whether you are многоде́тная семья́ (a family with lots of kids) or зако́нченный холостя́к (a long-time bachelor). This blog will focus on spices commonly used for savory dishes, while Part II will cover spices used for baking…
Puerto Backyarda in Russia Posted by Nadya on Jul 31, 2020
Summer is the perfect time for a vacation. However, given the restrictive measures, it is difficult to count on a typical vacation trip. Travel plans have collapsed for most people. How do Russians rest in post-isolation time? Many tour operators have started reopening since June as the global health crisis begins to stabilize. However, the…
The Magic Russian White Desert – Chukotka Posted by Nadya on Jul 20, 2020
Chukotka is one of the places on our planet where permafrost and the majestic nature are merged. It looks like an endless white desert. Its landscape has not changed for several thousand years. It is here that you can meet a bear on the street. Chukotka (Чуко́тка) or, as it is formally known, Chukotka Autonomous Okrug (Чуко́тский автоно́мный…