Archive for 'Culture'
How to Decorate the New Year’s Tree Posted by yelena on Dec 21, 2011
I don’t know about you, but конец декабря (the end of December) is always the busiest time for me. It’s all about getting ready for Новый Год (the New Year), мой любимый праздник (my favorite holiday). At first I wasn’t going to write about празднование Нового Года (celebrating the New Year) since we already covered…
Most Useful Russian Phrases Posted by yelena on Dec 15, 2011
I once met a person who коллекционировал (was collecting) words. Actually, he only collected one word, “hello”, but in many different languages. He knew how to здороваться (greet) in over 30 languages and was working hard on expanding his collection for a future кругосветное путешествие (around-the-world trip). I think learning just one word or phrase…
The Russians and Their Vodka Posted by Transparent Language on Dec 12, 2011
Joseph Stalin once said, “We have to make a choice between… slavery and vodka.” That was in 1925, just as Stalin was beginning his brutal ascent to power, crafting a regime that would industrialize the Soviet Union on the backs of slave labor. And cheap vodka. Indeed, vodka and Russia have been bound together in…
How to Say Thank You in Russian Posted by yelena on Nov 24, 2011
This old song is called “I am Grateful to You”. It is interesting how the more formal way of saying “thank you” is combined with the solemn music. Today is «День Благодарения» [Thanksgiving Day] in the US. «Вы празднуете?» [Are you celebrating?] Once «индейка съедена» [the turkey is eaten], «гости разъехались» [the guests left], and…
Cook This Russian Dish Tonight Posted by yelena on Nov 23, 2011
If you ever want to read a passionate account of «русская кухня» [Russian cuisine] minus the recipes, I highly recommend «Русская кухня в изгнании» [Russian Cuisine in Exile] by «Пётр Вайль и Александр Генис» [Pyotr Vail and Alexander Genis]. This is not a cookbook, but rather a collection of essays «в жанре лирической культурологии» [in…
Russian Holidays: День народного единства Posted by Natalie on Nov 9, 2011
A funny experience happened in my Russian class today, «дорогие друзья» [dear friends]. We are reading «Дама с собачкой» [The Lady with the Lapdog]. My professor said of the main character, «Гуров» [Gurov], «Он верен своей жене?» [Is he faithful to his wife?] I smiled and gave a resounding «Да, конечно» [yes, of course]…
Scary Stories to Read This Halloween Posted by yelena on Oct 26, 2011
Well, it’s that time of the year again. Halloween is just a few days away. If you remember, last year we had a post about «празднуют ли Хэллоуин в России и если да, то как» [whether Halloween is celebrated in Russia and if yes, then how]. Sure, Halloween does not have deep roots in Russia…