Archive for 'Soviet Union'
Labor Day In Russia Posted by Nadya on Apr 30, 2021
On May 1st, Russia celebrates Spring and Labor Day (День Весны и Труда), which is a public holiday (праздник). The holiday may also be known as May Day (Первое мая) or International Worker’s Day (День международной солидарности трудящихся) in other countries. Over 80 countries celebrate it as well. Despite the fact the holiday has a…
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…
Russians Who Still Live In The USSR Posted by Nadya on Apr 6, 2020
The USSR (СССР) collapsed in 1991. Republics of the USSR (Сою́зные Респу́блики) became independent (незави́симыми) Post-Soviet States. Each of them began finding their own way forward. By the beginning of the 2000s, there was no trace of the USSR on the Eurasian continent. But it did not disappear completely – it moved. Today, perhaps, the only place on the planet where…
More Interesting “Facts” About Russia Posted by Jenya on Nov 11, 2015
As I was researching facts about Russia that I could write a blog about, I came across some more interesting and funny ones. These strange Russian “facts” were more entertaining and write about; hope they are entertaining to read as well. It’s bad luck to return to your house after you’ve already left Should you…
Famous Russian Books Posted by Jenya on Oct 14, 2015
Today’s blog is all about books you’ve likely heard of but may not have known were penned by Russian authors. These books are counted among the most celebrated works of all time and worthy of your consideration if you’re trying to learn about Russia and it’s culture. Lolita by Vladimir Nabokov was written during the…
Yakov Smirnoff: Russian Funny Man! Posted by Jenya on Sep 30, 2015
Yakov Naumovich Pokhis, better known as Yakov Smirnoff, is a comedian born in the Soviet Union in 1951. After emigrating to the United States in 1977, he changed his last name to Smirnoff after the vodka. During the 1980’s and early into the 90’s, Smirnoff saw his brand of humor taking off and resonating with…
The Billion Dollar Spy, Part II Posted by Jenya on Sep 23, 2015
Part II: Adolf Tolkachev had been the most successful spy the CIA ever had in Moscow during the late 1970’s through the mid 1980’s. Tolkachev was an engineer working on new and next-generation radar systems for the military. He was also a father and a husband that put, not only his life on the line…