Remember the Real Poetry for Real Russians post? At the end of it I promised to tell you whether having to memorize, as children, lots and lots of poems helps Russians in practical daily life.

I was all fired up to write the Part II of this post when something quite unexpected happened – I bought a March/April issue of Russian Life magazine.  Ok, so nothing unexpected here; I do buy this magazine often enough that I really ought to subscribe to it. The unexpected part was that on page 27, there was an article titled A Country of Poets, by Mikhail Ivanov.

Loaded with excellent examples, the article’s main point is that

“Russians love rhymes, especially ones that demonstrate a knowledge of cultural touchstones.”

Remember the three little phrases I suggested you to memorize? Now I can go back and refer to them as cultural touchstones.

The article then goes on to explain that “[Russians] garnish day-to-day speech with what we call присловья or прибаутки – facetiously rhymed catch-phrases and expressions that spice up the language.”

Well, since Russian Life took care of my plans for Part II of the Real Poetry mini-series, then it’s time for Part III – «поздравительные стихи» [celebratory or special occasions poetry].

Let’s sum up what we already know :

1. Russians are exposed to A WHOLE LOT of poetry «с младых ногтей» [from the youngest age; lit. from tender fingernails].

2. Russians love to sprinkle their everyday conversations with «прибаутки» [rhyming catch-phrases], «рифмы» [rhymes] and famous poetic one-liners.

3. Russians are fond of celebrating special occasions of all sorts, but especially birthdays, anniversaries and various other «юбилеи» [jubilees], whether personal, organizational or those of the State.

So it shouldn’t come as a surprise that celebratory poetry takes a special place in Russian hearts. Actually, it takes on some epic proportions. A few days before major holidays, Russian social network «Одноклассники» [Classmates] gets clogged up with holiday best wishes in verse.

From something as simple as

«С праздником поздравляем, здоровья и счастья желаем!» [On this occasion we are congratulating; much health and happiness are a-waiting!]

to mid-range congrats, such as this Maslenitsa-themed one (notice pancakes, reference to Maslenitsa doll, and saying goodbye to winter)

«Желаю Вам за стол присесть, блинов с икорочкой поесть, сжечь бабу, зиму проводить, прошу меня за всё простить!» [Wishing you to sit at your table, eat some pancakes with caviar, burn Maslenitsa effigy, see winter off, and forgive me for everything! ]

To heavy-hitters such as this birthday wish:

(if you want to read the rest of this wish – 13 more lines – check it out here along with many other poetic birthday wishes)

If such an all-encompassing list of birthday wishes seems a bit too much, here’s something short and to the point (for men, by a man):

Of course, this is no high poetry, no A. Pushkin or A. Blok. Not even S. Marshak or A. Barto, those of cheesy children’s rhymes. Most Russians I know cringe when they are on the receiving end of this poetry or try to laugh it off. And yet… when special occasion looms ahead, we rise up to the challenge and pen our own celebratory «панегирики» [panegyrics ], with all the requisite flourishes of the genre.

It’s a русский народный [Russian people’s] Hallmark. The idea is to not take it too seriously. After all, these are celebratory poems, read in a company of friends and at a table heavily-laden with «закуски» [appetizers] and «выпивка» [alcohol]. As a good Russian «поговорка» [saying] goes, «главное не подарок, а внимание» [it’s the thought that counts; lit: it’s not the gift that’s important, but the attention]