{"id":2591,"date":"2012-02-14T06:00:10","date_gmt":"2012-02-14T06:00:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/russian\/?p=2591"},"modified":"2014-07-17T17:56:57","modified_gmt":"2014-07-17T17:56:57","slug":"valentines-day-in-russia-love-it-or-really-love-it","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/russian\/valentines-day-in-russia-love-it-or-really-love-it\/","title":{"rendered":"Valentine’s Day in Russia – Love It or Really Love It"},"content":{"rendered":"

\n

Do you like celebrating Valentine\u2019s Day? If so, then I bet you had everything prepared days ahead – \u0446\u0432\u0435\u0442\u044b<\/span><\/strong> (flowers), \u0448\u043e\u043a\u043e\u043b\u0430<\/span>\u0434<\/strong> (chocolate), \u0448\u0430\u043c\u043f\u0430<\/span>\u043d\u0441\u043a\u043e\u0435<\/strong> (Champaign), and, of course, a romantic \u0432\u0430\u043b\u0435\u043d\u0442\u0438<\/span>\u043d\u043a\u0430<\/strong> (Valentine\u2019s Day card). And if you don\u2019t like this holiday, then you are probably too busy doing all the last-minute shopping to read this post.<\/p>\n

\u0414\u0435\u043d\u044c <\/strong>\u0441\u0432\u044f\u0442\u043e<\/span>\u0433\u043e <\/strong>\u0412\u0430\u043b\u0435\u043d\u0442\u0438<\/span>\u043d\u0430<\/strong> (Valentine\u2019s Day) is a relatively recent addition to Russia\u2019s long list of holidays worth celebrating. Back in the (not so distant) days of my youth, we had no such holiday and instead saved all the card-making and flower-buying for 8 <\/strong>\u043c\u0430<\/span>\u0440\u0442\u0430<\/strong> (March 8th<\/sup>, Women\u2019s Day).<\/p>\n

So I am both amazed and amused by \u044d\u043d\u0442\u0443\u0437\u0438\u0430<\/span>\u0437\u043c<\/strong> (the enthusiasm) with which Russians now \u043e\u0442\u043c\u0435\u0447\u0430<\/span>\u044e\u0442 <\/strong>\u044d<\/span><\/strong>\u0442\u043e\u0442 <\/strong>\u043f\u0440\u0430<\/span>\u0437\u0434\u043d\u0438\u043a<\/strong> (are celebrating this holiday; lit. marking this holiday). Consider this article<\/a> in \u041a\u043e\u043c\u0441\u043e\u043c\u043e<\/span>\u043b\u044c\u0441\u043a\u0430\u044f <\/strong>\u041f\u0440\u0430<\/span>\u0432\u0434\u0430<\/strong> (Komsomolskaya Pravda). Turns out, \u0432 <\/strong>\u041f\u0435\u0442\u0435\u0440\u0431\u0443<\/span>\u0440\u0433\u0435 <\/strong>\u0432 <\/strong>\u0434\u0435\u043d\u044c <\/strong>\u0432\u0441\u0435\u0445 <\/strong>\u0432\u043b\u044e\u0431\u043b\u0451<\/span>\u043d\u043d\u044b\u0445 <\/strong>\u043e\u0442\u043a\u0440\u043e<\/span>\u0435\u0442\u0441\u044f <\/strong>\u043f\u0443\u043d\u043a\u0442 <\/strong>\u0440\u0435\u0433\u0438\u0441\u0442\u0440\u0430<\/span>\u0446\u0438\u0438 <\/strong>\u0432\u0435<\/span>\u0447\u043d\u043e\u0439 <\/strong>\u043b\u044e\u0431\u0432\u0438<\/span><\/strong> (a Center for Registration of eternal love will open up in St. Petersburg on Valentine\u2019s Day).<\/p>\n

What\u2019s the deal here? Ok, apparently, \u0432\u043b\u044e\u0431\u043b\u0451<\/span>\u043d\u043d\u0430\u044f <\/strong>\u043f\u0430<\/span>\u0440\u0430<\/strong> (a couple in love) will be able to profess their deep and eternal love for each other in \u0440\u043e\u043c\u0430\u043d\u0442\u0438<\/span>\u0447\u0435\u0441\u043a\u0430\u044f <\/strong>\u0430\u0442\u043c\u043e\u0441\u0444\u0435<\/span>\u0440\u0430<\/strong> (a romantic setting) complete with \u0440\u043e<\/span>\u0437\u043e\u0432\u044b\u0435 <\/strong>\u0432\u043e\u0437\u0434\u0443<\/span>\u0448\u043d\u044b\u0435 <\/strong>\u0448\u0430\u0440\u044b<\/span><\/strong> (pink balloons), \u0446\u0432\u0435\u0442\u044b<\/span><\/strong> (flowers) and \u0430\u043d\u0433\u0435\u043b\u043e<\/span>\u0447\u043a\u0438<\/strong> (little angels), the latter presumably pictures or \u0441\u0442\u0430\u0442\u0443\u044d<\/span>\u0442\u043a\u0438<\/strong> (figurines). And since no love is official without some form of \u0434\u043e\u043a\u0443\u043c\u0435\u043d\u0442\u0430<\/span>\u0446\u0438\u044f<\/strong> (paperwork), an official certificate will be issued at the end of a ceremony. With love thus documented, couples can proceed to \u0447\u0430\u0435\u043f\u0438<\/span>\u0442\u0438\u0435 <\/strong>(tea drinking).<\/p>\n

Here\u2019s something else I learned from the same article. For those wanting to get married instead of all this silly eternal love business, some restaurants will offer \u0432\u0435\u043d\u0447\u0430<\/span>\u043d\u0438\u0435 <\/strong>\u043f\u043e-<\/strong>\u0430\u043c\u0435\u0440\u0438\u043a\u0430<\/span>\u043d\u0441\u043a\u0438<\/strong> (American-style wedding). And by American-style, they mean \u043f\u043e-<\/strong>\u043b\u0430\u0441-<\/strong>\u0432\u0435<\/span>\u0433\u0430\u0441\u0441\u043a\u0438<\/strong> (Las Vegas-style). That\u2019s right. Imagine this – while you are waiting for your \u0440\u043e\u043c\u0430\u043d\u0442\u0438<\/span>\u0447\u0435\u0441\u043a\u0438\u0439 <\/strong>\u0443<\/span><\/strong>\u0436\u0438\u043d<\/strong> (romantic dinner), you can surprise your date with a real wedding ceremony complete with \u0430\u043b\u0442\u0430<\/span>\u0440\u044c<\/strong> (an altar), \u043f\u0430<\/span>\u0441\u0442\u043e\u0440<\/strong> (pastor) live from Las Vegas via Skype, \u043a\u043e<\/span>\u043b\u044c\u0446\u0430<\/strong> (wedding bands), \u0431\u0443\u043a\u0435<\/span>\u0442 <\/strong>\u043d\u0435\u0432\u0435<\/span>\u0441\u0442\u044b<\/strong> (bridal bouquet), \u0444\u0430\u0442\u0430<\/span><\/strong> (bridal veil), \u0436\u0438\u0432\u044b<\/span>\u0435 <\/strong>\u0431\u0430<\/span>\u0431\u043e\u0447\u043a\u0438<\/strong> (live butterflies) and \u042d<\/span><\/strong>\u043b\u0432\u0438\u0441 <\/strong>\u041f\u0440\u0435<\/span>\u0441\u043b\u0438<\/strong> (Elvis Presley) and \u041c\u0435<\/span>\u0440\u0438\u043b\u0438\u043d <\/strong>\u041c\u043e\u043d\u0440\u043e<\/span><\/strong> (Marilyn Monroe) as witnesses. And, a few days after the ceremony, you will even get \u0441\u0432\u0438\u0434\u0435<\/span>\u0442\u0435\u043b\u044c\u0441\u0442\u0432\u043e <\/strong>\u043e <\/strong>\u0431\u0440\u0430<\/span>\u043a\u0435<\/strong> (a marriage certificate), exactly like the ones issued in Nevada.<\/p>\n

Of course, that\u2019s all fine and dandy if you are in St. Petersburg. But turns out, \u0415\u043a\u0430\u0442\u0435\u0440\u0438\u043d\u0431\u0443<\/span>\u0440\u0433<\/strong> (Yekaterinburg) is not a bad place either if you want your Valentine\u2019s Day to be weird<\/a>. Their plans include \u043c\u0430<\/span>\u0441\u0441\u043e\u0432\u0430\u044f <\/strong>\u043f\u0440\u043e\u0433\u0443<\/span>\u043b\u043a\u0430 <\/strong>\u043f\u043e <\/strong>\u043d\u0430<\/span>\u0431\u0435\u0440\u0435\u0436\u043d\u043e\u0439<\/strong> (a group stroll along an embankment) and \u043c\u0430<\/span>\u0441\u0441\u043e\u0432\u044b\u0439 <\/strong>\u0444\u043b\u0435\u0448\u043c\u043e\u0431 <\/strong>\u043f\u043e\u0446\u0435\u043b\u0443<\/span>\u0439<\/strong> (a group flash-mob kiss). Just to clarify this last one – couples are invited to start kissing during the song from the movie Titanic<\/em>. For something a bit more mainstream, Yekat will also offer festive ice-skating and decorating trees with paper hearts. And although \u043b\u044e\u0431\u043e<\/span>\u0432\u044c <\/strong>\u0433\u0440\u0435<\/span>\u0435\u0442<\/strong> (love keeps you warm), participants will be invited to warm up with a traditional \u0447\u0430\u0435\u043f\u0438<\/span>\u0442\u0438\u0435<\/strong> (tea drinking).<\/p>\n

If you don\u2019t like this holiday (or what\u2019s become of it), then you better spend it in my native \u0412\u043e\u043b\u0433\u043e\u0433\u0440\u0430<\/span>\u0434<\/strong> (Volgograd). Sure, they will also have a kissing flash mob and a film festival. But one of the local churches is organizing a youth \u0432\u0441\u0442\u0440\u0435<\/span>\u0447\u0430<\/strong> (gathering) called \u0410\u043d\u0442\u0438\u0432\u0430\u043b\u0435\u043d\u0442\u0438<\/span>\u043d<\/strong> (Anti-valentine) where such things as \u043a\u0440\u0438<\/span>\u0437\u0438\u0441 <\/strong>\u043b\u044e\u0431\u0432\u0438<\/span><\/strong> (crisis of love) and \u043b\u044e\u0431\u043e<\/span>\u0432\u044c <\/strong>\u0432 <\/strong>\u043f\u043e\u044d<\/span>\u0437\u0438\u0438<\/strong> (love in poetry) will be discussed and Catholic and Orthodox Christian saints will be compared. This gathering will conclude with, what else, \u0447\u0430\u0435\u043f\u0438<\/span>\u0442\u0438\u0435<\/strong> (tea drinking).<\/p>\n

But since most of us are not in Russia on this holiday (next year, right?), maybe we can sign our Valentine\u2019s Day cards with a simple \u00ab<\/strong>\u042f <\/strong>\u0442\u0435\u0431\u044f<\/span> <\/strong>\u043b\u044e\u0431\u043b\u044e<\/span>!\u00bb<\/strong> (I love you!) or a fancier \u00ab<\/strong>\u0422\u044b <\/strong>\u0432\u0441\u0435\u0433\u0434\u0430<\/span> <\/strong>\u0432 <\/strong>\u043c\u043e\u0451<\/span>\u043c <\/strong>\u0441\u0435<\/span>\u0440\u0434\u0446\u0435\u00bb<\/strong> (You are always in my heart). Then put a kettle on the stove, open a box of chocolates and sit down to \u0447\u0430\u0435\u043f\u0438<\/span>\u0442\u0438\u0435<\/strong> with your loved one.<\/p>\n

P.S. As a tribute to the holiday, please post a line from a Russian poem about love. You don’t have to translate it, but if you do know the author and the title, please include that.\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"\"\"

Do you like celebrating Valentine\u2019s Day? If so, then I bet you had everything prepared days ahead – \u0446\u0432\u0435\u0442\u044b (flowers), \u0448\u043e\u043a\u043e\u043b\u0430\u0434 (chocolate), \u0448\u0430\u043c\u043f\u0430\u043d\u0441\u043a\u043e\u0435 (Champaign), and, of course, a romantic \u0432\u0430\u043b\u0435\u043d\u0442\u0438\u043d\u043a\u0430 (Valentine\u2019s Day card). And if you don\u2019t like this holiday, then you are probably too busy doing all the last-minute shopping to read this post…<\/p>\n

Continue Reading<\/a><\/p>","protected":false},"author":39,"featured_media":2594,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"content-type":""},"categories":[3,179,7827],"tags":[117521,1137,1227,117504,117520],"class_list":["post-2591","post","type-post","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-culture","category-news","category-russian-life","tag-i-love-you-in-russian","tag-life-in-russia","tag-russian-culture","tag-russian-wedding","tag-valentines-day-in-russia"],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/russian\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2591","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/russian\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/russian\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/russian\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/39"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/russian\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2591"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/russian\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2591\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":6407,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/russian\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2591\/revisions\/6407"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/russian\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2594"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/russian\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2591"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/russian\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2591"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/russian\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2591"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}