{"id":949,"date":"2010-06-13T06:06:06","date_gmt":"2010-06-13T06:06:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/russian\/?p=949"},"modified":"2010-06-13T06:12:45","modified_gmt":"2010-06-13T06:12:45","slug":"what-to-do-in-honor-of-russia","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/russian\/what-to-do-in-honor-of-russia\/","title":{"rendered":"\u00ab\u0427\u0442\u043e \u0434\u0435\u043b\u0430\u0442\u044c \u0432 \u0447\u0435\u0441\u0442\u044c \u0434\u043d\u044f \u0420\u043e\u0441\u0441\u0438\u0438?\u00bb [What to do in honor of Russia\u2019s (Independence?) Day?]"},"content":{"rendered":"

Yesterday \u2013 \u00ab12 \u0438\u044e<\/span>\u043d\u044f\u00bb <\/strong>[June 12th] \u2013 was a very great and highly important day for citizens of Russia, Russians and, of course, our ordinary crowd of \u00ab<\/strong>\u0441\u043e\u0447\u0443<\/span>\u0432\u0441\u0442\u0432\u0443\u044e\u0449\u0438\u0435\u00bb<\/strong> [pl.<\/em> sympathizing] Russophiles worldwide. It was \u00ab<\/strong>\u0434\u0435\u043d\u044c \u0420\u043e\u0441\u0441\u0438<\/span>\u0438\u00bb<\/strong> [\u2018Day of Russia\u2019; or why not \u2018Russia\u2019s Day\u2019], a public holiday formerly known as \u00ab<\/strong>\u0434\u0435\u043d\u044c \u043d\u0435\u0437\u0430\u0432\u0438<\/span>\u0441\u0438\u043c\u043e\u0441\u0442\u0438 \u0420\u043e\u0441\u0441\u0438<\/span>\u0438\u00bb <\/strong>[Russia\u2019s Independence Day].<\/a> Like everyone else in this country, yesterday I was perplexed by the ancient Russian question of \u00ab<\/strong>\u0447\u0442\u043e \u0434\u0435<\/span>\u043b\u0430\u0442\u044c?\u00bb <\/strong>[what to do?] in honor of this great day. After carefully contemplating my options, I decided \u00ab<\/strong>\u043f\u0440\u0430<\/span>\u0437\u0434\u043d\u043e\u0432\u0430\u0442\u044c\u00bb<\/strong> [to celebrate] by making \u00ab<\/strong>\u0441\u0430<\/span>\u043c\u044b\u0439 \u0440\u0443<\/span>\u0441\u0441\u043a\u0438\u0439 \u043a\u043e\u043a\u0442\u0435<\/span>\u0439\u043b\u044c\u00bb<\/strong> [the most Russian cocktail]: \u00ab<\/strong>\u0421\u0435<\/span>\u0432\u0435\u0440\u043d\u043e\u0435 \u0441\u0438\u044f<\/span>\u043d\u0438\u0435\u00bb<\/strong> [\u201cNorthern Light\u201d]. That\u2019s the name they called this drink by in Siberia back in my youngest youth when I first was treated to it. It is, however, so beloved and just as common (among the brave and\/or insane) <\/em>that it has plenty of other names also (what it is called differs between regions in Russia)<\/em>: \u00ab<\/strong>\u041e\u0433\u043d\u0438<\/span> \u041c\u043e\u0441\u043a\u0432\u044b<\/span>\u00bb<\/strong> or \u00ab<\/strong>\u041c\u043e\u0441\u043a\u043e<\/span>\u0432\u0441\u043a\u0438\u0435 \u043e\u0433\u043d\u0438<\/span>\u00bb <\/strong>[\u201cMoscow Lights\u201d]. You might have been treated to it by your friend \u00ab<\/strong>\u0410\u043d\u0442\u043e<\/span>\u043d\u00bb<\/strong> [Anton] in a remote Russian village under the name of \u00ab<\/strong>\u0411\u0435<\/span>\u0448\u0435\u043d\u044b\u0439 \u0440\u0443<\/span>\u0441\u0441\u043a\u0438\u0439\u00bb<\/strong> [\u201cThe Mad (rabid; violent; tempestuous)<\/em> Russian\u201d]. But no matter what it\u2019s called, it is always made up by only two ingredients: \u00ab<\/strong>\u0432\u043e<\/span>\u0434\u043a\u0430\u00bb<\/strong> [vodka] and \u00ab<\/strong>\u0448\u0430\u043c\u043f\u0430<\/span>\u043d\u0441\u043a\u043e\u0435\u00bb<\/strong> [champagne]. The braver (more insane)<\/em> people use half vodka and half champagne, \u00ab<\/strong>\u0442\u0440\u0443\u0441\u044b<\/span>\u00bb<\/strong> [pl.<\/em> cowards] and \u00ab<\/strong>\u0443<\/span>\u043c\u043d\u044b\u0435 \u043b\u044e<\/span>\u0434\u0438\u00bb<\/strong> [pl.<\/em> smart people] use one third vodka and two thirds champagne. But because I think you\u2019d all agree that this a very complicated process, so that\u2019s why I\u2019ll spell out the making of this drink using photographs:<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

First you take one bottle of \u00ab<\/strong><\/em>\u0432\u043e<\/span>\u0434\u043a\u0430\u00bb<\/em><\/strong> [vodka]. I used \u00ab<\/strong><\/em>\u0417\u0435\u043b\u0451<\/span>\u043d\u0430\u044f <\/em><\/strong>\u043c\u0430<\/span>\u0440\u043a\u0430\u00bb<\/em><\/strong> [\u201cThe Green Mark\u201d] because it was written on the bottle that it\u2019s \u00ab\u2116 1 <\/strong><\/em>\u0432 <\/em><\/strong>\u0420\u043e\u0441\u0441\u0438<\/span>\u0438\u00bb<\/em><\/strong> [Number One in Russia] and if there\u2019s anyone you should trust when it comes to vodka, then it\u2019s the people of this country. Then take one bottle of \u00ab<\/strong><\/em>\u0448\u0430\u043c\u043f\u0430<\/span>\u043d\u0441\u043a\u043e\u0435\u00bb<\/em><\/strong> [champagne]. Make sure it is \u00ab<\/strong><\/em>\u0440\u043e\u0441\u0441\u0438<\/span>\u0439\u0441\u043a\u043e\u0435\u00bb<\/em><\/strong> [Russian] (it\u2019s so cheap!) and \u00ab<\/strong><\/em>\u043f\u043e\u043b\u0443\u0441\u043b\u0430<\/span>\u0434\u043a\u043e\u0435\u00bb<\/em><\/strong> [half sweet]. <\/em><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Pour up \u00ab80 (<\/strong><\/em>\u0432\u043e<\/span>\u0441\u0435\u043c\u044c\u0434\u0435\u0441\u044f\u0442) <\/em><\/strong>\u0433\u0440\u0430<\/span>\u043c\u043c\u043e\u0432 <\/em><\/strong>\u0432\u043e<\/span>\u0434\u043a\u0438\u00bb <\/em><\/strong>[80 grams of vodka] into a plastic cup. Yes, Russians use \u2018grams\u2019 when talking about quantities of alcohol \u2013 especially when it comes to talking of quantities of vodka!<\/em><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n

Pour up \u00ab120 (<\/strong><\/em>\u0441\u0442\u043e <\/em><\/strong>\u0434\u0432\u0430<\/span>\u0434\u0446\u0430\u0442\u044c) <\/em><\/strong>\u0433\u0440\u0430<\/span>\u043c\u043c\u043e\u0432 <\/em><\/strong>\u0448\u0430\u043c\u043f\u0430<\/span>\u043d\u0441\u043a\u043e\u0433\u043e\u00bb<\/em><\/strong> [120 grams of champagne] into a plastic cup.<\/em><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n

Empty the liquids of both plastic cups into another \u2013 a third \u2013 cup. In honor of \u00ab<\/strong><\/em>\u0434\u0435\u043d\u044c <\/em><\/strong>\u0420\u043e\u0441\u0441\u0438<\/span>\u0438\u00bb<\/em><\/strong> [Russia\u2019s Day] you should make sure that your glass is in one of the colors to be found in the country\u2019s flag: \u00ab<\/strong><\/em>\u0431\u0435<\/span>\u043b\u044b\u0439\u00bb<\/em><\/strong> [white], \u00ab<\/strong><\/em>\u0441\u0438<\/span>\u043d\u0438\u0439\u00bb<\/em><\/strong> [(dark) blue] or \u00ab<\/strong><\/em>\u043a\u0440\u0430<\/span>\u0441\u043d\u044b\u0439\u00bb<\/em><\/strong> [red]. I chose the last color, because that\u2019s the one most strongly connected to this land in my own very personal opinion\u2026<\/em><\/p>\n

My plan for yesterday\u2019s celebration was very clear already early in the morning: I had invited some good (Russian of course!)<\/em> friends over to drink \u00ab<\/strong>\u0421\u0435<\/span>\u0432\u0435\u0440\u043d\u043e\u0435 <\/strong>\u0441\u0438\u044f<\/span>\u043d\u0438\u0435\u00bb <\/strong>[\u201dNorthern Light\u201d] and sing along to the classic tune \u00ab<\/strong>\u041b\u0435<\/span>\u043d\u0438\u043d <\/strong>\u0442\u0430\u043a\u043e<\/span>\u0439 <\/strong>\u043c\u043e\u043b\u043e\u0434\u043e<\/span>\u0439\u00bb<\/strong> [\u201cLenin is so young\u201d]. All of the above we were going to do \u00ab<\/strong>\u0443\u043c\u0435<\/span>\u0440\u0435\u043d\u043d\u043e\u00bb<\/strong> [moderately; in moderation]. Afterwards I was going to write a post about the whole thing for this blog and then go to bed content with myself, my friends, Russia and life in general. This was all planned before I had my first sip of \u201cNorthern Light\u201d\u2026 As you might already have noticed, this post was not written \u00ab12 <\/strong>\u0438\u044e<\/span>\u043d\u044f\u00bb<\/strong> [June 12th<\/sup>], but \u00ab13 <\/strong>\u0438\u044e<\/span>\u043d\u044f\u00bb <\/strong>[June 13th<\/sup>]. That\u2019s because \u201cNorthern Light\u201d is a very \u00ab<\/strong>\u043e\u043f\u0430<\/span>\u0441\u043d\u044b\u0439 <\/strong>\u043d\u0430\u043f\u0438<\/span>\u0442\u043e\u043a\u00bb<\/strong> [dangerous beverage] and after only half of it you\u2019re already not in any state to be writing any posts whatsoever. And you\u2019ll be belting out \u00ab\u0418 \u041b\u0435<\/span>\u043d\u0438\u043d \u0442\u0430\u043a\u043e<\/span>\u0439 \u043c\u043e\u043b\u043e\u0434\u043e<\/span>\u0439, \u0438 \u044e<\/span>\u043d\u044b\u0439 \u041e\u043a\u0442\u044f<\/span>\u0431\u0440\u044c \u0432\u043f\u0435\u0440\u0435\u0434\u0438<\/span>!\u00bb<\/strong> [\u201cAnd Lenin is so young, and the young October is ahead!\u201d] from your third floor window sooner than you know it. If you\u2019re intended on trying \u201cNorthern Light\u201d, then here are two very Russian suggestions on how to make it hurt less the morning after:<\/p>\n

1) \u00ab\u041e\u0434\u043d\u043e<\/span> \u0441\u043b\u043e<\/span>\u0432\u043e: \u0437\u0430\u043a\u0443<\/span>\u0441\u043a\u0438!\u00bb<\/strong> [One word: snacks!]: a Russian never drinks without eating. \u201cWhen in Rome\u2026.\u201d<\/em> \u2013 always take a bite of something or other after every sip. When drinking in Russia is not the time to be thinking about calories \u2013 actually, the more calories you eat while drinking, the better you\u2019ll feel the morning after. Not to mention that you can drink more that way! \u00ab<\/strong>\u0420\u0443<\/span>\u0441\u0441\u043a\u0430\u044f <\/strong>\u043c\u0443<\/span>\u0434\u0440\u043e\u0441\u0442\u044c!\u00bb<\/strong> [Russian wisdom!].<\/p>\n

2) \u00ab\u0418 \u0435\u0449\u0451<\/span> \u043e<\/span>\u0434\u043d\u043e \u0441\u043b\u043e<\/span>\u0432\u043e: \u0432\u043e\u0434\u0430<\/span>!\u00bb<\/strong> [And one more word: water!]: remember to drink plenty of water while drinking the beloved \u00ab<\/strong>\u044f\u0434\u00bb<\/strong> [poison], and to finish the evening with at least two or three glasses of water before tumbling into bed.<\/p>\n

And always: drink responsibly and mind your liver. Drinking should be fun; but perhaps not \u00ab<\/strong>\u043f\u0440\u043e\u0441\u043d\u0443<\/span>\u0442\u044c\u0441\u044f <\/strong>\u0432 <\/strong>\u043a\u0430\u043d\u0430<\/span>\u0432\u0435 <\/strong>\u0437\u0430 <\/strong>\u0433\u043e<\/span>\u0440\u043e\u0434\u043e\u043c <\/strong>\u0432 <\/strong>\u043d\u043e<\/span>\u0432\u043e\u0439 <\/strong>\u0448\u043b\u044f<\/span>\u043f\u0435 <\/strong>\u0438 <\/strong>\u0431\u0435\u0437 <\/strong>\u043a\u043e\u0448\u0435\u043b\u044c\u043a\u0430<\/span>\u00bb<\/strong> [to wake up in the ditch outside of town with a new hat and without a wallet] fun. Like I told my friends before they went home last night: \u00ab<\/strong>\u0415\u0449\u0451<\/span> <\/strong>\u0440\u0430\u0437 <\/strong>\u043d\u0430\u043f\u043e\u043c\u0438\u043d\u0430<\/span>\u044e \u2013 <\/strong>\u044d<\/span><\/strong>\u0442\u043e <\/strong>\u0420\u043e\u0441\u0441\u0438<\/span>\u044f!\u00bb<\/strong> [Once again I remind you \u2013 this is Russia!]. That\u2019s why I\u2019ll have to finish this post with \u00ab<\/strong>\u0441 <\/strong>\u0434\u043d\u0451\u043c <\/strong>\u0420\u043e\u0441\u0441\u0438<\/span>\u0438!\u00bb <\/strong>[happy Russia’s day!].<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"\"\"

Yesterday \u2013 \u00ab12 \u0438\u044e\u043d\u044f\u00bb [June 12th] \u2013 was a very great and highly important day for citizens of Russia, Russians and, of course, our ordinary crowd of \u00ab\u0441\u043e\u0447\u0443\u0432\u0441\u0442\u0432\u0443\u044e\u0449\u0438\u0435\u00bb [pl. sympathizing] Russophiles worldwide. It was \u00ab\u0434\u0435\u043d\u044c \u0420\u043e\u0441\u0441\u0438\u0438\u00bb [\u2018Day of Russia\u2019; or why not \u2018Russia\u2019s Day\u2019], a public holiday formerly known as \u00ab\u0434\u0435\u043d\u044c \u043d\u0435\u0437\u0430\u0432\u0438\u0441\u0438\u043c\u043e\u0441\u0442\u0438 \u0420\u043e\u0441\u0441\u0438\u0438\u00bb [Russia\u2019s Independence…<\/p>\n

Continue Reading<\/a><\/p>","protected":false},"author":28,"featured_media":953,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"content-type":""},"categories":[3,7827,7826],"tags":[4646,9425,9426,9424,3339,9422,9423,9427,1387,9421,1467,9416,9419,9420,1651,9417,9418],"class_list":["post-949","post","type-post","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-culture","category-russian-life","category-when-in-russia","tag-champagne","tag-drinking-in-russia","tag-moscow-light","tag-northern-light","tag-party","tag-russias-day","tag-russias-independence-day","tag-the-mad-russian","tag-vodka","tag-9421","tag-1467","tag-9416","tag-9419","tag-9420","tag-1651","tag-9417","tag-9418"],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/russian\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/949","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\/28"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/russian\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=949"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/russian\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/949\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":957,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/russian\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/949\/revisions\/957"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/russian\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/953"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/russian\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=949"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/russian\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=949"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/russian\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=949"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}