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Tags: russian traditions

Articles:

	Russian Pancakes Recipes
	Since the Pancake Week (or Maslenitsa), the famous Russian holiday, is approaching, we decided to get you acquainted with interesting recipes of Russian pancakes – a traditional food we eat during these days.
--17-02-2012--
	Russian Vintage Christmas Cards
	Today we would like to share with you an exciting gallery of old Russian Christmas cards. These vintage pictures reflect unique Russian traditions and present the beautiful art of card making in the country.
--27-12-2011--
	Russian Winter Season: A Digest of Russia-InfoCentre Features about the Festivities
	This season we decided to help you glide through the Russian winter. The forecasters promise us a "European" winter, meaning it is going to be mild, but the holiday season is nearing, and we wanted to feel the festival glee and to share it with you. So, here is what we have already written about the Russian traditions of celebrating the New Year and Christmas.
--02-12-2011--
	Traditions of Old Russian Housing
	In the modern age of growing interest in eco-houses architects often look for inspiration in the traditions of old national housing. Old Russian architecture is not an exception. So, what was it like, actually? Izba, terem, khoromy – what are these? Now you can learn how ancestors of modern Russians built their houses.
--04-07-2011--
	Lot of Banned Slavic Idols
	Slavic idols - stone and wooden sculptures that embodied Slavic gods - were an indispensable attribute of priestly religious practices of Old Russia. Very few of those idols have come down to us.
--28-08-2011--
	Kolt – Enigmatic Old Russian Ornament
	Kolt is a traditional Old Russian female ornament of the 11th -13th centuries; it is a hollow metal pendant fastened to the headgear and often decorated with granulation, skan’ (filigree work), enamel, or patina. Presumably, the inner cavity was used for keeping a piece of fabric moistened with incense.
--28-08-2011--
	Old Russian Pictorial Embroidery
	Old Russian pictorial embroidery (aka "needle painting") is one of the Russian arts and crafts that developed under the direct influence of Byzantine and were widely spread in the Old Rus'. Unlike ornamental embroidery these works depicted "the face" and were made with the use of gold and silver threads, pearls, jewels and gems.
--21-10-2011--
	Tradition of Merry Russian Sleighing
	Sleighing has been a traditional Russian winter entertainment, especially popular during Christmas-tide, Maslenitsa (Pancake week), and saints’ days.
--28-08-2011--
	New Year Traditions and Beliefs in Russia
	January – the first winter month – was once called prosinets (azure-like) in Old Rus’, because after the low gloomy sky of December it brought islets of clear dark blue sky. But January was also famous for its blizzards and frosts. Hence is its ancient name of sechen’ (whipping one). Besides, January also used to be the month of Vasily (Basil) in honor of St. Basil, whose day fell on January, 1st – the turning point of winter.
--25-10-2011--
	Traditional Russian Wedding Feast
	Weddings in Russia were traditionally celebrated in a vivacious and noisy way, with observation of numerous customs, signs, and popular beliefs. The festivities usually lasted for three days, but sometimes could extend to a whole week. Russian wedding ceremony was certainly accompanied with an abundant and plentiful feast, representing ceremonial dishes of Russian cuisine.
--28-08-2011--
	Fist Fights: Old Russian Tradition of Martial Arts
	The tradition of fist fighting existed in Russia from times immemorial till the early 20th century. Apart from being a sort of sportive folk entertainment it was a peculiar fighting school that developed skills necessary for defense of the native land.
--28-08-2011--
	Household Furnishing and Utensils of the Old Russians
	Interior furniture in houses of the nobility and rich merchants was naturally quite different from plain furnishing in humble huts of peasants and craftsmen.
--28-08-2011--
	Traditional Men’s Headwear

--28-08-2011--
	Traditional Women’s Headwear

--28-08-2011--
	National Russian Dress: Basic costume garments

--26-10-2011--
	National Russian Dress: Outerwear

--28-08-2011--
	National Russian Dress: Footwear

--28-08-2011--
	National Russian Dress: Headgears

--28-08-2011--
	National Russian Dress: Costume decorations

--28-08-2011--
	National Russian Dress
	We know our predecessors by their tales, songs and legends, as well as by a great variety of original clothes and household things created mainly by some unknown talents. When looking at ancient holiday garments of peasantry one cannot help wondering at their unusual harmony and power of life emanating from these things and their ability to hand down the visible image of our ancestors and convey their spiritual essence to us.
--28-08-2011--
	About Wedding Dress of Russian Brides
	Wedding garments in Old Rus’ used to be very colourful, the red being the major wedding colour. White was considered the colour of sanctity and was not used in festivities. In many regions the bride had two wedding gowns: one to wear before the marriage service and the other to put on after it.
--28-08-2011--
	Russian Stove
	The stove was man’s unfailing helpmate in the olden days. The so-called “Russian stove” is a brick masonry heater, which is perhaps the most efficient and environment-friendly of all wood burning fireplaces ever invented by man.
--28-08-2011--
	Happy Old New Year!
	Sounds strange, doesn't it? For Russia it is quite OK. Comrade Lenin had no idea of the present he was giving to many generation ahead, when signing the decree “On introducing the West European calendar in the Republic of Russia” on January 24, 1918. He presented the Russians with the unique holiday of the Old New Year! How naive he was supposing that we would celebrate the New Year like all the rest, only by the Gregorian calendar!
--28-08-2011--
	Father Frost the Red Nose
	The key figure of the Russian New Year is certainly Ded Moroz (Father Frost, or Grandfather Frost, to be more exact) who arrives wearing a red caftan (old-style long garment) decorated with traditional embroidering and edged with snow-white fluff, a red cap, white mittens and felt boots.
--26-10-2011--
	Petrushka and Vertep: On Traditions of Russian Puppet Theatre
	Folk performances of Petrushka and Vertep theatres have existed in Russia since the 18th century. However, puppet folk theatre, just like folk theatre in general underwent hard times: its traditions were lost in the 20th century and so today we have only reconstructions of those original folk performances.
--25-10-2011--
	Skomorokhi, the Troubadours of Old Rus
	Skomorokhi were the wandering minstrels of ancient Russia; they were singers, jesters, musicians, play performers, acrobats and animal trainers. But first of all skomorokhi were singers of freedom, who dared to ridicule the power, the clergy, and the rich and sympathized with the common people.
--28-08-2011--
	Russian Vodka
	Vodka has long become quite an independent and self-sufficient personage of Russian culture: there are jokes and songs, books and research works on this “hot” subject. Majority of foreigners have an image of vodka imprinted in their minds as the foremost symbol of Russia (along with Bear and Martyoshka).
--28-08-2011--
	Traditional Russian Folk Doll
	Dolls have always made an integral and vital part of any culture. The basic notions of human relations and complicated world order are passed on to a child with the help of all sorts of toys. As for traditional folk dolls, for centuries they were means of transmitting sacred generic values and knowledge to the following generation.
--28-08-2011--
	Banya, the Russian Rite of Steam Bath
	Banya is one of the most ancient traditions of the Russian people. Russian steam bath is a full-fledged philosophy, as well as invigorative pleasure compared to nothing and true relief for one’s soul.
--28-08-2011--
	Russian Drinks – What Are They?
	The first thing that crosses one’s mind when speaking about Russian drinks is certainly vodka. Yet, as a matter of fact, long before vodka there were no less popular drinks in Old Rus. As for vodka, it came to Russia via Lithuania where it was brought by the Genoese from their colony in the Crimea. Actually it did not happen until the mid 14th century. So vodka is another story.
--28-08-2011--
	Reviving Old Tradition. Learning the Art of Bell Ringing
	Before the revolution of 1917 Moscow alone had 765 Orthodox churches, about 350 belfries and around 3000 bells. However, in the late 1920s the majority of churches and belfries ceased existing, while bell ringing was strictly banned. Seemingly, Moscow stopped ringing forever. Bells were melted down, sold out and taken overseas. The churches which have preserved all their bells can be counted on one hand.
--28-08-2011--
	Russian Holidays
	The Russian love for holidays is known the world over. We adore holidays, indeed. But who does not? Perhaps our love for holidays is special for its indiscrimination – anything goes, just give us a chance to break the daily working routine and indulge into the surfeits of merry-making, eating and drinking.
--28-08-2011--

News:

	Bear Day to be Celebrated in Yaroslavl
	Yaroslavl residents will celebrate the Bear Day (or Komoeditsa), the ancient Slavic holiday that is associated with the awakening of famous Russian animal and the advent of spring. The festival will be traditionally held on the last Sunday of March.
--07-03-2012--
	The Great Lent Starts in Russia
	Today Russian members of the Orthodox Church begin keeping the Great Lent, the most long-lasting and strict fast in Russian orthodox tradition.
--27-02-2012--
	Russians to Celebrate Epiphany
	Russian Orthodox believers will celebrate Epiphany January 19, 2012. People will be able to take a dip in the font with an ice-cold water, that will be placed in the centre of Moscow for the first time.
--17-01-2012--
	Visit Traditional Steam Bath in Kostroma Hotel
	Azimut Hotel in Kostroma invites tourists to visit Russian traditional steam bath (or banya).
--19-12-2011--
	May the Force Be with You: A Yekaterinburg Couple Weds Star Wars Style
	A world-favourite epic, Star Wars, has influenced a recent wedding in the capital of the Ural Region. Only 85-year old grandfather of the bride refused to dress up, explaining that he is too old for this sort of entertainment.
--14-09-2011--
	Bast Shoe Holiday Will Be Held in Suzdal
	The 5th annual bast shoe holiday will take place in the hotel-tourist complex "Thermal Spring"
--29-07-2011--