10 Russian traditions that delight foreigners

2024 Author: Richard Flannagan | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-15 23:55

There are legends about the mysterious Russian soul in the world. Foreigners often dream of traveling to Russia in order to try to solve this very riddle, and after that citizens from other countries either fall in love with this huge country forever, or refuse to even hear about Russia. Nevertheless, almost all tourists agree that Russian traditions are like some kind of magic that enthralls them.

Toast

Foreigners are often surprised at the ability of Russians to turn a banal party into a kind of sacred event. How else can one explain the fact that each portion of alcohol is preceded by a dedication either to someone present or to high feelings. Literally before every sip of wine, a toast is made, and as a result, Russians drink for a reason, but on a special occasion.

Bread is the head of everything

Probably, such an attitude to bread, as in Russia, cannot be found in the whole world. By the way, many foreign guests are imbued with such relations, and in Russia they do not raise a hand in order to send a piece of bread to the trash can. Despite the fact that the times of famine are a thing of the past, the respect for bread is still preserved today. That is why our compatriots prefer to crumble dried bread crusts to birds, rather than throw them in the trash.

old New Year

It is very difficult for a foreigner to understand how the new year can be old and who has the idea to celebrate it. But in fact, being in Russia, foreign guests are happy to take part in the celebration of the old new year, and after that they admit: you should not resist the temptation to arrange general fun on the occasion of the new year, celebrated on January 13 before Russia switched from the Julian to the Gregorian calendar.

Handmade

Foreigners admire the absolutely stunning handicrafts made by Russian craftsmen. Warm knitted items and original jewelry, amazing dolls and sweets, boxes, nesting dolls and much more, tourists from other countries are happy to buy and take them as a gift to friends and family. By the way, many consider it necessary to attend a master class and learn how to create handmade masterpieces by themselves.

Hotels

Foreign guests who have visited Russia and had the opportunity to get to know more about the life of ordinary Russians are at first bewildered by the constant presentation of sweets. The word "gift" is difficult to translate into most languages of the world, only in England there used to be a word similar in meaning. But fairing meant a gift that was brought from a trip or from a fair, and in Russia sweets, chocolates, wines and any other treats are certainly taken with them, because it is not accepted to come empty-handed.

Bath

Foreign tourists traveling to Russia are eager to visit the Russian bath. Not a fashionable hammam or a sauna, but a real Russian bathhouse, where at first the guest will be whipped with a birch broom, and then forced to dive into the ice-hole at a run. No matter how cruel this "entertainment" may seem at first, after "light steam" the impressions of foreigners remain for the rest of their lives. And on occasion, they are not averse to visiting a real Russian bath again.

Gatherings in the kitchen

Back in the days of the Soviet Union, foreigners were amazed at this tradition. True, a closer acquaintance with her makes the guests admit: it seems that only in the kitchen is it possible to create such an incredible atmosphere of sincerity. And then they recall with admiration these conversations until the morning and are even surprised at how much they themselves managed to tell about themselves. Not otherwise, this is some kind of magical influence of Russian cuisine.

Attitude towards the elderly

Abroad, it is common practice to send their elderly parents to special boarding schools, which are more like sanatoriums. However, in Russia, such actions cause, rather, a negative reaction. It is considered shameful and inhuman to send parents to a nursing home in our country, because no one, even the most comfortable and expensive institution, is capable of giving the love and care of relatives. Self-care for elderly parents is a matter of respect and admiration for foreigners.

Yard games

Now the Russian rounders or the game of catch-up are no longer so common, and in the past in every yard one could find a company playing the role of driving or gambling the ball. And this ability of children for self-organization and the ability to entertain themselves has always delighted foreign guests. Fortunately, in some places, thanks to active parents, there is still a tradition on the street not to sit with your head on your phone, but to entertain yourself with outdoor games.

Mutual assistance

Foreigners who have lived in Russia for several years are never tired of being surprised at the ability of the Russian people to come to the rescue at any moment, even if it interferes with their own plans. A young mother with a baby in her arms to give way in a store, push a car stuck in snow or mud, help carry a heavy bag to an elderly person - for us these actions are nothing special, but foreigners get used to the fact that they can be supported on an icy walk by a casual passer-by.

The magnificent poet Andrei Voznesensky wrote that the Russian soul "has the shape of a samovar." It seems that tea drinking, fragrant smoke over the cups, puffing samovar - this is all originally Russian, traditional, originated in Russia. But in fact, everything is not quite so, and when tea appeared in Russia, it was not initially accepted and appreciated.