Gatherings in the kitchen, life with parents and other features of the life of Russians, which enter foreigners into a stupor

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

On the Internet, you can often find the phrase: 50% of Americans believe that every Russian has a tame bear. Whether this is a reliable fact or not, we do not undertake to judge. But some of the traditions and habits of most of our compatriots can actually cause stress for foreigners. And even if we do not eat dogs and insects, but on our table you can often find jellied meat - a dish that tourists do not even dare to try. We are still silent about the herring under a fur coat (may the lovers of the national salad forgive us). And the habit of leading important conversations over a cup of tea and keeping a whole arsenal of slippers in apartments completely plunges foreign organisms into shock. So, about the everyday habits of Russians, which cause great surprise among residents of other countries.

Package with packages

Don't tell me that you don't keep a bag of bags in case they come in handy on the farm. Moreover, it makes no sense to get rid of them - they have the ability to spontaneously generate. Such is the cycle of packages in nature. But, you must admit, this is practical: you do not need to constantly purchase garbage bags, and you can save an extra penny in the store by coming with your “bag”.

For foreigners, this habit of Russians is completely incomprehensible - in most Western countries, paper bags have long been used, which are simply disposed of after use.

Tea drinking is a special ritual

Tea, one might say, has become a Russian folk drink. They drink it everywhere and all the time. It has become a kind of panacea for illness and bad mood. Tea helps to warm up, wake up, get rid of headaches, take a pill, and have sincere conversations. We usually offer our guests almost from the doorway to go to the table and discuss the news over a cup of hot drink - this is a sign of hospitality.

Abroad, they may not offer you anything at all, even if you came to visit for several hours (maximum water, coffee or alcohol, and we are already silent about food). Therefore, foreigners are surprised by our habit of drinking tea almost every hour.

Kitchen conversations "for life"

Continuing the theme of tea and hospitality, it should be said that our compatriots invite guests to the kitchen (except for special solemn occasions). All pressing problems and news are discussed at the table.

Why does this surprise foreigners? In most Western countries, it is customary to meet in cafes or invite people into the living room.

Lush feasts

The expression "broad Russian soul" appeared for a reason. In Russia, it is customary to cook a lot of food for special occasions, and if the guests come suddenly, exhibit everything they are rich in. And the feast is also a special ritual. As a rule, they cannot do without an abundance of alcohol, funny toasts, fresh anecdotes, long congratulations, life stories, songs and dances.

It is not surprising that Europeans “the soul requires a holiday” is surprising: it is customary for them to arrange celebrations only on special occasions, and congratulations are usually limited to the clink of glasses. But many of them admit that they really like the soulful feasts of the Russians.

Food habits

We have already said above that foreigners consider jellied meat to be an outlandish dish. This category also includes our favorite vinaigrette, herring under a fur coat, "Olivier" (by the way, abroad it is called "Russian salad"), dumplings, pies and many more of the food that we simply adore. The combinations of ingredients in these dishes seem unthinkable to tourists. But many of them, having once tasted the same borscht, quickly get a taste.

Keep old things (maybe it will come in handy)

Perhaps this habit has remained from the days of the Soviet deficit, when the necessary things were very difficult to acquire. But foreign guests are very surprised by the presence of storage rooms in our already small apartments, where unnecessary trash is stored. If there is not enough space, then unnecessary items are moved to the balcony, where old bicycles, skis, a served buffet and homework may well coexist peacefully. And what does not fit in the house is safely sent into exile in garages or summer cottages. And the truth is, it will suddenly come in handy. Although this long-awaited moment, as a rule, does not come.

Change shoes at a party

It is not customary for us to walk around the house in shoes. But at the same time, almost every our compatriot has a whole arsenal of slippers designed for every family member and guests. There are also summer and winter options for shoes, which are sure to be offered to those who visit the owners.

It is not customary for foreigners to take off their sneakers and boots in their homes. You've probably noticed this while watching foreign films. Most residents of other countries, coming home, simply clean their shoes with a special brush. Therefore, offering to wear slippers can shock them.

Eliminate breakdowns in the house yourself

What do we usually do if the drain in the kitchen is clogged, household appliances fail, or the electrical wiring is out of order? Right! We are trying to cope with the problems on our own. And only then, if the efforts have not led to anything, we call specialists.

Such amateur performance amazes tourists who had to face the realities of Russian life. After all, even in the event of a minor breakdown, they call locksmiths, electricians and other necessary people.

Do homework

The pride of many Russian housewives is raspberry jam, apple compotes, salads from vegetables grown on their own plot, salted milk mushrooms, pickled tomatoes … wholesale price, spend a lot of time on "seaming", and then enjoy the fruits of your labors all winter. Foreigners do not understand why it is necessary to spend so much time preparing pickles and preserves, if all this can be purchased at the nearest supermarket.

Go to the dacha

No matter how exaggerated it may sound, most Russians go to their dachas not to rest, but to work. Moreover, household chores begin in early spring: you need to have time to plant seedlings, prepare the land, clean up the area. And then weeding, watering, pest control … And all this is done after work or on weekends. If the family lives in a private house, then it is a sin not to plant all kinds of vegetables, fruit trees, flowers on their acres.

For residents of Western countries, a vegetable garden is in no way a way of life - they grow vegetables and fruits either for pleasure or for business.

Enjoy Your Bath

This phrase has already become so everyday that we automatically pronounce it, even if the person just left the shower. And if he visited the bathhouse, then the words take on a special meaning. But if we translate this expression into other languages, it will turn out, we congratulate each other for having washed. However, do not forget that for a Russian person visiting a bath is not just a water procedure, but a whole ritual with its own traditions. In general, foreign heads cannot understand this with all their will.

Living with parents

In Russia, almost no one is surprised that several generations of families live under one roof. And even in small one-room apartments, five or more people can peacefully coexist. A similar tradition of “living as one big family” exists in Muslim countries as well. But in the West, children, having become independent, prefer to immediately move out from their parents. In Germany, it is not uncommon for sons or daughters to rent rooms from their own fathers and mothers. But in Russia it is normal to stay with your parents: rent is expensive, they have not yet saved up for their apartment, and even so it is more familiar and comfortable.

Habits and superstitions

If we talk about the life of Russians, then one cannot fail to mention the role of habits and superstitions. “Don't whistle - there will be no money in the house”, “I forgot something and came back - look in the mirror”, sprinkled salt - to a quarrel, “Before the trip, you need to sit down on the path” … You can list for a long time. In most cases, we ourselves do not know the history of the appearance of these signs, but we will definitely sit on our suitcases before an important trip. Can you imagine what it is like for foreigners who are shocked by our habits. But they have their own everyday superstitions, which we also cannot understand.

Russia is a mysterious country with its own traditions and unique mentality. Many will argue that everything is too exaggerated and most of the features of the life of Russians are in the past or do not have a place at all. But, you must admit, some of the above is still familiar to you.

It is fair to say that Russia has always haunted foreigners. What is it worth a series of cartoons of the Russian Empire published by Puck magazine.