Russian Culture

The complete guide to meeting and dating a Russian girl. Without a doubt Russian women are beautiful, sexy and smart. A large percentage of Russian women still retain traditional qualities that...

We've all seen those small, white porcelain animals collecting dust on someone's shelf, but you probably don't know the rich history behind the seemingly simple figures. You also might not know...

In today's ever-expanding, culturally intermixed world pen-palling has become more than a fad. It is easy, fun, and always somewhat enlightening. Although often viewed as "cold"...

I taught English in Moscow, Russia for 2 years and then went back twice after that to St. Petersburg to finish up my degree in Russian. I have to say that a Russian meal is not complete without...

The Russian government under the czars, even after democratic changes were enacted in 1906, was largely autocratic. The czar had nearly complete control over the nobility, the peasants, the...

Russian immigrants were individuals from a variety of ethnic backgrounds. They came from many parts of the pre-World War I Russian Empire and then the Soviet Union including the Baltic countries...

The beautiful Russian language uses the Cyrillic alphabet, which contains 33 letters of 10 vowels, 21 consonants and two "silent" letters. As early as the sixth century, Slavic people were...

The Cyrillic alphabet was influenced by the Greek alphabet, first created as an alphabet for the Old Church Slavonic language. The Cyrillic alphabet, which has gone through many changes since it...

Russian cookery contains both basic and very labor intensive dishes that can be either easy or intricate to prepare. Foods range from simple broths to complicated pilafs with meat dumplings....

Russians have their own sense of style, which varies regionally across the nation's vast landscape and its mix of urban and rural areas. Clothing styles in Russia have been described as everything...

Constantine Stanislavski changed the tradition of the Russian theater. He created a technique that allowed an actor not to play a role but live it on stage, putting on the character's skin and...

In a recent competition on the television show "So You Think You Can Dance," the finalists donned Russian folk attire and displayed their talent in a traditional Russian folk dance. The...

Building the Trans-Siberian Railroad was an enormous undertaking that lasted from 1891 to 1905. At its completion, it allowed people to travel across the vast nation of Russia with an ease that...

Does your Russian friend, fiance or relative have birthday?! As anywhere in the world, birthday in Russia is widely celebrated. Are you thinking of doing anything special for your Russian friend?...

Kalinka Malinka is a traditional Russian folk song that has evolved into a dance, also called the Kalinka. Kalinka has continued to play an important role in Russian culture and folk music and is...

Matryoshkas--wooden dolls that are elaborately hand-painted, and vary greatly in size and height--are enduring symbols of Russian art.

If you would like to learn the Russian language, but don't want to spend money and time in a classroom, or don't want to have to pay for home study courses and materials, you can learn Russian...

Though many people are afraid to take on the challenge of learning the Russian language, perhaps because of its unfamiliar alphabet or complex grammar, there are many free off-line resources...

If you already know a Slavic language--particularly Russian--there's a good chance you'll become an instant polyglot once you start getting tutored in Ukrainian. More likely, your first language...

The roots of Russian cuisine run deep. The cuisine reflects traditions, cultures and even geographical peculiarities of the Russian regions. Many traditions of cooking have remained a part of...

Borscht has become popular as a traditional Russian dish, but this beet soup originally came from the Ukraine. The recipes for borscht vary depending on the region and cook.

Russian is written in a variation of the Cyrillic alphabet, which is loosely based on the Greek alphabet. The Russian alphabet has 33 letters and contains sounds that are unfamiliar to English...

Russian is a difficult language to learn, particularly for native English speakers, because of its unfamiliar alphabet, sounds, pronunciation, and number of noun cases. However, with the right ...

The Black Sea is one of two major bodies of water between Asia and Europe. Although the Caspian Sea is actually a lake, the Black Sea itself is part of the world's ocean systems. It has seen a...

Babushka dolls, more accurately called "matryoshka" or Russian nesting dolls, consist of a series of successively smaller dolls housed inside a larger wooden doll. The largest doll is the...

Russian Sign Language (RSL), the language of the deaf in both Russia and Bulgaria, is not a common language in the United States, except in areas such as New York City with large numbers of...

Russian is one of the most difficult languages to learn, but also one of the most valuable languages to know. Russian can be a challenging language because it is very structured and includes...

The Trans-Siberian railroad (or Transsib in Russian) is the major railroad that connects European and Eastern parts of the Russian Federation. Russian emperor Alexander III started its...

A samovar is a traditional Russian device for making tea. The word samovar, comes from the Russian, samo, for self and varit, for cook or boil. It is a self-heating vessel for water. It is usually...

Traveling to Russia, met some Russian friends or just enjoy languages? In this article you will learn how to say Hello and a few other greetings in Russian.

In Russia, people address a letter the exact opposite of how people in the United States and Europe address letters. Russians start with the large entity, the country, on the top line, then write...

Russia is the largest country in the world and extends over a significant part of Europe and Asia and over one-eighth of the Earth's land. It has a population of 142 million. Russia has a rich and...

The AK-47 has the dubious legacy of being one of the most efficient assault rifles ever built. It and its successor, the AK-74, have seen action in numerous conflicts around the globe, and a...

It is customary for Russians to gather around the table for a large meal at the end of the day. Hosting traditional Russian dinner party is a great opportunity for you and your guests to learn...

Mariinsky Theatre in St. Petersburg, Russia represents a powerful legacy rich in cultural heritage and artistic achievement. Many talented and famous dancers, singers and composers perform on the...

When anyone thinks of Russian food, they probably think of potatoes and pot roast, carrots and the simple rustic foods. However, Russian foods have actually become part of the American diet. We...

Residents of cities like Buffalo, Minneapolis, Chicago and Boston know about brutal winter conditions. Temperatures can reach -20 to -30 degrees F in extreme conditions that feel even colder when...

Planned and started by Peter the Great, St. Petersburg still stands today as Russia's great second city. However, unlike its larger cousin Moscow, it has seen its name changed throughout the...

Throughout history, torture has been used as a means of coercion and punishment. Torture can be applied to both physical and psychological devices and strategies that are designed to intimidate,...

There was a time in Russian history that a man named Joseph Stalin had almost absolute power over the entire country. During this time, he used the secret police and detention centers to ensure...

Although consigned to history, study of the Soviet Union, its economy, and the living conditions of its people remain important, as the U.S.S.R. was the first and longest-lived state to develop...

Russian can be a difficult language for English speakers, but taking time to learn some basic words can prove rewarding. If you don't already know the Cyrillic alphabet, follow the pronunciation...

Russian is a beautiful language and one of the most widely spoken in the world. In just a few minutes, you'll be able to say some basic words and phrases to your Russian friends and colleagues.

For the most part, traveling through Russia is safe--especially when you are armed with the right information. Tourists are regularly targeted by criminals throughout Russia, however, so you will...

Since the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1990, many Western corporations have scrambled to take advantage of Russia's economic rebirth. While doing business in Russia makes good financial sense,...

Obtaining a job in Russia can be difficult for Westerners, since preference is always given to citizens before foreigners. Be prepared to offer a set of unique skills in order to compete in the...

Since the fall of the Soviet Union in 1990, Russia has made huge strides in opening itself to Western culture. The rich and varied history of Russia, however, still permeates the way most of its...

Don't put too much stock in the stereotype of a husky, dour Russian woman in peasant dress, watching over a household full of children. The modern Russian woman is generally well educated and very...

If you ever visit a Russian bath (banya), you may be treated to a vigorous massage, as well. What makes this massage unique is that it is administered with the help of a venik--a scrub make out of...

Kvas--Russian bread cider--was once popular throughout the Russian empire, particularly in villages. Even when the Russian navy was at sea, the crew would take the time to brew kvas, so as to...