Russian gestures-2

Fig sign (aka [dulja, kukish, shish, figa]) - is not only insulting gesture to the dispute. Slavs used this symbol as for protection of the evil eye and spoilage. According to popular belief it was possible to neutralize the sorcerer or witch, if a man showed them a Fig sign. Fig sign  defend from the other evil forces.
Fig sign is also  the magic remedy for many ills, such as "barley" in the eye (patient carry to a fig sign to the eye and recited the spell). Thus, the  fig sign- action that has  a protective value in a Slavic folk traditions. 

Russian troika

Russian troika (as a mean of transportation Ded Moroz) on New Year retro postcards

Russian gestures

I wonder why Americans show middle finger, while the Russians show arm up to the elbow (obscene gesture Bras d'honneur)? Russia - a generous soul!

Snowmen on retro postcards

Making snowmen - the ancient Russian fun.
See a selection New Year retro postcards with snowmen

Fabulous town Andersengrad

 The last time I talked about an interesting place in the Moscow region, where it is difficult to get into.
Near to St. Petersburg also has a "closed" (especially for foreign tourists) place.
It is a fabulous town Andersengrad, founded in 1980, and located in town Sosnovy Bor. Andersengrad first three years was not completed due to lack of funds and human resources (due to the construction of the Leningrad NPP) and so the founders asked for help from  of the inhabitants of Sosnovy Bor. And hundreds of people came after work and gratuitously completed town Andersengrad.
There is a monument to the writer Andersen, Town Hall Tower, a tin soldier, a cafe "Snow White," Ole Lukoye house, summer theater, bastions, bridges, underground passage.
Andersengrad - is an amazing world of fairy tales.

Ancient manor Marfino

Ancient manor Marfino is the original monument of Russian architecture of XVIII - XIX centuries. A stunning bridge across the pond, the palace, griffins ...

Now the manor is a military sanatorium, and getting there legally impossible.
Address: Mytishchi district, Moscow region.

Zhostovo decorative art manufactory

Zhostovo decorative art manufactory opened museum, where you can see the most interesting work (trays and other souvenirs). Also there are a master classes and tours of the factory for adults and children.
Address: Village of Zhostovo, Moscow oblast, Russia

Driving Directions:  bus number 438 from  m.Medvedkovo to  village Zhostovo, then walk to the museum.
You can buy Zhostovo souvenirs, for example, in GUM on the 3rd floor.

Festival "Day of ATV" near by St.Peterburg

June 15 and 16 near St. Peterburi will be the festival of ATV.
8th National Festival for outdoor enthusiasts "Day of ATV" will take place near St. Petersburg, the town Nikolskoe.
Entrance to the event is free.
Location: town Nikolskoe of the Leningrad region.

How to get there:
- From St. Petersburg to the city Nikolskoe by shuttle bus takes you to the metro stations Rybackoe (bus number 682) and Kupchino metro (bus number 688)
- The coordinates of this location: 59.703806,30.778749

Russian Language Day

Russian Language Day is celebrated on June 6, in the  birthday of the great Russian poet Alexander Pushkin

you can see interesting facts about Russian language here

Russian kids

russian kids without XBOX :)

Unfortunately, not all children indulge "street" sports now, many of them are already "engulfed"  Internet and computer games.

Russian singer Valentine Ryabkova

 Valentine Ryabkova is young girl who singing Russian, Cossack and orthodox song. Valentine sings with first class,  after graduation continued her studies vocal. Girl recorded a disc of lullabies.
The song "Candle":

Valentine Ryabkov. Lullaby "Wind flies Mountains":

Russian folk  lullabies

Russian off-road cars

the Russian people will do anything, if only not make good road :)
As I said, many Russian roads require special off-road cars.
For example: GAZ for roads of inclement north (well, in the north are not roads, but only "directions")

or Zil

UAZ or Lada Niva is a more popular type of off-road cars for rural broken roads 

The song Vlad Nezhnyj - SUV UAZ is a God of bumpy road

LADA NIVA 4x4 test-drive

Russian roads

Translation of the inscription on the picture:  if you want  to win this country before you should arrive at it.


In fact, most of the roads in Russia is not so terrible. Most likely it is a road in the north of Russia, where they are usually absent - because a terrible climate, incredibly vast distances and few people. Or in rural areas, where poor budget and also a few people in large areas (see video).

There is a saying: Russian names expensive the place where going to pass.
And so for these roads require special machines, which I will talk at another time.

Russian women

The great Russian poet Nekrasov in his poem "Jack Frost" wrote about Russian women:  "There are women in the Russian villages" who "stop galloping horse, burning hut !"

Catch phrases of Anton Chekhov

Anton Chekhov, the famous Russian writer, is the author of many of the phrases and expressions. For example, "Берегите в себе человека" (=Save the human in you).

Other catch phrases of Anton Chekhov:

Beware of the refined language. The language should be simple and elegant.
In man should be beautiful: the face, the clothes, and soul, and mind.
Only fools and charlatans knows all.
What a great happiness to love and be loved.
Brevity - the soul of wit.
A real man consists of husband and rank.
Never too early to ask: do I a deed or trifles?
One  pain is always reduces  another. If you step on the tail of a cat that has a toothache, and it will feel better.
Indifference - a paralysis of the soul, premature death.
Clever man loves to learn, and a fool - to teach.
Honor can not be taken away, it can be lost.
[To be a free man] ... Need to squeeze a drop by drop of self a slave.

The world's first round the world sailing expedition on an inflatable

World expedition on a makeshift inflatable and collapsible catamaran successfully completed 25 march 2013 year.  
In February 2008, the Siberian extremals started round trip from the island of Phuket (Thailand). 
Th inflatable  sailing catamaran for the first time crossed the oceans. For travel was built ship that exploded weighs 30 kilograms and fit into 35 bags. Catamaran assembled has a length of 12 meters, weight - 850 kilograms, height - 13 meters, its frame is made of aluminum alloy with the addition of zirconium (these are used for submarines). Tests have shown that such a framework there is no limit on the time of operation.
The boat was designed and built Anatoly Kulik, he also designed the route. In swimming Siberians suffered several storms, two meetings with the sharks and breaking GPS-navigator.

Dr Leonid Rogozov Performs Self Surgery

Operation conducted himself

This story takes place in 1961 in Antarctica. 27 year old Dr. Leonid Rogozov took part  in Antarctic expedition. April 29 Leonid ill. As an experienced surgeon, he found that he had acute appendicitis. But since he was the only doctor at the station, and the non-flying weather was, so he decided to do the surgery himself. Weather forecaster  gave tools, the driver held a mirror and directed the light from the desk lamp, and the doctor made himself a local anesthetic and began operation, which lasted about two hours and was interrupted for a time when he lost consciousness.
 After five days the temperature returned to normal, two days later were dropped stitches. Leonid Rogozov became known around the world.

Read mor about Leonid Rogozov

Maslenitsa

In  2013, Maslenitsa (Russian carnival) will be held from 11 to 17 March, and from March 18 to begin Lent.
Pancake week - ancient Slavic feast remained since pagan culture and preserved after the adoption of Christianity. This is a holiday for a week when seeing off winter and welcome spring, expect a close heat and renewal of spring nature. Inapplicable attribute Carnival - pancakes, they have a ritual: the round, rosy, warm, they were a symbol of the sun, which flared brighter, lengthening days.

Maslenitsa - is the most joyous holiday with festivals, songs, dances, games and fairs. At the end of the festival is the ritual burning of a homemade effigy of winter, which symbolizes the destruction of the old, dilapidated, decrepit world and make space for a new, younger, better.

Interesting video (in russian) about the celebration of Carnival in the past of Russia. The video uses the paintings of Russian artists and parts of the films  "The Snow Maiden" and "The Barber of Siberia". In one story, you will see the fights, which I will discuss at another time. 

Origami Models of Famous russian Cathedrals

Real talent lives in the village Tigritskoe, Krasnoyarsk Krai. Teacher Sergey Tarasov made ​​of paper large models Saint Basil's Cathedral  and St. Saviour Monastery. To create their own origami man spent more than a year, using about 60 thousand colorful paper figures for each model.

Russian craftsman

 Russian people love handmade and they are  very good masters in the various arts. Not looking where they live.
For example Annette Valius (Аннета Валюс) was born and raised in Moscow, but now lived in France. She for the first time to take in the hands of beads in 2006. Since  Annette  created a lot of jewellery in technique of  Soutache embroidery, has participated in exhibitions and wrote a book about Soutache embroidery, hold master classes.

Sourse

Heavy snowfall in Moscow

February in Russia are usually the coldest month of the year. The weather may be different. For example, in Moscow and the Moscow region yesterday was a thaw, and now heavy snow with strong winds throughout the day. The situation is tense - cars on the roads are in huge traffic jams, the sidewalks in the snow or in the giant puddles.

Video (in Russian)