By Elena Shuvalova
Shuvalova Associates
2021
There are many myths about Russia. Bears are walking the streets and people have smoking nuclear reactors as centerpieces in their apartments. Which stories about Russians are true, and which are false?
Russians Drink a Lot
Consumption of alcohol per capita in Russia is less than in some countries of Europe. Working residents of large cities drink no more than the British, Czechs and Germans. Moreover, a healthy lifestyle has become increasingly popular among young people in recent years: adolescents completely abstain from alcohol and tobacco, and go in for sports. The state supports this trend and takes steps to limit the turnover of alcohol products: there are strict hours and locations for selling alcohol. Young people can’t buy alcohol without ID. Smoking is prohibited in public places, such as restaurants, clubs, airports, railway stations, office buildings and other public premises.
Russians Are Sullen and Harsh
Any foreigner who gets in the Moscow metro during the morning rush hour will be convinced of this statement once and for all. But if we don’t take the extremes, everything is not so bad. In Russia, it’s really not customary to walk around the streets with a smile on your face, but only because the popular saying goes: laughing without reason is a sign of stupidity. In the company of friends and relatives, a Russian person discards the sternness and really relaxes. Generally, hiding emotions is a part of Russian mentality. It’s not accepted to loudly talk in public places or to address passers-by on trifles. Therefore, anyone who violates the established order, is perceived with a little bit of suspicion, and foreigners start to think that Russians are inhospitable people, although this is only a tradition of upbringing. If you get to communicate with a Russian in a relaxed atmosphere, you’ll be surprised to learn that this is an open, friendly and cheerful person.
Clothes and Appearance
It is believed that Russian girls pay a lot of attention to their appearance and always prefer beauty to convenience when it comes to clothes. They can’t imagine their life without jewelry and make-up and wear high heels. Perhaps, an average Russian woman really dresses up more than European or Asian ladies. But the times of wearing only high heels and showing off brands are gone: today, residents of large cities prefer a neat, comfortable style without obvious overdressing. The most popular clothes among Russian women are skinny jeans and flat shoes or sneakers. Women of the older generation choose loose trousers or dresses, pairing them with moccasins.
There is an opposite myth when it comes to Russian men – they absolutely don’t know how to dress. Russia has never really been the capital of men’s fashion, and concern for appearance was considered a woman’s prerogative. Nevertheless, no Russian man will allow himself to appear in public in untidy clothes or dirty shoes. By the way, there are way more fashion lovers among the young generation: hipster culture is just as popular in Russia as it is in the rest of the world. And yes, no one has been wearing ushankas for a long time.
Weather
In the European part of the country, the temperature from June to August stays within comfortable 23-25 °C. This is higher than average summer temperature, for example, in the British Isles. Sometimes the weather surprises, and the air warms up to +35 or even +40 °C in the summer, which negatively affects residents of large cities.
Let’s not forget that Russia is located in several climatic zones, and each one has its own temperature characteristics. Temperatures reach -56 °C in Siberia and beyond the Arctic Circle in winter, which in itself horrifies any foreigner. But local residents adapted to severe weather conditions and feel quite comfortable. At the same time, in the southern regions of Russia, the cities of the Black Sea coast for example, the climate is subtropical, and palm trees grow on the streets. Some Russians never even see snow.
Culture and Leisure
Russian culture is famous for its writers, artists, musicians. There is an opinion among foreigners that Russians go to the Bolshoi Theater every weekend, are fans of ballet and freely quote Pushkin during feasts. In fact, residents of capitals visit theaters as often as the Austrians visit the opera. This doesn’t mean that the native classics aren’t valued, people are just used to spending their time in more “down to earth” ways.
Bears Walk the Streets
Things happen. You can really meet a bear in small towns of Siberia and the Far East. Animals appear on the outskirts to find food in garbage cans. Sometimes they even go out onto the highway, provoking accidents. Local residents create anti-bear patrols engaged in shooting and catching dangerous predators in order to solve the problem. As for other areas of the country and major cities like Moscow, St. Petersburg, Kazan or Sochi, the probability of meeting a bear on the street there is almost zero.
Matrioshka Is An Authentic Russian Souvenir
In fact, the funny toy, a doll with several smaller dolls in it, was invented in Japan. The local “matrioshka” depicted Fukuruma, the god of learning and wisdom. The Japanese toy came to Russia at the end of the 19th century, and everyone was so fond of it that Russian masters decided to rethink it in their own way. So there was a painted folding doll of a red-cheeked girl in a sarafan and a headscarf. The origin of the name “matrioshka” remains mysterious. Some say it’s formed from the beloved name Masha, or Manya. Others argue that this is the form of the name Matryona, popular in Russia at the time. Anyway, it turned out to be a very funny souvenir, traditionally Russian, but with oriental roots.
