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About Russian Holidays

The following is a listing of the current official Russian holidays that are celebrated in the Republics of the former USSR. In recent years, as the Western influence increases, the holidays below have been joined by such classic American favorites as Halloween, Saint Patrick’s Day, and Valentine’s Day. The former USSR Republics also celebrate several holidays a year that could be seen as Russian counterparts to American holidays, such as Independence Day. Often, celebrations in Russia involve feasting, drinking, and church services.

OFFICIAL RUSSIAN HOLIDAYS

January 1, New Year’s Day – This is often said to be the most beloved holiday. Russians often celebrate it again on January 14; this date corresponds to New Year’s on the Julian Calendar used in Russia prior to 1918. The gift-giving and merriment Americans associate with Christmas are often seen on New Years in Russia.

January 7, Christmas – This is the Russian Orthodox Christmas.

February 23, Soldier’s Day – Formerly Soviet Army Day, this holiday honors Russian men and is the counterpart to International Women’s Day.

March 8, International Women’s Day – Women receive flowers and gifts, and are toasted by Russian men.

May 1-2, Spring and Labor Day – Coming close to Easter, this holiday is often celebrated in church. It also involves customary demonstrations.

May 9, Victory Day – This day is set aside to commemorate the victory over German Nazism in World War II. Much like in its American counterpart, Veteran’s Day, wreaths are placed on the graves of the fallen and those who fought against Nazism are venerated.

June 12, Independence Day – The adoption of The Declaration of Sovereignty of the Russian Federation in 1991 is celebrated today.

August 22, Day of the Russian Federation State Flag – This is a day to honor the Russian flag.

November 4, Day of the National Unity is the newest Russian holiday. – Largely customary, this holiday recalls the anniversary of the socialist revolution that established communism in Russia.

December 12, Constitution Day – The country’s primary legal document and the foundation on which Russian law is built receives recognition at this time

Russian Folk Song

Kalinka

‘Kalinka’ is widely considered to be the most popular Russian folk song. It was written in 1860 by the composer and folklorist Ivan Laringov and first performed in Saratov, southeastern Russia, as part of a theatrical entertainment.

While the word ‘Kalinka’ literally translates as ‘little berry’, the song has been interpreted in sorts of ways. Some see it as a metaphor for the natural beauty of young women; others view it as a traditional love song. Catchy and vigorous, with a refrain that gets quicker with each repetition, it is often used in computer game, in particular Tetris, which, like the music, gradually speeds up to the point where it is pretty much unplayable.

 https://youtu.be/m8m2BYv02Nw

Korobeiniki

Korobeiniki, in pre-revolutionary Russia, were peddlers with trays, who sold fabric, haberdashery and books amongst other things. In this 19th-century folk song, based on a poem of the same name by Nikolay Nekrasov, a peddler offers a peasant girl some of his wares in exchange for a kiss.

She rejects all but one: a turquoise ring, reasoning that having his wares but not him would be unbearable. The next morning, he pledges to marry her. Lively and propulsive, the music belies the poem’s sad ending: the peddler is robbed and killed by a forest ranger whom he asks for directions while returning home from the market.

https://youtu.be/umEDct4BoGc

Polyushka Polye

Composed in 1934 by Lev Knipper, an active agent of the state security service, this archetypal Soviet song is sung from the perspective of a Red Army recruit, who proudly leaves his home to keep watch against his homeland’s enemies.

Undeniably catchy, it was covered by many artists in the Soviet Union, including Poyushchiye Gitary (The Singing Guitars) - a rock band nicknamed ‘The Soviet Beatles’ thanks to their phenomenal popularity in the Soviet Union. Other memorable performers include Michael Palin, who sang it with the choir of the Russian Pacific Fleet as part of his television series: ’Full Circle with Michael Palin’. See below.

https://youtu.be/lL4KtwR3TKI

Ey, Ukhnem!

This song, known in English as the ‘Song of the Volga Boatman’, was sung by barge-haulers on the Volga River. A popular concert piece for bass singers, it has been reimagined by various composers, not least Stravinsky, who was asked by Sergei Diaghilev to orchestrate it for wind instruments, soon after the abdication of Tsar Nicholas II. There’s also Bill Finegan’s jazz arrangement of it for the Glenn Miller band, which reached Number one in the US charts in 1941.

https://youtu.be/dujd9nqFND0

Katyusha

With its militaristic subject matter - about a soldier protecting the Motherland while his grateful girlfriend Katyusha protects their love - this 1938 song by Mikhaïl Issakovski gained huge popularity during World War Two.

According to some, it inspired the name of the Soviet Union’s Katyusha rocket launchers, and it retained its popularity beyond the Fall of the Iron Curtain. In 2021 Russian athletes even proposed playing it at international sporting events in place of the Russian national anthem.

https://youtu.be/7J__ZdvsZaE

Dorogoï Dlinnoyou

This traditional Russian gypsy folk song, which translates as ‘On the long road’, is instantly recognisable in the UK, where it is better known by its English name: ‘Those Were the Days’. Composed in the 1920s in the Soviet Union, it found international success in 1962, thanks to the American group, The Limeliters. And in Russia it remains ever popular, thanks to its catchy melody and irrepressible energy.

https://youtu.be/HXRsILqKyyM

Alyosha

This Soviet-era song, by Eduard Kolmanovsky, is named after the Alyosha Monument, a statue of a World War II Soviet Soldier in the Bulgarian city of Plovdiv, which pays tribute to the Soviet soldiers who died during fighting in Bulgaria. Slow and elegiac, it is a symbol of collective Russian memory.

https://youtu.be/LcF9pHO-5E8

Podmoskovyne Vechera

Translating as ‘Moscow Nights’, this plaintive Russian song is one of the best known abroad. It was written by composer Vasily Solovyov-Sedoi in 1955 with the title ‘Leningrad Nights’, but was later renamed at the request of the Soviet Ministry of Culture. Hugely popular in the USSR, it really gained a foothold abroad when the American pianist Van Cliburn played it to welcome Mikhail Gorbachev to the White House in 1989, turning it into a symbol of improving Russian-American relations.

https://youtu.be/uqccaYkr0E8

Oi Moroz, Moroz

A popular drinking song, 'Oi Moroz, Moroz', which translates as ‘Oh, Frost, Frost’, is sung from the perspective of a man begging the winter cold not to freeze him and his horse while they are on the road because his beautiful and ‘jealous’ wife is waiting for him at home. As well as being a meditation on the Russian climate, it has been interpreted as a song about loneliness.

https://youtu.be/7PYfwm08YaA

Russian traditional Food

WHAT IS SPECIAL ABOUT RUSSIAN FOOD

Russian cuisine is commonly misunderstood. Locals in Russia eat far more than potatoes and vodka! The food here is complex and inspiring.

The flavors in typical Russian foods play on every part of your taste buds and the style here is rooted firmly in fine dining techniques. Local cooks have mastered seasonings to create a truly unique style of cooking that has inspired so many other European nations.

Given the size of Russia, there are local variations to many of the traditional Russian dishes based on what is agriculturally available. Only about 14 percent of Russia is suitable for agriculture, but foraging is popular throughout the country.

That said, some things remain the same across Russia, like their love of sour flavors and root vegetables. Mushrooms, sour cream, beef, and buckwheat are Russian food staples.

MOST FAMOUS RUSSIAN FOOD

Pelmeni (Russian Dumplings)

This traditional Russian cuisine dates all the way back to the indigenous Siberian people. Pelmeni are Russian dumplings and they are one of the most beloved foods in the country. In fact, many consider this the national food of Russia.

Russians eat Pelmeni all the time as they are super versatile! You will be able to find this typical Russian food in restaurants and street vendors throughout Russia.

These delicious dumplings come with a wide range of fillings, but they always start the same. Pelmeni begins with flour dough, rolled into thin rounds, and then stuffed with luscious fillings.

Common fillings include mincemeat, mushrooms, or a blend of the two. Russian dumplings are included in other dishes like soups and stews, but they are also enjoyed in sauce or on their own.

TRADITIONAL RUSSIAN FOOD

Ikra (Caviar)

Russia is home to the Caspian Sea, which is renowned for the sturgeons that live there and the caviar that they produce. Caviar is an essential part of Russian cuisine.

Red caviar is enjoyed by locals in Russia all the time, but black caviar is reserved for special occasions. This famous Russian food is often enjoyed with crepes or small toasts for a rich and decadent snack.

Smetana (Sour Cream)

Most Russians cannot picture mealtime without this rich dairy product. Smetana is a popular dairy product similar to sour cream only with much higher fat content.

This creamy Russian food can have as high a fat content as 42 percent! All that milkfat makes this sour cream extra thick and luscious. Smetana is eaten by Russians with breakfast, lunch, and dinner!

Stroganina (Russian Raw Fish Delicacy)

This delicious food in Russia celebrates the wonderful Siberian fish available to locals. It is the product of ice fishing during the early fall.

Chefs expertly cut raw frozen fish off the bone in tasty ribbons. This traditional Russian dish is a true delicacy that may be rare to find. If you get a chance to try it, Stroganina is simply delicious!

Gribnoy Zhul’yen (Mushroom Julienne)

Mushrooms are an amazing food that can thrive virtually everywhere, even in the cold climate of Russia, this makes them a common ingredient in Russian cooking.

One of local Russians’ favorite ways to eat mushrooms is in Mushroom Julienne; a luscious dish made from mushrooms baked in smetana and finished with a thick topping of cheese. The cheesy topping gets wonderfully thick and crisp when baked and the smetana and mushroom mixture is lush and creamy.

You can easily find this typical Russian food in restaurants and homes throughout Russia.

Borodinskiy Khleb (Russian Rye)

This wonderful Russian bread is found in households and restaurants nationwide. It takes some serious baking know-how to make rich Russian rye bread, but well worth the effort.

This delicious bread uses rye flour and a touch of beet sweetness, but the real trick is the starter. This dough for this classic Russian food staple is made using a starter dough that adds loads of depth and a slight sour note to the rye. Russians eat this bread at all times of the day. It is used for cold-cut sandwiches, toasts, and more!

Holodets (Meat Jelly)

Russia is home to a huge population of Orthodox Christians and this means that Christmas and Easter time are extra special. Many special dishes are made around these holidays, including Holodets or cold meat jelly.

This traditional Russian cuisine has been served on special occasions in the country for centuries. It is typically made with pig’s feet that are cooked down in liquid and then set in a special mold. The natural gelatin in the animal’s feet helps this mold set into a meaty jelly that can be enjoyed on rye bread or crackers.

RUSSIAN FOOD: SALADS

Salat Olivye (Olivier Salad)

This awesomely flavorful potato salad has been exported all around the world and is beloved for its delicious vegetable flavor!

Olivier salad is typically made with boiled potatoes, peas, pickles, carrots, onions, eggs, apples, and sometimes meat. It is dressed with mustard, seasonings, and mayo to make one of the most flavorful mash-ups in history.

It is a must-have dish when celebrating New Year’s Eve, or Novy God, but no matter the day this classic food in Russia is a sensation!

Seld Pod Shuboi (Herring Salad)

Russian cold salads are world-renowned and for great reason, they’re amazing! One deliciously layered salad locals love to eat is Seld Pod Shuboi. Its literal translation is “Herring under a Fur Coat,” and that funny name helps capture the spirit of this crowd-pleasing Russian cuisine.

This local favorite is made by layering pickled herring and cold vegetables, typically carrots, onions, and beets. The whole salad is dressed with mayonnaise and seasoned with spices and herbs like dill. This popular dish in Russia is a fixture at most local gatherings and special events.

Vinegret (Beet Salad)

Russians know that the key to a good party is food and that is why the tradition of zakuska or a celebratory buffet is so popular. Many traditional Russian foods are designed to be part of a zakuska like Vinegret, or cooked beet salad.

This colorful cold salad is a delicious and naturally vegan appetizer that locals cannot get enough of. The salad features beets, cooked potatoes, carrots, onions, and either sauerkraut or pickles. It has all the pickled flavors and crunchy textures you could dream of in a salad!

Salat Mimoza (Mimosa Salad)

One famous Russian food that always completes the party is Mimosa salad. This delectable cold salad is a mainstay at Russian celebrations and get-togethers. This party-ready dish is made up of layers of canned fish, hard-boiled eggs, cheese, and onions, and it’s all dressed in mayonnaise.

This classic Russian dish is a must-have for any Easter celebration. Its fun flavor and bright color will make you bloom with springtime joy!

RUSSIAN FOOD: PIES

Kulebyaka (Fish And Egg Pie)

This beautiful dish is a classic piece of Russian cuisine. Kulebyaka is a traditional Russian pirog or pie made with a wonderful savory filling. This traditional Russian food will fill you for hours with its rich, protein-packed filling.

The basis of this pie in Russian is always sturgeon, often sourced from the Caspian Sea, mixed with buckwheat, eggs, mushrooms, onions, and dill. Kulebyaka is considered a high-end dish and elevated versions of this pie can be found in restaurants throughout Russia.

This dish is so well-loved that famous French chef Auguste Escoffier had one bite before deciding that this Russian delicacy become one of his specials!

Kurnik (Chicken Dome Pie)

Pies are staple foods in Russia, but they may not look like what you’re expecting. Russian pies tend to be domed or even occasionally free-form, like their sensationally comforting Kurnik or chicken pie. This delicious dish is what Russians eat when they want comforting and casual flavors, like chicken, eggs, onions, buckwheat, or rice.

Locals have a love affair with this pie that runs so deep that they typically make it for weddings. Two pies are gifted to the couple, one for each spouse. The kurnik are decorated and served to the new couple as a show of their love and bright future.

Luckily, you don’t have to get married to try this delicious pie. It is served at restaurants and homes across Russia so everyone can enjoy this tasty goodness.

Karelskiy Pirozhok (Karelian Pie)

The region of Karelia is on the Finnish edge of Russia and this region is known for some of its unique food traditions. One of the most famous dishes to come out of this area is the Karelskiy Pirozhok or Karelian Pastry. This flavorful hand-held pie is enjoyed throughout Russia, Finland, and beyond.

This wonderful savory pie is made with a rye crust and filled with rice, potatoes, and butter. It is enjoyed as a snack or breakfast in Russia. They are a wonderful testament to all the great regional dishes of Russia.

Rasstegai (Savory Hand Pie)

This popular Russian food dates back to the times of Russian Tsars. The name translates to “unfastened” which is the perfect name for these open-filling pies. They are shaped into knot-like forms that burst with luscious fillings made from fish, meat, liver, rice, or mushrooms. One bite of this perfect hand-sized pie and you will feel like a Tsar!

RUSSIAN FOOD: DINNER

Befstroganov (Beef Stroganoff)

People around the world are familiar with this famous Russian cuisine. It’s a humble dish traditionally made from seared beef, mustard, and smetana, but many variations exist. The most common addition to this Russian dish is mushrooms

This is a local classic that is enjoyed in households and restaurants throughout Russia. Its simplicity makes it endlessly accessible and wonderfully delicious to all Russians.

Kotleta Po-Kiyevski (Chicken Kiev)

During the 1800s Russian nobility took to the French style of cooking, and started to popularize dishes with a more French influence. One of the most famous of these French-inspired Russian dishes is Kotleta Po-Kiyevski or Chicken Kiev.

Chicken Kiev is made up of a pounded chicken cutlet that is breaded and then stuffed with garlic, butter, and herbs. It’s a flavorful dish that is sure to get your mouth watering! This luscious Russian food can be found at high-end restaurants throughout Russia.

One of the fun facts about Russia is that Chicken Kiev actually originated in France, but was made by a chef who was from Kiev.

Golubtsy (Stuffed Cabbage)

What Russians eat when they want a bite of nostalgia is Golubtsy or stuffed cabbage. It is a friendly dish that fills you with comforting flavors and textures.

This easy yet full-flavored dish is traditionally made by steaming cabbage to soften the leaves, then filling them with a delicious filling. The leaves are rolled shut and baked in a rich sauce, often including smetana.

The fillings are usually rice or buckwheat based with pork, vegetables, and herbs, so your taste buds and appetite are satisfied for hours!

Makarony Po-Flotski (Navy-Style Pasta)

As the name implies, this popular Russian food began at sea. Navy-style pasta was originally

Religion in Russia

Russian Orthodoxy

Once you become more acquainted with Russian culture you will realize the large role that religion plays in Russian society. Since the 11th century, Slavic people were pagan, but after Duke Vladimir Krasno Solnyshko (Red Sun) decided to become Christian, he immediately baptized the entire population, sometimes even using force. Afterwards, somehow Russian people fell in love with Orthodox Christianity and its respective rituals have become an inspiration to them. Since the authorities of the Tsar had always been very religious and thus strongly supported Orthodoxy, the Church prospered throughout the country. There was a huge movement to build churches and temples all over Russia; the beauty of these buildings impressed Orthodox Christians and other religions alike. The grandest temples are concentrated in the heart of Russian Christianity in the central region and capital of the country - Moscow.

It is well known that Orthodox Christianity is a strict religion with lots of rules, fasts and restrictions in comparison with the Baptist or even Catholic faith. Nevertheless, in Russia people accepted Orthodoxy and nowadays many people are still very devout.

A Brief History of the Russian Orthodox Temple

A church or a temple is a spiritual building made for the passing of devotions, built and consecrated in a special manner. In Christianity a temple is a house of God, a place for prayers.

Traditions of building temples were developed during a time span of hundreds of years. Most often Christian temples look like a cross, which in its Eastern form has crosses of equal lengths, from above. The most famous Christian temple was Saint Sophia's Cathedral in Constantinople, the capital of Byzantine. Its round domes became an example for future architecture endeavors of Orthodox temples. Round domes and arches symbolized eternity and perfection, and were designed to make their observers more ‘spiritually aware.’ Icons with the image of the Mother of God were usually hung in apses near the altar, and images of the Lord's Supper were placed on the altar. The Christian temple usually has three distinct parts: the vestibule, a middle part and the altar. Most temples of Old Russia were built with five ‘onion’ domes.

It is necessary to get the blessing of a church hierarch to build a new temple. Once it was constructed, a new church or temple was consecrated in honor of Jesus Christ, of the Mother of God or of one or a few saints. A single-domed church or cathedral symbolized God; two domes were symbols of the divine and human nature of Jesus Christ, three domes – the Trinity, five domes – Jesus Christ and the four Evangelists. A temple with seven domes symbolized the seven church sacraments, nine domes - the nine angelic titles, and with thirteen domes – Jesus Christ and his twelve apostles.

The form and color of a dome are also very important in religious symbolism. Domes in the shape of a helmet symbolized the fight of Christianity against forces of evil; the shape of an onion is also the symbol of the flame of a candle that, in turn, symbolizes the immortal soul. Golden domes signify divine glory, and crown most of the main cathedrals located in big cities. Temples consecrated in honor of the Mother of God have blue domes with gold stars, which symbolize the Star of Bethlehem. Domes built in honor of the Trinity have green domes, and temples consecrated in honor of saints have green or silver domes.

Walls of Christian temples are always painted with images of biblical themes: the creation of the world, the life of Adam and Eve, the Lord's Supper and the Last Judgment. Usually above their arcs are images of the four Evangelists, and in the arcs are images of apostles, saints and prophets. Images of martyrs are usually painted on the columns.

The structure of Christian temples is designed with the following rules in mind: the altar is always placed an the eastern end and the level of its floor is a little higher than the others halls of the temple. It is also the main part of the temple, meaning that only men have permission to enter inside. The middle of the altar is the place from which devotions are told. Important sacred objects (a cross, the Bible, a tabernacle, a pyx and a corporal – a piece of silk with the image of Jesus Christ being placed into the coffin) are kept here. The back wall of the altar is occupied by the iconostasis: a partition with rows of icons. Choirs are located along the walls of churches and cathedrals. The western part of the temple is intended for people yet to be baptized but who are going to adopt the Christian faith and for people who are confessing their sins.

Russian Orthodox Services

Divine services held in church are an expression of the people's beliefs and of their love for God. During these services priests wear special clothes that can be different colors (yellow, white, blue, red, green, violet or black with silver) depending on the kind of service. The main divine service is the liturgy that is prefaced by seven actions throughout the day: the evensong, the midnight service, the Matins and four more services. This round of services signifies the gratitude people have towards God for rescuing them from their sins and the sin of mankind in general. The Orthodox Church also has occasional religious rituals. These are services connected with religious sacraments (christening, wedding and burial services, among others).

The ritual of Orthodox services was created centuries ago, in the first Orthodox capital Constantinople. The Orthodox Church has three daily divine services throughout the day. Also it is divided into different sacraments: receiving communion, the christening, the extreme unction, the anointing, the wedding and the ordaining. Besides these sacraments, there are also special divine services devoted to different religious holidays. The daily divine services last throughout the entire day. The evening services consist of the devotion of the ninth hour, the evensong and the complin. These devotions signal the thanks people grant God for that day and their request to save sleeping people during the night. The morning divine services begin at the midnight service, which is devoted to the second advent of Jesus Christ. The next service is the Matins that symbolizes the thanks people grant God for the previous night and the consecration of the new day. The third part of the morning service is the service of the first hour. This divine service, like services of the third, sixth and ninth hours that follow it, are short and consist of a few psalms and devotions.

Vespers are passed in temples at night before Sundays and religious holidays. The most solemn Vespers take place before Christmas and Easter and most of its devotions are dedicated to these holidays. The tradition of divine evening services is very ancient: it appeared because legends claim that Jesus Christ and his apostles often prayed only at night time. Furthermore, Christian people, who lived in the first years A.D., had to pray and pass divine services secretly and at night because of their fear of persecution by the Romans.

During the first part of the Vespers, priests remind people of Old Testament stories and the choir sings psalms about the creation of the world and offers up prayers about forgiveness. The second part of this divine service is the Great Suffrage, which is devoted to asking God for help. It is a general service in which all people take part, and it always begins because of the massive appeals coming from churchgoers to pray all together. During the Great Suffrage a priest reads seven secret devotions at the altar and a choir sings psalms about righteous men from the Old Testament and about Jesus Christ. Next, a choir sings a hymn glorifying God and priests go around the ceremony participants with a thurible (a vessel in which incense is burned) and candles.

The next action of the vespers is a group of general devotions to the Mother of God and all saints (John the Baptist, Saint Nicolas the miracle-worker, Saint Cyril and Methody to name a few) for the needs of all humanity. Afterwards, the morning part of the vespers begins: a priest speaks about the events of the New Testament and the theme of devotions changes from the penance to spiritual joy. The choir sings about the birth of Jesus Christ and reads six psalms about divine mercy. Finally, the most solemn part of the vespers begins. Priests light all the candles and all go inside the temple, symbolizing the apostles, who came to the grave of Jesus Christ and knew about his resurrection.

Every Orthodox Church has a bell tower. Many people think bells are traditional Orthodox musical instruments and organs are traditional Catholic instruments, but in fact bells entered Old Russia from Catholic Europe and organs appeared in Orthodox Byzantium.

Now Orthodox temples usually have a lot of bells of different sizes. Big bells are used rarely, only during especially solemn or tragic events. Others are rung during divine services and religious holidays. First, the bells were tetrahedral, but from the 10th century on they became round. The church's specific regulations determine the order and the melody of the ringing of bells, for example the slow ringing of one bell is called the church-going bell: it is an invitation into the temple and a sign that a divine service is about to take place. During the Great Lent, the ringing of bells is reduced to a minimum. Earlier, bells were used only to call believers for devotions. But now the bells are rung several times a day – atmosphere is, after all, very important.

How to Behave in an Orthodox Church

All visitors to Orthodox churches, including those who do not adhere to the Orthodox faith, must be respectful. At the entrance of the temple, men must take their head-dresses off (this includes hats, bandanas, scarves, etc.) and women, on the contrary, must cover their heads with shawls. At the threshold of the temple people should stop for a moment, cross themselves, using their right hand and bow. These actions are external manifestations of the beliefs of Orthodox people. Of course, if you are not Christian you don't have to cross yourself, but it would be good idea to enter the temple slowly and quietly. Stop for a moment before entering, concentrate on the idea that you are going inside a spiritual place, then go ahead. When you enter keep silent, don't speak with each other unless it is absolutely necessary. Do not discuss what you see around with people inside. If you speak, do it quietly, ask questions only to the ladies, who are working inside the church. You usually will find them at the end of the hall, where candles and some other church items (such as icons, small crosses and silver chains) are sold. If you are entering a monastery, the rules could be even stricter. Women shouldn't wear a short skirt or pants, although some places will provide a long skirt to wear over normal clothing. The church rules regarding head covering also apply here.

When people accept blessings from a priest, they should cross their hands on their chests, putting the right hand on top of their left. When they kiss icons, they shouldn't kiss images of Jesus Christ, the Mother of God or saints to their faces. Each icon can be kissed only once, even if it has images of more than one person. Of course this information only applies to religious adherents, who believe and attend the service with certain expectations. If you entered the church because of cultural interests, you do not have to participate in these rituals.

In addition, Orthodox visitors can place candles in the churches. This practice is actually open to everyone, but if you do not believe in such things than this practice is of no use. However if you feel like doing this – go ahead. You usually can buy candles inside the temples and should light them from other candles that have been already lit. Candles lighted for the health of somebody can be put in front of any icon; candles lighted for dead people must be put only in front of a crucifix. Also keep in mind that all divine services in Orthodox temples in Russia are held in the Old Slavonic language; this does not sound not like normal speech, but more like a song. One would think that the speech would be full of spirit, but the Orthodox Church is solemn and doesn't allow much joy. People behave like they are suffering or just very calm; visiting the church for them is more like an obligation. For believers, this is not a place to meet your friends or praise the Lord and have joy. In summary, all people should behave simply, naturally and respectfully toward other visitors, when visiting an Orthodox Church.

Judaism

Historically, Russia has always had a fairly large Jewish community, despite government sanctioned persecution of Jewish believers before and during Soviet times. This religion has held a sad place in Russian history because Jews were often pressed by the Russian Orthodox Church. The Russian Orthodox Church was always the main religious branch and had an enormous amount of power, and consequently Judaism suffered the most. Many Russian Jews had to immigrate to other countries. Thus nowadays Jews won't express their beliefs too widely or publicly, even though government-sanctioned persecution has ceased. Nonetheless, in Saint Petersburg there is a relatively large Jewish community and they have a big choral synagogue, which is located on Lermontovsky, 2. A visit to this religious building is probably the best way to find out about Judaism and its practices in Russia today.

Buddhism

Over two and a half thousand years old, Buddhism is one of the three oldest religions. The head of all Buddhists is the Dalai Lama, which literally translates to "the Ocean of Wisdom". In Russia, Buddhism was first adopted by Buryats, one of the many types of Mongolian people who settled on Russian lands. The year 1741 is considered the official arrival of the religion in Russia. After this date, Buddhism spread to many different Russian groups, including the Kalmyks and Tuvinians. This religion also suffered during Soviet times: many temples were completely destroyed and Buddhist monks were executed. Fortunately in the 1990s, Buddhism received official recognition and began to flourish. 

Islam

 

If you keep up with current events, you will know that Islam has been made out to be a dangerous religion; in its purest form, however, the religion itself is very fair, balanced, and peaceful. In Russia, Islam is prevalent, especially in the country's southern regions. The religion also has lots of followers in the other parts of Russia, including St. Petersburg. You can find information about the Russian-Islam community in St. Petersburg at the Cathedral Mosque, which is located on Kronversky prospect, 7. Besides being an educational experience, visitors find this Mosque to be visually beautiful. It is one of the biggest mosques in Europe and can accommodate up to five thousand people. The first floor has a vast hall reserved for male worship only; the second floor is for women, and the third is where Sunday school classes are held. Here it is possible to study the Arabic and Tatar languages, as well with the basic pillars of Islam itself.

Shamanism is actually not very wide spread nowadays. The religion has spread through Central Asia and many people have adopted Shamanistic practices. The religion developed the most in the Tuva Republic, which is located near Altai and borders with Mongolia. For the past ten years Shamanism, along with Buddhism, had a rebirth in the Tuva Republic. At the moment there are about 170 Shamans residing here. In Tuva many people tend to believe in the Shamans and ask their help and advice about everyday matters. But the Tuva population is not the only group of people following Shamanism, people from all over the country travel large distances to the Tuva Republic in order to ask wise Shamans for help. Tuva is definitely a unique and impressive region, where you can hear the Shamans’ magical tambourine, see their enchanting dances and experience the ritual of rejuvenation called "The Wheel of Time". This practice includes meditation and ritual bonfires as well as seances of clairvoyance and discussions with the dead. There are a few centers in the Tuva Republic where you can get closer to the basis of this religion. Here Shamanism is based on close contact with nature and on the connection between human nature and wisdom. But if you encounter "Shamans" anywhere else in Russia or in the world for that matter, be careful, because they are not always authentic and tend to be more like cults, which unfortunately gives the religion a bad name.

Travelling by Air

Travelling by Air Inside Russian Federation

Travelling inside Russia By AIr is the Most Easy and Fastest Method,  The Fares are relatively cheap and affordable, Many Airlines Exist on this Market and They offer competitive Tarifs.

The Air Routes allow you to Travel to Big and Middle City's all over the Russian Federation. 

All the Operating Company's have their Own Website and you can Check the Fares on their Website, we will do a list of them in this Article.

You can Buy Tickets for Less than $50 For Many Directions, Airlines tarifs of Internal Flights inside Russia are affordable.

The Main Russian Airlines Company's are :

- Aeroflot

- S7 Airlines

- Utair

- Rossiya

- Ural Airlines

Network of Russian Airlines Routes

Traveling by Train Inside Russia

        Booking tips :

• Booking opens 90 days ahead for most trains.  From April 2019, a handful of trains including the Moscow-St Petersburg Red Arrow and (for summer) all Sapsan trainswill open up to 120 days ahead.

• Train fares in Russia are not particularly expensive, although there have been significant price rises over the last few years.  Moscow-St Petersburg on a top-quality firmeny sleeper train such as train 1/2 Krasnaya Strela costs around 3,200 roubles.  On a lower quality Moscow-St Petersburg overnight train such as train 56, you can find kupé tickets for as little as 2,260 rubles, platskartny berths for 1,400 rubles, though I'd still recommend taking the better trains.

• Look for trains described as firm, short for firmeny which is the top quality category of long-distance fast train with the most modern coaches and a high standard of on board service.

• Russian fares vary by season.  Higher fares are charged at Easter, New Year, July & August, lower fares in January & February.  Higher fares are charged for the fast high-quality firmeny trains, lower fares for slower unnamed low-quality trains.

• On the best trains you can buy tickets either 'without services' (no meals) or 'with services' (meals included, either served in the restaurant or in your compartment).  A number against a knife & fork logo on the Real Russia booking system or a 'У' with a number in the 'category' column on rzd.ru indicates the total number of meals you get with a 'with services' ticket, it might be just one or two even on a journey lasting several days.  An example of the sort of meal served can be seen in these photos from the Moscow-Irkutsk-Vladivostok Rossiya.

• Trains used to run to Moscow time in Russia, even where local time was 7 hours ahead of Moscow, and Russian rail timetables used to show Moscow time for all stops.  However, after over a century RZD Russian Railways ended this practice in August 2018, and you should now find online booking systems and station timetables showing local time at each stop.  It makes things a lot easier to understand!

• Children:  In Russia, one child aged 0 to 4 travels free, children aged 5 to 9 travel at half fare, children aged 10 and over must pay full fare.  Important:  Note that unlike trains in most of Europe, on Russian trains even infants and babies travelling for free must have a (free of charge) ticket with their name on it.

Buy tickets online at rzd.ru...

You can also now buy Russian train tickets direct from Russian Railways at www.rzd.ru which now has an English version.  It's a bit fiddly and not as user-friendly as Real Russia, but there are no fees and it does work if you persevere.  It accepts some overseas credit cards, though not all.  It may currently reject US-issued cards, though perhaps not all.

How to buy tickets at the station

The cheapest place to buy Russian train tickets is at the station reservation office.  Here are some tips:

• Remember to take your passport, even if you only want a Russian domestic train ticket.

• Russian train reservations open 60 days before departure, you can't buy tickets before reservations open.

• Russian Railways have an efficient computerised reservation system, and you can book any journey within or out of Russia at the reservation office at any Russian railway station.

• To avoid language problems if you don't speak Russian, it's a good idea to learn the Russian alphabet so you can write down the journey and date you want to show to the ticket office staff.  When writing dates, use roman numerals for the month, or example for '3 June 2008' write '3 VI 2008'.

• People often ask me, "If I go to the ticket office the day before I want to travel, will I find tickets available?".  Well, if you know the Russian alphabet, you can check how many berths in each class are still available on any train on any date within the next 60 days using the Russian Railways website, www.rzd.ru.  So you could see how many berths are left today on trains from (say) Moscow to St Petersburg tomorrow or the day after.  This will give you a pretty good idea of how many places are likely to be available if you ask at the station a day or two before departure.

• Many main stations have a 'servis tsentr' (service centre) where you pay a small fee (about 100 rubles) to book your ticket in a relaxed air-conditioned environment.  The extra 100 rubles can be well worth it!

Security.  Are Russian trains safe for families or single women?

Yes!  There is no need to worry unduly about security on Russian trains, even for families or women travelling alone. How do you think Russian families or solo women travel?  By train, of course, like everyone else!   Just use common sense as you would in a hotel, locking your door at night and not leaving valuables unattended in your compartment.  In addition to the normal lock on the compartment door, 'Spalny Wagon' and 'kupé' compartments have a security latch which stops the door opening more than an inch or two, and which cannot be released from outside.  There's also a safe place for your bags at night - if you have a bottom bunk, there is a metal box underneath the bunk which you can only get to by lifting up the bunk - in other words, for anyone to get to your bags, they will have to shift you off your bunk first..!  Your provodniks will probably also lock the access doors at each end of the corridor at night to prevent unwanted guests.  Men and women share the same compartments in Russia, but it's generally quite safe for women travelling alone.  If you're a woman and find yourself in sharing with three men that make you uncomfortable, just ask the provodniks (carriage attendants) if they can move you.