Russian Culture!
By: Maria Venable
Holidays!!!!
Orthodox Easter
- Easter is a very popular holiday in Russia in commemoration of the resurrection of Jesus. Easter has no fixed date. It is held on the first Sunday after the date of the first full moon that occurs on or after March 21. In 2004, it was on the 11th of April.
Cosmonautics Day
- This holiday celebrates the first manned space flight made on April 12, 1961 by the 27-year-old Sovietcosmonaut Yuri Gagarin.
Russian Food!!!!
Mushrooms in Sour Cream & Bacon Casserole!
Hvorost – Deep Fried Pastries!
Pirozhki (buns) stuffed with meat!
TOURIST ATTRACTIONS!
Trans-Siberian Railway
Part of the longest railway system in the world, the classic Trans-Siberian railway runs from Moscow to Vladivostok, a city near Russia’s borders with China and North Korea. Why would you wanna go here? Well, the train features first-, second- and third class sleepers, private bedrooms with bathrooms and showers!
Valley of Geysers
The Valley of Geysers was discovered in 1941 by local scientist Tatyana Ustinova. Since then it became a popular tourist attraction in Kamchatka and attracts a lot of interest from scientists and tourists.
Kizhi Island
Other tourist attractions includes dozens of wooden houses, windmills, chapels and barns. The peasant culture is represented with craft demonstrations and folk ensembles.
FAMOUS PEOPLE IN RUSSIA!!
ALEXANDER OVECHKIN 28
All-star hockey player became the 8th NHL player to win the Hart Trophy 3 times. He led the Washington Capitals to several playoff appearances.
NASTIA LIUKIN 24
American artistic gymnast who won the Gold medal for the US in the highly touted 2008 all around individual gymnastics competition.
SERGEI RACHMANINOFF (1873-1943)
Celebrated Russian pianist, conductor, and composer who was one of the last Romantic artists in Russian classical music.
AMUSEMENT PARKS!!
Gorky Park!
Why would we go there? The children are interested because it contains a range of fun fair rides and roller coasters - some safer looking than others, although they are being upgraded all the time. You can also hire boats or horses, go bungee jumping, and there's a sports club with tennis courts. In winter the whole area becomes a vast skating rink with skate hire, disco lights and music to match. In summer the "beach" area is hugely popular with sun-worshippers, and becomes an open air club in the evenings.
V VTs
There's the Theatre of Funny Horrors, which has an old-fashioned charm, and a few of the ubiquitous gaming arcades and shooting galleries.
Sokolniki
Most of the rides dating from at least twenty years ago. Although a look just for curiosity value, it's probably only of interest to very young children. Nothing less, the park is very central, and one of the best places in the city to bring kids for a walk or a picnic.
INTERESTING FACTS ABOUT RUSSIA
Population
In term of population, Russia is the ninth largest country in the world, even though it is the worlds biggest country.
Shaking hands
Russians never shake hands over a doorway, they believe it leads to arguments.
Moscow
Moscow is the biggest city in Europe. Population is 10.5 million! Statistics says that Moscow population is excepting to be 16 million by 2020!