Russian CultureCome explore!

What’s Inside?In this slide show, you will be able to explore different aspects of Russian culture. In the next slide, which are the Culture Contents, you will be able to see all of the

different areas that you can explore. By clicking on the buttons, you can go anywhere you choose! There is lots

of great information, activities you can do, and an internet connection at the end. Don’t worry about

getting lost, because the house on the bottom of many slides takes you back to the Culture Contents. The arrows help you get around too. Have fun on your

journey, and let the exploring begin!!

Culture ContentsMusic and

Dance

Literature

Pysanky Eggs

Onion Domes

Matryoshka Dolls

Favorite Activities

Even more information!

Food

Matryoshka Dolls

What are Matryoshka Dolls?

Making your own dolls

What are Matryoshka Dolls?

Until the early 1900’s, Russian toys were made at home out of wood. Wood was the easiest material to get, and the cheapest for the people. It was used to make puppets and many different kinds of animals. A favorite toy among the children was the colorful Matryoshka nesting dolls. These dolls fit one inside the other, with the biggest one holding all of the rest. They are all meant to be a family with the baby as the smallest. These dolls are now popular tourist souvenirs.

Making Your Own Dolls1.) Take a square piece of paper and fold it in half diagonally. 2.) Fold a corner across the triangle. 3.) Fold the opposite corner across the triangle. 4.) Fold down the top front flap in front. 5.) Now fold the top back flap down behind. 6.) Raise the front flap. Tuck the flap inside the outermost triangle. 7.) Raise the back flap and tuck it inside the figure. 8.) Use your fingers to make the figure puff out. Then decorate your doll as you choose! Use different sized squares to make larger or smaller versions of your original. Have fun!

What do Russians like to eat and drink?

May I have some tea please?

Bread, bread, and more bread!

Recipes to try at home

A typical meal

What do Russians like to drink?The most popular drink

for both adults and children in Russia is tea. Can you believe it?! The tea is brewed and served in the fancy metal container you see at the left, which is called a samovar. This boils the water and keeps it warm. A small teapot rests on top which contains a very strong tea. A little bit of that is combined with the water from the samovar. Tea is always served hot, and guess what they stir in it? A couple large spoonfuls of strawberry jam or other fruit preserve! Sounds tasty!

What do Russians like to eat?Russians eat lots of bread,

and prefer to buy it while it’s hot. The most popular bread is dark rye bread. What else do they like to eat? Salads are very popular and often eaten at breakfast. Soup is also very popular, especially cabbage soup. All kinds of meats are eaten, with a variety of vegetables and the well-known potato pancakes. What about dessert? Russians like piroshki, or fritters, along with very thin jam-filled pancakes called blini. Kissel, or fruit puddings are popular, along with marozhinaya, or ice cream. Are you hungry yet?

Delicious Russian RecipesBlini (Russian Pancakes)

1. Put 1 cup of flour in a bowl. Add 1 tablespoon of sugar, 1/4 teaspoon of baking soda, 1/2 tablespoon of baking powder, and 1/2 teaspoon of salt.2. In a new bowl, beat 1 egg. Add 2 cups of buttermilk and 1/8 cup of cooking oil.3. Combine the bowls and beat.4. Cook in oil. Eat and enjoy!Russians eat these with a variety of toppings. Those toppings include: caviar (fish eggs!), sour cream, jam, and honey.

Oliviet (Russian Salad)

1. Boil 2 medium potatoes and 2 medium carrots in their skins. Let cool, then peel and dice.

2. Using about 2 tablespoons of mayonnaise, mix the above ingredients with: 3-4 diced hard boiled eggs, 2-3 diced medium pickles, 1/4 cup diced fresh cucumber, and 2-3 tablespoons of chopped onion.

3. Season to your liking with pepper and enjoy!

A typical Russian meal

What activities do Russians enjoy doing?

Sports

Hobbies and games

Popular Russian SportsOne out of every four

Russians participates in some type of a sport. Soccer and ice hockey are both very popular sports. In fact, Russia is well-known for their excellence in these two sports. Tennis is becoming more and more popular, along with gymnastics. Russians do very well in the Olympics in many different sports, and have had many Olympic champions. Which sports do you prefer?

Hobbies and GamesRussians enjoy a wide variety of

activities. In the summertime, they enjoy swimming, long walks in the countryside, and fishing. Skating, cross-country skiing, and ice fishing are among their favorite winter activities. Mushroom picking is a favorite activity for people of all ages in the fall. Can you guess what board game is a favorite among Russians? Chess! In fact, Russian children begin learning how to play chess in kindergarten! They get very serious about chess in fifth grade when they learn plays of the famous champions. Many world champions are from Russia!

A Russian Ski Lodge

Beautiful Onion Domes

Fascinating History

Making your own Onion Domes

Onion DomesOn the Red Square in

Moscow is St. Basil’s Cathedral. It was built by Ivan the Terrible, a powerful leader in the 1500s. It is named after a holy man who dared to stand up to Ivan. To ensure that this masterpiece would never be duplicated, Ivan blinded the architects! Although St. Basil’s has the most detailed decorations (entirely decorated with geometric shapes and patterns in a variety of colors), beautiful onion domes are very popular in Russia today. The familiar onion shape may have been developed because it easily sheds snow. What a fascinating aspect of Russia’s culture!

The Red Square in Moscow

Making your own Onion DomesOnion domes have

very intricate patterns throughout and are decorated with geometric shapes and patterns in a variety of colors. Look at the black and white onion dome at the left to draw your own, or use the patterns on the next slide to create your own. Good luck, and remember, take special care with the patterns you create!

Shapes for your Onion Dome

Favorite Music

The Nutcracker?

Russian Music and Dance

What kind of music do Russians like to listen to?

The people of Russia enjoy listening to all kinds of music, just like we do. A very old, and popular kind of music though, is folk music. This dates back to medieval times, in the 1800s, when someone would play a string instrument, and the peasants would sing and dance. At the right is the popular balalaika, a three-stringed instrument. It is very old, but still widely played in villages and folk music bands.

The Nutcracker?

Ballet is very popular in Russia, and dates back to the 1700s. Many wonderful ballets, dancers, and choreographers have come out of Russia. We have all seen a portion of the well-known Nutcracker ballet. Well, music to Swan Lake, one of the dances of the Nutcracker, was written by Tchaikovsky. He is the first of many great Russian composers. An outstanding composer, he was!

Literature of Russia

“Two Stubborn Goats?”

Books by Patricia Polacco

Russian Folk TalesFolk tales are a very important part of Russia’s culture. They are simple

stories, full of magic and fantasy, that travel among people by word of mouth. They usually have important messages and truths. The original author is usually unknown, but each teller makes the story his or her own, exaggerating as one wishes. Below is the Russian folk tale of “Two Stubborn Goats,” retold by Mirra Ginsburg.

“Two Stubborn Goats”Two goats met on a narrow bridge high over a brook.“Step back!” cried one. “I have to cross!”“You step back!” cried the other. “I have to cross!”“No, you step back!”And the two stubborn goats bumped heads and locked horns, each trying to push the other back. They pushed and pushed, and plop! Both landed in the brook below.They clambered out of the water and limped away, groaning, muddy, and bruised. And each one still insists that it was the other one’s fault.

Great books by Patricia PolaccoPatricia Polacco has

written many wonderful books that do a great job of sharing Russian traditions. Her parents are Russian which is why she bases many of her stories on characters of Russian descent. Check out these books from the library today!

The Keeping QuiltRechenka’s EggsBabushka’s Doll

Babushka Baba Yaga

Pysanky Eggs

What are Pysanky Eggs?

Pysanky symbols

Pysanky colors

What are Pysanky Eggs?

In a special area of the Russian region is a country called the Ukraine. People there have been dying eggs, like Easter eggs, for hundreds of years. These eggs are decorated with very fancy designs. Believe it or not, but no two pysanky eggs are alike! Each egg contains symbols and colors that have special meanings. They are designed to communicate special wishes for the person who will receive the egg. Family and friends are given the eggs as gifts. What a neat gift to receive!

Pysanky SymbolsFlowers: beauty, children, wisdom, love charity and goodwill

Fruits: knowledge, health, a good life, and wisdom

Trees: long life, good health, strength, youthfulness

Animals: prosperity and wealth

Birds: fulfillment of wishes, spring, good harvest, and protection

Star: success Sun: growth and good fortune

Spider: good fortune Water: wealth

Bee: hard work and pleasantness

Pysanky Colors

White: purityGreen: hope, wealth, and happiness

Orange: power and enduranceBrown: prosperity

Yellow: success and wisdomBlue: sky, air, and good healthRed: happiness, hope, and life

Purple: faith and trust

Even more information for you!

Do you still want to learn more about Russia’s culture? Click on the button below and it will take you to the Internet. Remember, only stay on the site that it takes you to. Do not go to other sites, and click on the Back key when you are done. Have fun learning!

Go to the Internet now

A beautiful night in Russia