It’s always interesting to look at yourself from the outside, especially from a stranger’s perspective. After all, each country has its own national characteristics, and sometimes we do not even suspect how strong our connection with traditions is. We learned which of our daily habits surprise foreigners and which they want to adopt.
Eid celebration habit
Holidays are everywhere, and foreigners love them as much as we do. But they don’t celebrate it as often and on a large scale as we do. Many people who come to Russia say that Russians really know how to have fun. The truth is that we celebrate the New Year several times: with family, friends, colleagues and loved ones. We also organize a feast on the mountain, prepare many dishes, and give gifts. On the contrary, it is customary for foreigners to visit with their own food. And holidays in general are secular in nature. We prepare equally meticulously for personal, national and religious events in our country.
Rich feasts and cooking with the whole family
Many foreigners speak highly of Russians’ cooking skills. They are especially surprised when the whole family gathers in the kitchen. Moreover, not only women but also men cook. This beautiful tradition allows all generations to come together. Europeans and Americans find this particularly poignant because they believe they have lost the tradition of gathering around a large table. Increasingly, children are eating in their rooms, adults are eating at fast food restaurants, and elderly people are eating in front of the television.
In Russia, first, second and third courses are traditional – this is quite surprising for foreigners. By the way, in the Netherlands, as in the Scandinavian countries, soups are served, but much less thick, broth-like, than in ours. Even foreigners realized that they got used to drinking soup, so we got used to drinking soup. The same goes for salads that are more oily. They are much better at conserving heat and energy in the winter. Of course, pancakes and meatballs have a special place in the hearts of foreigners.
long tea parties
Russians’ love for tea really surprises foreigners. We could easily compete with the British in this regard. When we say tea, we mean not only a drink made from tea leaves, but also chamomile, fireweed, linden, etc. We also mean boiled ones. It is also an enlightenment for many that not all of our compatriots prefer vodka. For example, in the USA, coffee is much more popular and they prefer to drink tea chilled, with the addition of ice and syrup, that is, iced tea. But the most striking thing is that our tea parties last for a long time, as they are based on sincere conversations.
Go to the forest to pick mushrooms and garden
The Russian concept of “cottage” is very popular among foreigners. Even those who live outside the city admit that Russian houses have a special atmosphere. Tourists from other countries are surprised by our closeness to nature, especially to the earth. Yes, they are also interested in gardening, but a much wider variety of plants and trees grow on our lands. We also like to go to the forest to collect berries, mushrooms or birch sap.
Preparing canned food for the winter
Compared to foreigners, we are very knowledgeable in daily life. Part of our beautiful tradition is preparing pickles for the winter. We dry mushrooms, make jam, collect honey from beehives and much more. For this reason, Europeans are surprised to be given these gifts upon their return.
Love for strange foods
Each national cuisine has its own unique products. Russia is no exception. For example, many foreigners are surprised by the habit of peeling seeds. Americans are more accustomed to eating popcorn because they grow a lot of corn. Our country is famous for its large sunflower fields. Therefore, they not only make oil from its seeds, but also prepare desserts, for example, kozinaki and halva. They don’t seem appetizing until many tourists taste them. Foreigners noticed, among other things, their love for buckwheat porridge. It is often considered a superfood and very rare in the United States. But condensed milk and Russian ice cream have a special place in the hearts of foreigners. The fact is that these products first appeared in America, but over the years the recipe has changed a lot, and with it the taste. In our country, the standards adopted by Anastas Mikoyan during the Soviet period are still valid.
cup holders
A trip on the Trans-Siberian Railway is the dream of many travelers. Foreigners noticed that on Russian trains (and not only there) tea is served in special monogrammed cup holders. They find this household item particularly beautiful.
Place an empty bottle under the table
Another feature of Russian people is to put an empty bottle under the table. Maybe the truth is that we’ve been recycling them for a long time. Another reason is that there is usually too much food on our table. It is easier to remove excess items so as not to spoil the feast.
Belief in folk omens
Each country has its own signs, but in Russia they are observed with a certain frequency not only by the elderly, but also by very children. For example, foreigners are surprised when they are offered to “sit on the curb.” The tradition of not greeting or whistling from the threshold at home also surprises them.
Habit of changing shoes at home
If we are surprised that American schoolchildren sleep in bed with street shoes, foreigners are surprised by our habit of taking off our shoes when entering the house and coming to visit in our slippers. By the way, they find replaceable shoes very useful in terms of hygiene and often say that it would be nice to adopt this tradition. The truth is that the change of season is felt more strongly in our country than in Europe and the USA. Hence the desire to change shoes so as not to spread spring or autumn slush throughout the room.
Do not save on water and heating
In Europe and the USA, water and heating bills are astronomical; so, for example, the French, the British and the Dutch are ready to store their outerwear indoors. In Russia, everything is fine with energy resources and water supply, so Russians abroad have to face difficulties. We are used to the fact that by turning the tap once we can water the entire garden with water from the hose, wash the dishes and wash things. The same applies to batteries that start to warm up in September. Our frosts are much more severe than in European countries, so saving on heating means risking your health.
packed package
Yes, this funny habit surprises foreigners a lot. But it’s so handy to have all the packages in one place!
Transparent curtains on the windows
From the outside, this may seem really counterintuitive. And to admit, we didn’t really think about why we needed translucent curtains. Maybe it’s just a matter of convenience? After all, even if the sun intervenes, it is not a frequent visitor to our cold regions. That’s why I don’t want to close myself off to him.
Self-medication
Because health insurance is expensive abroad, Americans, for example, go to Mexico to get their teeth treated. Similarly, Europeans come to Poland, Belarus and Russia for treatment. Although medicine is free in our country, many people like to self-medicate. And the quality of services has nothing to do with it. Russians love the traditional methods they inherited from their grandmothers. And in general, on average, we can cook better than foreigners, so we have a lot of infusions and preparations for every occasion.
Ability to dress effectively
Relatively recently, a Russian girl could be recognized abroad by her high-heeled shoes, perfect manicure and red lipstick, and a man by his extremely short haircut, relatively short (compared to European) height and beard. Now this trend is gradually becoming a thing of the past. Of course, foreigners also pay attention to themselves, but Russians look more well-groomed and even serious. While Europeans don’t bother to wear sweatshirts and sneakers, we are trying to get people to pay attention to us.
I don’t like small talk
In most cases, Russians do not have the skills to make small talk. We prefer to talk when we have something to say. This makes Danila Bagrov ask his friend why Americans always ask “how are you?” This is perfectly exemplified in the scene in the movie “Brother” where he asks. And are they really interested? Therefore, there is a widespread opinion among foreigners that Russians do not smile. Of course, they know that this is not the case, but we are not actually ready to open our souls to the first person we meet. Our frankness is sometimes perceived as rudeness. For example, when a Russian says his coat is dirty, he is not mocking, he is showing sincere concern.
living with parents
While most Americans prefer to rent apartments, Russians value real estate highly. And most of the time they live under the same roof with their parents. On the one hand, for practical reasons, it is simply convenient not to overpay for rental housing, and on the other hand. For example, you can leave your children in the care of grandparents while both parents are at work. Sometimes several generations gather under one roof!
Find ways to get around the rules
Many Europeans are impressed by the resourcefulness and creative thinking of Russians. If we don’t like a rule, we find an unconventional way to “get around” it. Foreigners, on the contrary, publicly state what they do not like or prefer to quietly comply with the law.
Habit of walking a lot and walking for no reason
Americans are surprised when Russians suggest “just going for a walk.” Of course, they also go out with friends and family, but as a rule, every trip has a purpose: walking the dog, going to the store, playing sports, hanging out on a picnic. The fact is that most Americans live outside the city, so they actively use the car even just to buy groceries or take their children to school. In Russia, on the contrary, there is usually a school, grocery store and clinic near each district. Russians just like to be in the moment. Unlike strangers, they are not afraid of long distances. We are ready to set out at any moment; take the train and walk for a few hours in another city and then come back and visit our grandmother along the way. Perhaps the geography of our country is suitable for this. This is the reason for the habit of thinking big in everything: money, time, distance, gifts, relationships.
Desire to start a family quickly
Many foreigners, especially students, are surprised when they arrive in Russia to learn that their peers have already started a family. Russians actually get married at the beginning of their relationships, sometimes before they even have time to get a higher education. Perhaps the fear of missing out in life pushes us to more active and determined actions. We are greedy for impressions, because even millennials and zoomers, according to the conversations of their parents and grandparents, are afraid of the shortcomings of the Soviet era, in which they did not live.
Source: People Talk
Mary Crossley is an author at “The Fashion Vibes”. She is a seasoned journalist who is dedicated to delivering the latest news to her readers. With a keen sense of what’s important, Mary covers a wide range of topics, from politics to lifestyle and everything in between.
