Traditional festival celebrating the arrival of spring
Russia’s most important holiday
People usually shake hands; close friends hug and kiss on the cheek.
Mind flower counts: even numbers for funerals, odd for celebrations.
Wait for the host to invite you to start; don’t refuse hospitality.
Tea holds an important place in Russian culture, often brewed with a samovar and served with jam and pastries.
Family is highly valued; gatherings are common and multigenerational homes are frequent.
Russia has a rich literary heritage; works by Pushkin and Tolstoy remain widely read.