How do you feel about russians

Everything you wanted to know about Russians but were afraid to ask

Why don’t Russians smile much?

Sincerity and openness are hallmarks of Russian culture, which is why Russian smiles are rare and expressed only in contexts where they are appropriate, in order to express an honest emotion of happiness. Here are some descriptions of typical Russian smiles — and non-smiles.

It’s almost the same with Russian gloom, which is not always the case each time that someone doesn’t smile.

Are Russians really rude?

And if you face rude service in Russia, don’t be offended. Just take into account that for 70 years, the Soviet Union taught people to live in equality and some people just can’t stand serving others. So, just get to know us better and you’ll learn that most Russians are not as rude as we appear.

Do Russians drink as much as people think?

They do. The Russian love of alcohol has been an issue for almost 1,000 years. According to the 12th century chronicle, «The Tale of Bygone Years,» when Prince Vladimir, the ruler of Ancient Rus, had to choose a faith for the pagan Slavs he learned that Muslims prohibited drinking alcohol. So, Vladimir abandoned the idea of converting his people to Islam. «Drinking is the joy of all Rus. We cannot exist without it,» the prince said (in Russian).

Are Russians afraid of the cold?

“How can you feel cold, aren’t you Russian!?” That’s probably one of the most annoying questions that Russians living abroad hear all the time. Yes, we got used to winter and some parts of Russia even have to survive in extreme low temperatures! And there are people who wear only T-shirts in winter.

But central heating in Russia works very well! However, when the outside temperature gets colder and the heating still isn’t on, Russians do start to suffer. And when we go to England for example, we just can’t get used to the low temperatures inside and the lack of central heating.

And one of the biggest Russian paradoxes are the ‘air conditioner’ wars, as most Russians are afraid of cold air drafts and of catching a cold, because from very childhood, we are taught to keep ourselves warm, to wear warm coats and hats, etc.

Why do Russians get married?

Here are 5 reasons why people get hitched in Russia, which includes social pressure, religious beliefs and conservative views. Some are far different from the West, primarily due to society’s conservative views.

Why are Russians mostly Orthodox Christians?

Why do Russians wear wedding rings on their right hands?

The choice of hand on which to put a wedding ring depends on several factors: religion and national custom. Russians wear it on the right hand.

The Orthodox Church inherited the custom from the Romans (through Byzantium), which imparted this tradition to the ancient Slavs when the rulers of Rus were baptized in the 11th-13th centuries. One can even say that the Russians got their habit of putting wedding rings on the right hand from Julius Caesar and Cicero.

What is the gender situation in Russia?

Why are Russians so fearless?

Sometimes Russians look really crazy and fearless. You might think we push it to the extreme, but historians say it’s in our DNA, and we agree.

There are also a number of reasons, such as historical context, climate and even ‘vodka masculinity.’

What signs indicate that you are Russian?

Among all the features of the national character and Russian stereotypes (true or false), we highlighted 20 main things that show a person is definitely Russian. Check out if you find them in yourself. How strong is your addiction to after dinner tea? How much do you miss birch trees? What superstitions do you believe in?

Why do Russian women wear high heels?

Many people believe that it’s to attract men, but actually things are not that simple. There are at least 3 reasons to wear stiletto shoes, in the opinion of women themselves: they improve one’s gait, they inspire confidence, and finally, yes, women in heels are more attractive.

Why do some Russians look Asian?

There are more than 190 ethnic groups among the 142 million citizens of the Russian Federation, from ethnic Russians who form 78 percent of the population, to the Ket people of Siberia who number around 1,000. Most ethnic Russians have a so-called European appearance, but there are many Russian citizens who can be classified as ethnically Asian.

The Asian appearance implies a relation to the Mongoloid race, and there are at least 10 such ethnicities living on Russian territory (Tatars, Bashkirs, Yakuts, Buryats, and etc). Such diversity sometimes surprises tourist, but you should know that Russia does not officially define any group as Asian.

Why do Russians need round-the-clock flower shops?

Everyone who lives, or has lived in Russia, knows that there’s always a time when the 24/7 flower shop is a lifesaver. Here are four situations when in need: ‘Surprise factor’, ‘Guilty husband,’ ‘Responsible husband’ and ‘Impoverished Casanova.’

What is ‘intelligentsia’?

Originally a word borrowed from the West, ‘intelligentsia’ has acquired a very specific meaning in Russia. The term refers to all sorts of educated people, but it’s now often used to describe those who are messianic and moral high-ground champions. Note, however, that intelligentsia and intellectuals are not equal.

What do people miss most about Russia?

Why do Russian women still wear fur coats?

A brief study by a Dutch student revealed the reason for this mystery: Russian tradition, plus a desire to be unique.

Joke on the subject: Russian women can’t understand how a man with two kidneys can say that he can’t afford to buy his wife a new fur coat; he can always sell one kidney.

Why are Russians obsessed with sunflower seeds?

Eating them is considered to be low-class, and some Russians despise those who eat them, calling them gopniks or rednecks. But if you start, you can’t finish until the seeds are all gone, everything around is covered in black shells.

READ MORE: Sunflowers for Russians: Guilty pleasure and antistress measure.

Alexander Legky/Global Look Press

Why do Russians call Moscow the ‘Third Rome’?

Don’t be surprised to hear the nickname, ‘Third Rome,’ to describe Moscow, and the city is also called ‘first-throned,’ or ‘golden-domed.’

Orthodox monk Philotheus (Filofei) first called Moscow the ‘Third Rome’ when in 1523-1524 he wrote letters to the Grand Duke of Moscow urging him to fight against heresies. The Duchy of Moscow, in the monk’s view, remained the last bastion of the true faith.

«All the Christian kingdoms have come to an end and have converged in the single kingdom of our sovereign,» Philotheus wrote in one of his epistles. «Two Romes have fallen, a third stands, and a fourth shall never be.”

Why don’t Russians trust America?

This conclusion is based on research by the Levada Center, which found that in 2017, 69 percent of Russians said that Washington behaves aggressively and is Moscow’s main enemy.

The topic is far too complex, especially since the collapse of the USSR, but you can read about the possible reasons in the comments from Russia’s former ambassador to the U.S., Sergey Kislyak.

There is some good news, however. The Russian people have no negative feelings towards Americans as a people, despite the political tensions.

Why do Russian women get involved with foreign men?

We spoke to a few Russian gals, those either married to or dating men from other countries, and asked what really motivated them to start a relationship. Quite frequently we found that the simple answer was love, and not nationality.

Why do Russians applaud on planes?

While this is not something that only Russians do, there is one difference. If the average European starts clapping after a difficult flight or happy ending to a dodgy landing, the average Russian will do it in any situation, as long as the aircraft doesn’t miss the runway. And we have at least five theories why they do this.

Why are Russians in love with (Adidas) tracksuits?

Karl Lagerfeld once said, “Sweatpants are a sign of defeat. You’ve lost control of your life if you’ve bought sweatpants.” If this is true, then many Russians don’t have a handle on their lives.

Normally we have a special name for guys in striped tracksuits – gopnik. While not all Russians are gopniks, we explain the potential reasons to sympathize with three white stripes on a black sports suit…

Why do people in Russia hate Muscovites?

In Russia, people are used to saying that Moscow and St. Petersburg are not Russia. That could sound weird, however, these two ‘capitals’ are indeed different from the rest of the country.

Why are Russians not interested in politics?

According to research, almost two-thirds of Russians are indifferent to the country’s political situation. The main reason – Russians are more concerned with making ends meet, the soaring cost of utilities and food, and low wages.

Why do Russians hold the Victory Day Parade every year?

Why do Russians use parentheses instead of smileys?

If you’ve ever talked to a Russian via the Internet or SMS, you’ve probably noticed strange symbols at the end of sentences like this «)))». What do they mean? The same as ordinary smileys with a colon and dash. It’s just a Russian way to be polite and friendly.

READ MORE about bracket etiquette: how many to use in each case, and what does their number mean?

Why do Russian boys dream of having a beard?

They see it as a necessary attribute of “a real man.” We also talked to a few bearded men and understand that this is not the only reason. READ their stories.

Why are Russians still searching for Bigfoot?

Bigfoot, the Abominable Snowman, Yeti – this mystery persists and still intrigues people around the world. The topic is too exciting to give up. We wrote about how Soviet scientists searched for the Yeti, and the new information discovered. Don’t hesitate to READ ABOUT IT.

‘Everything you wanted to know…’ is an extended guide to the most popular topics about Russia. We constantly work on new materials and update this page with new entries and information.

If using any of Russia Beyond’s content, partly or in full, always provide an active hyperlink to the original material.

What do Russians really think of foreigners?

But in fact, there wasn’t a single American among them (nor any spies!). «We told her we were foreign students: Two Turks, a Greek Cypriot, one Bulgarian, and one Irish,» recalls Bura Mer on Quora. The waitress was not convinced. This was 1992.

Luckily, things have changed somewhat since then. At least waitresses no longer try to catch spies on Moscow’s most touristy street. Foreigners are liked here. But what about the rest of Russia?

Whom do Russians dislike?

Nevertheless, Russians do have a list of «undesirable» foreigners. The top three groups are: Gypsies (32 percent of Russians are not particularly happy to see them), Chinese (31 percent) and Vietnamese (26 percent).

What about others?

For example, Russians are still proud of having defeated Napoleon. In 2009, they even wanted to make the day he was «banished» a national holiday. The French are also regarded as the most liberated and temperamental in love. «The generation which grew up in the 1980s still remembers how disapprovingly and conservatively society viewed intimate relations before marriage,» says internet user Anna Vinogradova. «But if it was the French doing it, it sufficed to say ‘The French are like that’ and all the condemnation disappeared!»

Humor alert!

Do you want to make a joke about Russians or their strange penchants (which are sometimes not easy to understand)? Think again. In this respect Russians don’t have much of a sense of humor. We simply don’t like anyone, except ourselves, making fun of us and our obsession with our dachas, our ideas of beauty, our mothers and our national salad!

«We can’t publish this… It’s disrespectful!» Said one editor after reading a humorous column by Jennifer Eremeeva, an American journalist and blogger who is married to a Russian and has been living in Russia for over 20 years, which discussed unusual and bizarre presents she had received from Russians over the years.

She writes about this in her blog. «This is a humorous column, I argued. You asked me to write about amusing things that have happened to me in Russia! The editor’s advice was: You’d better laugh at yourself!» In the comments section, too, not many people took Jennifer’s side. «It is unlikely you will understand why (since you are a foreigner), but we do feel offended. We are allowed to criticize Russia, but you are not!» was one comment among other similar ones. Does it mean that Russians, too, never make jokes about foreigners? Unfortunately, or fortunately, it doesn’t. Russians will have an amusing (and at times cruel) joke about every foreigner and several mocking nicknames for whole nations. But don’t take it to heart! Some people simply enjoy being a bit beastly!

If using any of Russia Beyond’s content, partly or in full, always provide an active hyperlink to the original material.

31 Facts about Russians

What facts about Russians do you know? The most popular opinions (myths!) are: we drink vodka in the morning, never smile and have winter all year round.

So, myths unveiled! If you plan your Russian holidays, here is our list of Top 10 places to visit in Russia. And some other inspirational ideas for Travel to Russia.

31 facts about Russians

Russian man in the street

Russian girl in summer

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Visiting Sergiev Posad

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Foreigners about life in Russia: Why they moved and what for love the country

Anton Ventura-Traveset, 27 years old, hometown — Barcelona, client manager

I was born in Barcelona, Catalonia, lived there until I was 24. After graduating from University in 2014 decided to move to Russia. In September I moved to St. Petersburg, where studied and worked at the same time.

I went to Russia to get acquainted with the country and learn the Russian language. There were three reasons. First, everyone knows Russia is a rich and strong country. Therefore, you can become successful in business if manage to learn the Russian language. Secondly, I like to learn languages and knew that knowledge of the language would allow me to work wherever I wanted, especially in Barcelona. That would be my advantage over the others. Third, my grandfather was half-Russian but was born in Barcelona. In 1936 he was sent to Russia because of the civil war in our country. He was nine years old when he left and returned to Spain at the age of 29.

About the difficulties

I got used to the weather easily, but it was difficult to get used to bureaucracy. At the very beginning, after moving I had difficulties because of the language barrier. People in Russia hardly speak English. Despite these special difficulties did not arise.

About peculiarities of the culture

In Barcelona, live good and cheerful people, we have warm weather and a good standard of living. Spain is in the first place in the ranking of countries by life expectancy.

In Russia, I did not have enough Spanish ham. Russian cuisine is different, it was hard to find a good restaurant with Spanish cuisine.

There are also differences in lifestyle in Russia and Spain. I think the weather makes people live differently. But I love both countries and think it is good to live here and there.

I attended courses at the faculty of Philology of St. Petersburg State University for about nine months. It was helpful. What I studied in the morning, I could use in the evening in conversation with friends or people on the street.

I liked everything in Russia because it is close to my heart. I have seen Russian culture in my home since childhood. In addition, good people live in Russia. Most of all in this country I like the language, people, minibuses, Georgian and Russian cuisine.

People think Russia is another planet. But it’s not, there live the same people.

People think Russia is another planet. But it’s not, there live the same people

I am grateful for the ability to study for free at one of the best business schools in Russia — The Higher School of Economics.

I have great friends from Russia and feel a quarter, Russian. I would advise foreigners to go to Russia and stay there for at least a week to understand that in fact, Russia is different.

Daniel Correa, 31 years old, hometown — Medellin, teacher, @english.buzz

I was born in Colombia. When I was two years old, we moved to America, and I grew up there.

Before moving to Russia, I travelled a lot. I always liked the atmosphere of St. Petersburg. When I had the opportunity to come here on vacation, I fell in love with the city and decided to move.

For me, it was hard to get used to the Russian lifestyle. My family from Colombia are typical Hispanics who are always smiling and joking. It was difficult for them when they came here to rest because they did not understand how to behave in this country. People think there’s something wrong with you if you smile.

People think there’s something wrong with you if you smile

It was hard to get used to the weather and speak Russian.

About peculiarities of the culture

I think people in the US are more fun. In Russia, people are more serious. At the same time, despite the fact they are not so sociable, they can be real friends. If you make friends with a Russian, it’s forever. Russia has a stronger and more honest friendship.

People in my country are hospitable, we try to make the tourist who came to us feels like at home. Another difficulty we face after coming here is the pessimism of people.

I miss surfing, and there’s nowhere to do it in Russia. I miss warm weather, family and people’s optimism.

I like that people in Russia are strong and mentally strong. I fell in love with the local cuisine.

There are things that I don’t like, for example, the culture of smoking is common, but there are no special areas for this. I also don’t like that sometimes people don’t care about the environment.

Here live cultural people. It always surprises me how much my students know about the culture, history, art. In America, people are mostly interested in movies and music. Here the interests of people are more diverse, people are interested in architecture, art, literature. They are more versatile.

Eugenio Mulangi, 30 years old, hometown — Lubango, engineer, @eugeniomulangi

I was born in Angola, in Lubango the most beautiful city in our country. We’re an oil country. At one point, the state decided to change the direction and send students to agronomic universities. So I got to Russia. I studied at the Timiryazev Academy at the faculty of zoo engineering.

Now I live in Russia. My wife was born in this country, and my son was also born here. Soon he will be five years old and this year I want to show him my homeland.

It was hard for me to get used to the language because it is very different from my native. But when I met my wife, she started to help me. We have started to date in the first year, and it helped me get used to studying, country and culture.

Our countries are different, but we are similar in many ways. The first difference I noticed was we greet three times a day: in the morning, in the afternoon and the evening. In Russia, if you greeted someone in the morning, then it is not necessary to do it twice.

In Russia, if you greeted someone in the morning, then it is not necessary to do it twice

The food is more varied in Angola food is fresher, especially fruits. In Russian stores, fruits are not so delicious besides are much more expensive.

Weather in Angola is always warm, only nights are cold, a maximum of five to six times a year. And in Russia, the cold lasts for six months.

I like the way public transport is organized in Russia, especially in Moscow. We do not have such an organization in our country. I also like that the houses have heating.

Russia is my second homeland. I have lived here for 11 years. During this time I got used to everything, and I have a lot of good friends and my family lives in this country.