The myth that every Russian family has one tame bear is perceived quite normally by foreigners. Some traditions and habits of Russians really cause bewilderment among foreigners, who sometimes do not know which speculations to believe and which ones not to believe.
Habits of Russians that surprise foreigners
The habits of Russian people are influenced by natural, social, and political conditions. What is accepted in Russia is completely inappropriate abroad. But there are habits that absolutely do not fit into the heads of foreigners. Let's talk about them in more detail.
Availability of slippers
Russians were sincerely surprised by the heroes of Brazilian and American TV series who entered the house in street shoes. In Russia, it is customary to exchange street shoes for soft, cozy slippers. Moreover, each family member has their own slippers. In addition, there is always a pair in stock for guests.
Russians extract and drink birch sap
Birch is a native Russian tree that raises a lot of questions among foreigners. This stately and beautiful plant not only looks majestic in Russian, but is also capable of feeding Russians with its juice. For foreigners, getting sap from a tree is tantamount to a miracle. Therefore, once in Russia, many tourists rush to try this amazing Russian drink.
Russians don't throw things away
Unfortunately, the majority of residents of our country have a passion for collecting.This is due to the scarcity of the Soviet era, the 90s, when it was difficult to get this or that product. Russians are extremely reluctant to part with even the most unnecessary things. Even a rusty shovel can be valuable to them.
Foreigners are surprised by this approach, because as a result, the home can turn into a landfill. But Russians continue to move old things from place to place, not wanting to part with their acquired property.
Long tea parties in the kitchen and conversations about life
Tea drinking is a real ritual for Russians. The phrase “drink tea” can mean many things, for example, add stronger drinks to it. Conversations in the kitchen also surprise foreigners. They firmly believe that they should eat in the kitchen, but not discuss the political situation in the country. For Russians, the kitchen is a sacred place where the most important family issues are resolved.
Russians make “twists” for the winter
The twists cause a real shock among foreigners. They simply don’t know how to roll up tomatoes so that they can be stored for at least a year. Every Russian housewife has several “grandmother’s” recipes for spinning tomatoes, cucumbers and other vegetables. Cellars with 3-liter jars cause real stupor among foreigners.
What is normal for a Russian person is nonsense for a foreigner. Living in different countries, and even on different continents, leaves a certain imprint on the habits and traditions of people. It wouldn’t hurt for foreigners to adopt some of the habits of Russians and make their lives much simpler (slippers) and more satisfying (twists for the winter).
