Martyn Andrews takes a look at spas and the famous Russian Banya experience. How does it differ from a sauna or spa treatment in the west? We explore some of the capital’s beautiful banya architecture and try out the weird and wonderful treatments they offer. From steamy showers to freezing cold plunge pools we review and explore how to de-stress the Russian way!
While the field reports on the site are currently available only in Russian, the amateur photographs on St Petersbug State University’s Russian Folklore in Modern Records site is worth a look. Captured on field trips by students, the photographs depict a uniquely Russian culture that is literally vanishing before our eyes.
The folklore archive of the St.-Petersburg state university is formed on the basis of the field records made during student’s scientific expeditions. The beginning of systematic recollection of folklore reflected in the records and stored in the center of literature and folklore investigations of the philological faculty of St.-Petersburg University, dates to 1978.
In our site you can find a part of the Folklor archive of St.-Petersburg University - the Collection of field records. It represents folklore tradition of only one region - the central part of the Northwest of Russia - Region of Belozersk.
The materials of the student’s folklore expeditions of the previous years are stored in folklore archive of the Institute of Russian literature (House of Pushkin). (St Petersbug State University’s Russian Folklore in Modern Records)
Russia’s world chess champions are numerous, and mostly men. After 17 years, a Russian has taken the womens’ chess champion title. A true chess prodigy, Alexandra (Sasha) won her first would title at the age of 10, and has been competing for prize money since she turned 11. She owns and operates a chess school for children in Moscow, sharing her secrets with future chess masters as early as the age of three.
By nine years old, Alexandra Kosteniuk could play chess for four hours straight, easily beating not only her peers but older players. “We didn’t have much money,” the chess champion recalled. “We certainly could not afford the services of Grand Masters. I can say I learned on the street.”
On September 18, Kosteniuk won the Women’s World Chess Championship held in Nalchik, in the North Caucasus, bringing the title back to Russia after a long hiatus.
The historic win put the 24-year-old in a reflective state of mind, as she considered her
journey.“All that I am and all that I have are thanks to my father,” she said. Konstantin Kosteniuk realized that his daughter’s gift would be squandered unless he devoted himself to developing it: He quit the military academy where he was teaching, and became his daughter’s personal coach and manager. (Russia Beyond the Headlines)
While Russia’s birth rate is up, the national population continues to decline. More Russians are still departing the nation than new ones are being born, with no improvements in mortality rates. Whatever economic improvements have been made, many Russians still seek their fortunes elsewhere.
Some 141.9 million permanently resided in Russia as of September 1, i.e. 116,700 less than early this year, Rosstat reported Friday.
“The reduction in population size was caused by the natural loss of the population, which lowered by 76,200 on year in January through August. The increased migration inflow of 58.4 percent set off the loss,” Rosstat specified.
The rate of birth grew in all constituents of Russia but for the Nizhni Novgorod Region and Chukotka, and the death rate stepped up in 45 constituents. In the country in general, the death rate exceeded the birth rate 1.3 fold, matching the indicator of January through August of 2007. Seven constituents of Russia had the excess of 2 fold to 2.4 fold, according to Rosstat. (Kommersant)
Russians love spending time in their forests, but fall brings a special reason for many Russians to flock to wooded areas. Hunting for wild mushrooms and traditional dishes prepared from them like those found here are a part of Russian culture rooted in the distant past. You’ll find photos of many popular varieties here.
Mushrooms have long had a special place in Russian culture, and on the Russian table. When crops failed, peasants counted on them to stave of starvation. After the introduction of Orthodox Christianity, mushrooms became a stand-in for meat during Lent. In Czarist times, when the French developed a taste for Russian mushrooms, fungus-finding trumped farming as a profitable activity in some Russian regions.
The love of mushrooms – and of mushroom hunting – continues to this day. Russian men remember trailing behind his babushka, basket in hand, as she searched for the perfect lisichki, or chanterelles, and both men and women, young and old, enthusiastically set out in pursuit of a few prize specimens for the dinner table. Take note, however: mushroom hunting is not for the inexperienced. Unless you are with a veteran mushroom hunter, the best rule is: “When in doubt, throw it out.” (Russia Beyond the Headlines)
Three amateur videos present a unique look at one fo the world’s greatest museums in St. Petersburg.
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