Traditions of the Great Lent originate from ancient Orthodox Christians. Also known as the Great Fast, the Great Lent is a time of physical cleansing and spiritual introspection. Observers adhere to abstinence from certain foods and indulgences for over 40 days. Bringing the physical and spiritual into balance through fasting, prayer, and repentance, the Great [...]
Maslenitsa is Russian Mardi Gras that lasts a whole week. Sometimes called Butter Week, Cheesefare Week, or Pancake Week, Maslenitsa is a time to eat blini, play games, and have snowball fights. Celebrated a week before the Orthodox Lent (also called Great Lent), Maslenitsa is rooted in ancient Slavic traditions of sun worshipping. In the [...]
Around the world Christmas season is long over, but in Russia Christmas Day was celebrated yesterday. So why do Russians celebrate Christmas on January 7th? And what are some Russian Christmas food traditions? The reasoning is actually pretty straightforward. The predominant religion in Russia is still Russian Orthodoxy which still follows the old [...]
Medovik is a classic Russian honey cake. Soft and scrumptious, medovik is a dessert that dates back more than 200 years. Legend has it that the first medovik honey cake was created in the 1820’s by a personal chef for the wife of Russia’s czar Alexander I. Honey was an important ingredient in Russian cuisine dating [...]
'Twas the night before Christmas and as the chestnuts roasted on an open fire, the children asked their grandparents to tell them a story. About a time long ago, when their great-great-great-grandparents celebrated Christmas in the old country. How did they celebrate this joyous holiday? What were their Russian Christmas traditions? And this is how it began... [...]
During the Holidays, finding and keeping the perfect Christmas tree fresh can be as elusive as seeing Santa. There are dozens of popular varieties to choose from. And no matter which kind of tree it is — fir, spruce or pine — the goal is always to maintain it green and fresh for as long [...]
Many think of vodka as the quintessential Russian drink, but it’s actually hot tea that defines Russian culture. In fact, Russians are obsessed with tea. As a nation, they drink a whopping 180,000 tons of tea per year. For many Russians tea is more than just a drink, it’s a lifestyle. And unlike other cultures [...]
Turkey day, Black Friday, and Cyber Monday are all behind us. This means one thing: it's time for serious Holiday Gift shopping. On this #GivingTuesday we've gathered a unique Russian Gift Guide for the Holidays, complete with authentic Russian gift ideas. Finding creative gifts is time consuming. Even online browsing is exhausting. Browsing through thousands of item [...]
With only 5 shopping weeks left until Christmas, we’re excited to share a few authentic Russian Holiday gift ideas. Our Holiday gift guide and shopping list is full of sweet surprises for kids and adults. Traditional toys, colorful candy boxes, Christmas tree ornaments and so much more! Our list includes popular favorites and best sellers [...]
Gourmet Halloween candy are rising in popularity. More parents are opting for tastier versions of sweets this Halloween, including sugar-free options and imported candies from around the world. Going beyond the traditional Hershey and Nestle varieties, gourmet Halloween candy best sellers in recent years include sweet delights from Europe, Russia and Ukraine. That’s right, there are lots [...]
Halloween can be a difficult time for kids with diabetes. The very word is likely to send many parents and children into a sugar-induced comma, although for different reasons. As kids look forward to trick-or-treating, parents are concerned about keeping tabs on the sugar intake — especially if their kids have diabetes. As a parent [...]
Traditional and all-natural dye recipes for Easter egg coloring are all the rage now. In line with Russian Orthodox Church customs, Holy Thursday (also known as Maundy Thursday) is considered the best day to decorate Easter eggs. This week we’re introducing tried and true tips and tricks for all-natural Easter Egg dye recipes. Tips for Prepping Easter [...]
