Russian Habits That Surprise Foreigners

2024 Author: Bailey Albertson | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 12:53

Strange habits: how Russian people surprise foreigners

Each nation has its own characteristics, expressed in special rituals or strange behavior. Living all our lives in a Slavic society, we do not even think about how foreigners see us. The most striking features of the Russians that make other peoples smile will be discussed further.

Russian habits that shock foreigners

Most foreigners who come to Russia are surprised, and sometimes they fall into a stupor when faced with some traditions. Basically, Russians get a good impression, for example, Slavic hospitality is one of the most famous in the world, but there are also quite amazing traditions. Let's talk about what weird can be seen in our behavior.

Sit on the track

Many of us, before going on a long journey, follow the custom of sitting down on the path, not understanding the meaning of this action. Foreigners are also concerned about this issue, a discussion of it can even be found on the English Q&A site. The origins of the custom are taken from antiquity, when people believed that divine spirits live in everything. By this very action, people paid tribute to the Domovoy, saying goodbye to him and leaving the house on him so that nothing happened to the house during the departure.

Sitting on the path is already a tradition, because before it was believed that without such a ritual, something on the trip would go wrong

Explicitly answer the question "how are you?"

All over the world, including in Russia, the question "how are you?" is formal and implies the monosyllabic answer "thank you, okay." However, some Russians, hearing the dry “everything is fine”, may think that you are not interested in conducting a conversation. If people are not in a formal environment or have close relationships, when asked "how are you?" it is customary to answer in more detail, to talk briefly about the latest news from life. The reason for this phenomenon is the national trait in the form of social openness, so many foreigners may feel uncomfortable not knowing how to answer a simple question.

The question "how are you?" considered indecent in many countries

Take off your shoes at a party, put on slippers at home

Many foreigners who come to Russia are thrown into a stupor by the custom of taking off their shoes and putting on slippers. Russia is a country with an unstable climate, with mud and slush outside for most of the year. There is also an imperfection in the construction of roads and roadside areas. In many European countries, in the USA, communications are well thought out that allow you to drain rainwater, and there are practically no open areas of land (most often it is rubble or lawn). Russians change their shoes at home, bringing this tradition even to immigration, because they are used to not returning from the street with clean shoes. As for the slippers, this is due to the cold winter and imperfect operation of heating systems.

Russian people wear slippers at home because of the climate

To address the entire weaker sex "girl"

More often than not, foreigners address strangers with the words “sorry” or “sorry” and then formulate a question or request. For example, in the United States no one addresses strangers hey men or hey girl - this is considered rude (rude). Foreigners are embarrassed why Russians address the entire female sex, regardless of age (except frankly grandmothers), “girl”. In Russia, the address like “hey, girl” is directed, personalized, it is so accepted here - this is within the framework of cultural address.

Hosting guests in the kitchen

This custom amuses foreigners, since this is not found either in Europe or in America, there people communicate either in a cafe or in a living room. This tradition went back to the times of the USSR, when people lived with families in small apartments, and the only place where they could not disturb anyone was the kitchen. If abroad the number of rooms is determined by bedrooms, and the kitchen, bathroom and living room are non-residential rooms, then in the countries of the former USSR the number of rooms was determined by the number of isolated rooms with the exception of the kitchen.

In many countries, guests are received exclusively in living rooms, and for Russia it is quite normal to set the table right in the kitchen.

Arrange lush feasts

Foreigners are surprised by the love of Russians for feasts, which are organized on any occasion. It can be New Year, March 8, birthday, buying a car, wedding, Easter, every holiday is a magnificently laid table, and Russians have more holidays than in any other country. Feasts in Russia appeared due to the shortage of food, which was in the USSR. People hardly got the goodies and put them on the table for a special occasion, preparing as much as possible, which ultimately resulted in a food cult and lavish feasts.

Video: what surprises foreigners in the behavior of Russians

Living in Russia, many local residents do not notice anything strange about themselves, but when foreigners come to visit us, they come across a lot of things unusual for their perception. This is the openness of a Russian person, straightforwardness, as well as behavioral features dictated by mental, geographical and historical events.