Superstitions

Last Thursday, we attended Anna Kurakova’s lecture on Russian superstitions Russia’s rich culture and history are evident in the many beliefs that are still a part of everyday life.

Most of these superstitions are not believed on a conscious level, but followed out of a sense of custom.

Russians will avoid cutting their hair while they are sick, and won’t celebrate a birthday early.

Some of these superstitions are from pagan times, when people worshipped elements of nature. Every house had a “domovoy”- a good spirit who helps you find lost items. Still today, if someone is searching for something, he will stop and ask the domovoy to return it to him and thank him when the item is found.

Likewise, everyone has a “chort” living behind his or her left shoulder. This creature tries to mislead us and spoil our plans. You must spit over your shoulder three times to ward him off. If you need to return home for something you forgot- which is bad luck- before going back out, you must stop and look at yourself in the mirror and stick out your tongue, so that the chort will see that it did not succeed.

Some of the beliefs can be traced to Christianity. Three is a lucky number because of the Holy Trinity, and Russians kiss each other three times when they meet.

The dead wander the earth for forty days before continuing on and all mirrors in the house must be covered during this time.

Also, you do not show a newborn to any but the closest family for the first forty days of his or her life.

Most Russian superstitions involve avoiding doing something that will bring you bad luck. Here are a few more:
• Never greet or shake hands across a threshold.
• Never carry an empty bucket.
• Never wash your hair before an exam; you might forget everything.
• Never leave an empty bottle on the table.
• Never give a gift before the baby is born. There are no baby showers in Russia!
• Never gesture or show on your own body where someone was injured.
• Never hand someone salt or money. Always try to set it down so that the other person picks it up.

The list of bad luck superstitions is almost endless, but there are also plenty of things that can bring good luck, too. You will
have good fortune if any of the following happen to you:
• It rains on the first day of a trip or your wedding day.
• You see a funeral procession.
• You notice a bug in your drink.
• You break a dish.
• If you stand between 2 people of the same name & make a wish, it will come true.

Anna’s talk was entertaining, and gave a wonderful overview of Russia’s many superstitions.

Josiah's Visit

Isaiah was in Colorado with Melissa and her family while Josiah was with us for the holidays.

We had homemade bread bowls filled with clam chowder, all made by our neighbors Jeri Lee and Jim, where we had dinner on Christmas day. Then we rushed home and saw the grandkids open their Christmas presents via video camera. Isn't technology wonderful.

Terry and Josiah went 60 meters underground to a museum where 2500 military and civil specialists of the Defense Ministry and Communication Ministry used to work during the Cold War.

Pat and Josiah toured the Kremlin and Armory. We all went (with a few other friends) and spent a couple of days in the countryside outside of Moscow to Sergiev Posad; where we experienced a Troika ride in the forest, walked around the monastery grounds, and also toured a cave monastery.

We ate Chinese, Tibetan, & Russian food and of course homemade food for a starving college student. We watched football games, played cards and went to the circus.
Josiah heads back to El Paso on the 8th and we head back to work.

Josiah & Pat entering the Kremlin Grounds

Josiah by the Tsar Cannon

At the Circus

Josiah after a Troika ride

In the Cold War Museum

Josiah standing in front of the bldg where the Communist met, now rock singers perform.

In front of Lenin's Tomb on Red Square

Josiah & Pat in the forest, having tea made in a traditional samovar

Enjoying the heat by the campfire

Josiah carving the turkey on New Year's Day

с новым годом


with love from Russia

Christmas in Moscow

Before 1917, Christmas was celebrated in Russia in much the same way as it was in the rest of the world: on December 25, with Christmas trees and Christmas gifts, Saint Nicholas and the like. During the years of Communism after 1917, all formerly Christmas traditions were transferred to New Year's Eve, which became the traditional winter holiday. New Year's Eve is now to Russians what Christmas is to most people in the rest of the world, with one exception: there is no remnant of Christianity in the holiday. New Year's Eve is simply a chance to celebrate, to bring in the new year and get rid of the old. It is a chance to exchange gifts, have a day off and enjoy oneself.

Christmas is once again celebrated in Russia, but not near to the extent it once was. All the traditions have been firmly settled in New Year's, and very few people take advantage of the new freedom to celebrate Christmas as they wish. The Russian Orthodox Church has made Christmas an official holiday, but it is celebrated on January 7th. A few Russians have begun to celebrate Christmas on the 25th of December.

Josiah in Moscow

Josiah and Terry standing in Red Square with St. Basil's Cathedral in the back ground. It will be fun with Josiah here for the holidays.

John Quincy Adams

The Embassy received a gift a statue of John Quincy Adams, America’s first Ambassador to Russia. The statue was created by noted sculptor Alexander Burganov, a People’s Artist of Russia, and its casting was made possible through the generosity of American corporate sponsors. The statue commemorates the 200th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Russia and the United States in December, 1807.

John Quincy Adams – diplomat, politician, and sixth president of the United States – served as U.S. Minister Plenipotentiary and Envoy Extraordinary in St. Petersburg from 1809 to 1814. After representing the United States at the court of Tsar Alexander I, Adams served as U.S. Ambassador to Great Britain and later Secretary of State. In 1825, he was elected President. After being defeated for a second term, Adams won a seat in the House of Representatives, where he served for 17 years until his death in 1848.

Toys for Tots

Pat is standing with 2 of the Marines during the Christmas party at the Spaso House. These Marines, stationed in Moscow for security of the embassy were collecting Toys for Tots toys for the children in need here in Russia.

Don't forget you have an opportunity to help the children in your area.

Happy Thanksgiving

The reason we like Thanksgiving is because it’s not centered around gifts and expectations, but is focused on ‘just’ being thankful for your family and friends all around you. What an interesting word ‘just’!! We’ve actually tried to take it out of our vocabulary (but it does slip out occasionally!). The word ‘just’ tends to downplay some very important matters. Our friend Alberta shared that insight while in Mercy Ships. It’s a HUGE deal to be surrounded by family and friends that you know love you (lest we forget that there are those around you who might not feel that they have that support). We are thankful that even though we won’t be by family this year, We have wonderful friends around us. We encourage you to reach out to those around you and never ‘assume’ that they have that kind of support system. If you have it, count yourself blessed!!

Our Thanksgiving started out this year going to the chocolate factory. Pat is all dressed up ready to enter the factory where we saw how they made two different kinds of candy. This candy factory will be closing this year and it's been open since 1851.

After the tour they gave us candy bars, a cd and tea.

Donna, a fellow worker, invited us over for Thanksgiving dinner. I think this is the first time, in along time that I haven't had to fix anything. It was a pleasant and relaxing afternoon.

Here is Terry relaxing with Dean Pryor and Terry White, other fellow embassy workers, as the final preparations are being made.

We took a tour of this church in the village of Angelovo in a northwest suburb of Moscow. We learned all about icons and the Russian Orthodox Church. Russian Orthodox Church buildings differ in design from many western-type churches. Firstly, their interiors are enriched with many sacramental objects including holy icons, which are hung on the walls. There are no pews. Most churches are lit with candles rather than electric light. Russians sometimes speak of an icon as having been "written," because in the Russian language the word pisat (Russian: писать), meaning "to write", can also be used to mean "to create paintings". Icons are considered to be the Gospel in paint and since many of the people couldn't read this was their Bible in picture form. While we were in the church the priest came in and our tour guide asked him if he wanted to say a few ords. And as a good minister of the word: he spoke to us giving us a sermon about Love. You can see all the beautiful icons behind him. There is a rich history and elaborate religious symbolism associated with icons.