Monthly Archives: June 2008

Russia preserves Finno-Ugric traditions!

Hello,

Have you ever thought how many different peoples live in Russia? Today we’ll talk about peoples from Finno-Ugric group. Peoples from this group live in Hungary, Finland, Estonia and Russia. They live in very different parts of Russia: Kola Peninsula, Republic of Karelia, Komi Republic, Udmurt Republic, Mari El Republic, and Republic of Mordovia. Khanty-Mansi Autonomous Okrug and Komi-Permyak Okrug.

This interesting and beautiful documentary video is about Fifth World Finno-Ugric Congress in Siberian town Khanty-Mansiisk. This video was very interesting for us. Hope you find it’s interesting too.

For our readers who wants to know more:

The Fifth World Congress of Finno-Ugric peoples was opening yesterday in Khanty-Mansiysk to bring together President Dmitry Medvedev and his counterparts from Hungary, Finland and Estonia and more than 30 delegates from 11 countries to discuss preservation of original Finno-Ugric culture, traditions, language and alphabet. The participants in the forum will also choose the location for the headquarters of the International consultative committee of the Finno-Ugric peoples.

There are nearly 25 million people now living in the world who belong to the Finno-Ugric group. Hungarians, Finns, Estonians, Khantys, Komis and Mansis once occupied huge territories in Northern Eurasia and played a major role in the great migration of people. The Ugrys formed the backbone of the Huns’ military might and the Komis, Khantys and Mansys inhabited Western Siberia and the congress will underscore the inimitable cultural diversity of the Finno-Ugric peoples.
In Russia Finno-Ugrians account for nearly 3 million people and the government is fully aware of the responsibility it bears to preserve the indigenous culture and language. Most of Russia’s Finno-Ugrians live in 12 regions learning in their mother tongue, reading newspapers and magazines and watching their own television programs.

There will be an extensive cultural program of ethnic music, dance and folk arts offered to the participants in Khanty-Mansiisk.

Alexei Kunin, a local resident says Khantys once lived in wigwams made of birch bark. I spent my childhood living in such wigwams, watching people build them and then helping my dad, Alexei says. It’s cool in there in summer because the birch bark does not let in the sun and rain. Building such a wigwam is not easy, you’ve got to know the secrets, Alexey says.

The locals have prepared many nice surprises for the participants, including a visit to a children’s art center, an open air museum of local history and a palate-tickling menu of local dishes available at local restaurants…[Voice of Russia]

Best wishes,
Svet and Kyle

comments always welcome.

Alexander Gorodnitsky: Over Canada!

Hello,

Maybe I am unique, maybe you listen that all Russians (and Soviet people) wanted to escape – wanted to go to another “civilized” countries. Now I’ ll tell about myself that I never wanted to leave Soviet Union in old time and Russia now… That is my country and my culture. And here is enough people who share my opinion and love to my country. Today we listen to a very good song by our famous bard Alexander Gorodnitsky “Over Canada” [Александр Городницкий “Над Канадой”]

And for our readers who wants to know what is the song about I’ll try to translate it:

Over Canada

There is a sunset in Canada
It would be good to sleep long time ago
But I can not sleep
There is blue sky over Canada
There is raining amongst the birches
Looks so similar to Russia
But alas that is not Russia.

Fatigue whispers me warm up and Love tries to play tricks,
April Snow teases us and Domestic Cosiness beckons us.
This Snow does not feel like spring snow for me
Someone’s else house is not house warming
It’s looking like mirth
But that is not really mirth.

Today it is slush where you live,
There are sun spots in the puddles,
Don’t be in hurry to cry over our love
Wait for me to come back!
There is blue sky over Canada
There is raining amongst the birches
Looks so similar to Russia
But alas that is not Russia.

Have a good day,
Svet and Kyle

PS We would so much appreciate if someone of Russian-speak readers suggest how to improve this translation.

comments always welcome.

Russian Video: Ballet School in Perm!

Hello,

Today we visit Russian city Perm [Пермь] and it’s ballet school. I really like gymnastics, ballet, figure skating etc. I have always been interesting to see the world behind the scenes… Today we have such possibility! We really just enjoyed how professional these ballet pupils are. I would invite all them to perform in Bolshoy Thetre already now! When I watch this video I feel so proud for Russian Ballet School!

Have a good weekend.
Svet and Kyle

comments always welcome.

Video About Russian City Nizhny Novgorod!

Hello,

Today we continue our video tour to Russian cities. And today we visit beautiful Nizhniy Novgorod (Нижний Новгород)!

For our readers who wants to know more about Nizhny Novgorod (Nizhniy Novgorod):

Nizhny Novgorod was founded on the confluence of the two great Russian rivers – the Volga and the Oka – by Prince Yuri (George) Vsevolodovich in 1221 as a strong standpoint of defending the Russian frontiers from Mordvinians, Cheremisians and Tatars. The City got its name “Nizhny” may be because of its location on the “Lower” lands comparing with Novgorod the Great or with the so called “Old Little Town” that was situated four kilometers up the Oka-river, the record of which could be found in literature till the beginning of the 17th century.

The first wood-ground fortress had an extremely favorable, in the military strategic respect, position – a mountain rising above the confluence of the Volga and the Oka, which was perfectly protected by a deep moat from one side, and the steep crumble cliffs of the river bank from the other. During the first years there were two white-stone cathedrals built in the Kremlin – it testified to the fact that the town claimed to a particular role in the system of the lands of Vladimir-Susdal Russia, but the Mongol-Tatar invasion destroyed these intentions….

Want to read more? You are welcome here :).

Have a good day,
Svet and Kyle

comments always welcome.

A New Love Story From Russian Orthodox Church!

Hello,

Really this story is not new – it happened in 13th century… But it’s really a story of love! Russian Orthodox Church knows this story since 16th century. And now Russian authorities are to introduce a new date in the country’s calendar – the Day of Married Love and Family Happiness!

The event will be first celebrated on July 8 this year, but will not be a public holiday. It is designed to coincide with the day of Saint Peter and Fevronia, the Orthodox patron saints for marriage and family life.

For readers who wants to read the story:

Legend says Prince Peter of Murom had fallen ill with leprosy – a disease nobody could cure. But he had a dream that a bee-keeper’s daughter called Fevronia would help him. She was beautiful, devout and knew herbal remedies. Peter vowed to marry her if she healed him. However, at first he didn’t keep his promise and the disease came back. Fevronia cured him again and they then got married.

The nobles didn’t want a princess of common origin and they told Peter to abandon her or leave Murom. He chose his wife and they settled together in the wilderness.

“Their love endured all things. The Prince chose to sacrifice everything he had for his beloved one – and she made sacrifices for him all her life. They died on the same day, the same hour. This shows where love is, there is also compassion and sacrifice,” says Metropolitan Kirill of Smolensk and Kaliningrad.

Peter and Fevronia prayed that they’d be buried in the same coffin, but the church refused to do this and buried them separately. The next day a miracle was revealed – their bodies had been reunited. So the church had to recognise the power of Peter and Fevronia’s love and granted their last wish.

The holiday will now be celebrated nationally on July 8. Earlier many couples chose to get married on this day as they believed the saints would protect their families. This year at least 90 couples in Moscow have vowed to get married on July 8 in the hope that their love will never die.

Clergymen will hold services across the country and preach for strong family bonds. The estate of Tsaritsino is preparing to host newly-weds and all other lovers and, symbolising the day will be a daisy, simple but bright, the flower that’s believed to heal and comfort.[Russia Today]

comments always welcome.

St. Petersburg – The Scarlet Sails (Алые Паруса) 2008

Hello,

Today we watch one of the most beautiful videos! This video is about a festival The Scarlet Sails (Алые Паруса) in St. Petersburg. This year it took place at the night of 20-21 of June 2008.

Now you know the best time and the best event to visit St. Petersburg!

For our readers who wants to know more:

This tradition began here after the end of WWII, when several Leningrad schools united to celebrate the ending of a school year in connection with symbolism of the popular children’s book “Scarlet sails” by Alexander Grin. At the first celebration a boat with scarlet sails was sailing along the English Embankment and the Admiralty Embankment towards the Winter Palace…

The Scarlet Sails show celebrating the end of school year 2007 was attended by more than one million people./span>

And for our readers who wants to know very much, who wants to know source of this festival we offer to read this fairy story “Crimson sails” by Alexander Grin, it’s translated here.

A good news for everybody we just published a Russian movie (1961) with English subtitles:
Russian Video: Scarlet Sails(movie) made by the Alexander Grin’s story!

Watch also Russian Video: Scarlet Sails – 2009!

Have a good bright day,
Svet and Kyle

comments always welcome.

Video About Russian City Vladimir!

Hello,

Today we just watch a nice video about old Russian sity – Vladimir. Almost 10 minutes you’ll feel like a tourist: carefree and serenity tourist. It’s a very nice feeling, is not it? We just smiled all eight minutes of this video… and as you know smile can prolong your life :).

For people who wants to know more:

The City of Vladimir is one of the oldest Russian communities. It is located in the heart of the historic Vladimir region (Vladimirskaya Oblast) 180 kilometers (115 miles) northeast of Moscow on the bank of the Klyazma River. The city was founded in either 990 or 1108, depending on which historians you consult. For the better part of two centuries (from 1157 to the mid 1300s) it was the capital of ancient Rus. Vladimir is now considered one of the major members of the Golden Ring of communities which have played a significant role in Russian history.

Among many other attractions, the City boasts three UNESCO World Heritage Sites. These are the Golden Gates, Vladimir’s unofficial symbol, and the Assumption and St. Demetrius Cathedrals. The city is also home to several award winning museums, art galleries and theaters; a number of world-class performing groups, artists, and artisans, and several first rate institutions of higher learning.

Want to know even more? Read here

Best wishes for everyone,
Svet and Kyle

comments always welcome.

Russia remembers Great Patriotic War!

Hello,

Today is a Day of Memory and Grief in Russia. Today we remember the Great Patriotic War (WWII) victims. And today we’ll watch a cartoon. The cartoon about Pioneers (Soviet scouts) in one town who did not conquer Nazi invaders. The name of this cartoon is “Adventure of Red Ties”, I choose this cartoon because that is adventure and has happy end — that’s very important for me we have very much very strong movies about WWII what you can not watch without tear on your eyes – they are honest movies and happy end is very seldom there (war is war – that is not a joyful walk in the middle of summer). This cartoon was made in 1971, was made for kids – and I was stunned when I watched it – director made so true movie by such simple tools… So now I offer all our readers to watch the cartoon – no tears – I promise. And I want to tell one more thing: These English subtitles to this cartoon is our contribution to The Day of Memory and Grief.

Part1

Part 2

For people who wants to see more we recommend an article and a cartoon what published our friend SeeSaw here.

Best wishes for everybody,
Svet and Kyle

comments always welcome.

Leonid Stadnik (The World Tallest Man) – Continue The Story!

Hello,

How you already know we love kind stories! We already published a story about Leonid Stadnik and put a very beautiful video dedicated to tallest men of the planet: Leonid Stadnik and Robert Wadlow.

“RussiaToday” published an article and a good video about Leonid Stadnik today. They call it “No shortage of problems for world’s tallest man”. No, he does not have shortage of problems but now he has a lot of friends all over the world and this video shows us a person who becomes happier and happier everyday! 🙂

Have a good weekend,
be happy
Svet and Kyle

comments always welcome.