Поболтаем о праздниках с Алексеем
Добро пожаловать, болтуны! You have been invited here to prepare to join Alex Sitnikov, SRAS’ Moscow Student Coordinator in a discussion about some of Russia’s major holidays. SRAS is excited to be working with you! Очень рады познакомиться!
Let’s start by letting Alex introduce himself:
So how does this work? Your instructor will let you know when the event will be and, if needed, how to log into it. Alex will start by introducing his subject in a short five-minute talk. Then, he’ll lead you in discussion using the Russian vocabularly you’ve learned in advance (see below) and following the questions below, which hopefully you’ve also taken the time to consider in advance. Скоро увидимся!
Новые слова для тебя!
- праздник – a holiday
- отмечать – to celebrate
- религиозные – religious
- Пасха, Рождество – Easter, Christmas
- исторические – historical
- День защитника Отечества – Defender of the Fatherland Day (originally invented to commemorate the first draft into the Russian Army, but later basically became an all-Russian day of Men)
- День народного единства – Unity Day (commemorates the Russian uprising of 1612 that allowed the country to expel the Polish-Lithuanian occupation forces)
- международные – international
- Международный женский день – International Women’s Day
- Ураза-байрам – Eid al-Fitr, a major Muslim holiday celebrated worldwide, including Russia
- День тигра – Tiger Day, a local holiday celebrated in Vladivostok, Russia to commemorate this well-respected local animal
- государственный праздник – public holiday/national holiday
- официальные выходные – official days-off
- с (большим) размахом – in a big way
- нельзя не заметить – can’t but notice
- Новый год – New Year
- растягиваться на неделю – last for a week
- собраться всей семьей – have an all-family gathering
- поднимают бокалы с шампанским – raise glasses of champagne
- слушают бой курантов – listen to the Kremlin clock chiming
- праздничный дух – holiday spirit
- выпадает первый снег – when the first snow falls
- гирлянды, мишура, новогодние елки – fairy lights, tinsel, Christmas trees (in Russia, they are called New Year Trees)
- испытать немного волшебства – experience a bit of magic
- не пожалеете – you won’t regret it
- День Победы – Victory Day
- военный парад – a military parade (happens traditionally on May 9th of every year in the Red Square area in Moscow)
- покажут по федеральным каналам – will be broadcast by the federal TV channels
- преобразится – will transform/get a new look
- георгиевские ленточки – St. George’s ribbon (a black-and-orange Russian military symbol used in many military decorations and award throughout the history of the Russian Empire, the Soviet Union, and the current Russian Federation)
- праздничные наклейки – around Victory day, Russians tend to decorate their cars with holiday stickers, saying something like “Спасибо деду за Победу!” (thank you, grandpa, for the Victory!).
- мелодии и песни военного времени – the tunes and songs of wartime
- Бессмертный полк – the Immortal Regiment (a recent tradition that originated in Russia in 2012; involves Russian people parading with portraits of their relatives that fought in WWII).
- Великая Отечественная война – the Great Patriotic War, a name Russians use to refer to the stage of World War II from June 22, 1941 to May 9, 1945 in which the Soviet Union actively participated.
- День Рождения – birthday
- заветная дата – a cherished date
- именинник/именинница – birthday person
- приглашает – invites
- к себе домой или в кафе – to one’s place or to a cafe
- праздничный торт со свечами – here, a birthday cake with candles (according to the age of an именинник)
- за счет именинника – at the birthday person’s expense
- дарить и получать подарки – to give and receive gifts
устраивать сюрпризы – to spring surprises - отмечать на широкую ногу – same as “с большим размахом”; largely, in grand style
- родился в марте или апреле – was born in March or April
- в самоизоляции – under quarantine; while sheltering in place
- век технологий – digital era
- провести время с друзьями и близкими – spend time with friends and close ones
О чем именно будем болтать?
Consider how you would respond to the following questions:
- О каких еще российских праздниках вы слышали? Что вы о них знаете?
- Какой российский праздник вам нравится больше всего? Почему?
- Вы бы хотели отметить День Рождения в России?
- Какие праздники считаются самыми крупными в Америке?
- Какие праздники любите отмечать вы?
(extended questions)
- Есть ли у вас какие-либо семейные праздники и семейные традиции?
- Если бы вы стали президентом и захотели ввести новый государственный праздник, каким бы он был?
Тебе понравилось?
After the event, let us know how it went! We’d love to hear from you!
I wanted to find a program that combined my love of Russia and my passion for environmental studies. Because of my interest in environmental issues, Lake Baikal had always been a site of interest to me. Studying abroad in Siberia gives you the opportunity to see a completely different side of Russia and the Russian people. Just think, few people at home even know that Siberia is anything but a wintery tundra!
My semester back home so far has been incredibly influenced by my semester abroad with SRAS and I find myself talking about it almost daily. Since many of my classes touch on the region (Europe after Socialism, Central Asian Politics), I’m able to add comments and insights unavailable to me before. My contributions to our Russian club have also been greatly enriched. Thank you for everything you did to facilitate this experience and going out of your way to ensure our success.
I spent Fall and Spring with your program in St. Petersburg and it was truly the highlight and culmination of my University experience and just a banner year! I can’t thank you enough for or gush enough about your program. I recommend it to just about everyone I talk to, whether or not they’re interested in learning Russian.
I’ve studied in Irkutsk and St. Petersburg with SRAS, but [Bishkek] is, by far, my favorite because of the intense focus on speaking skills. I spend about three hours, 4 times a week speaking one-on-one. It’s such a unique opportunity! The people are also especially friendly here. My homestay is fantastic, the coordinator is a never-ending wealth of help, and the food of Central Asia is delicious.
At a time in my life when I was at a crossroads regarding where my career might take me, this course showed me a path that truly inspired me, and I haven’t looked back since.
The program here is wonderful. All of my teachers have been extremely helpful and I have made friends both here in the dorms and with others who live in the city and find that I often have many opportunities to practice Russian outside of the classroom. Already I feel that my Russian has improved immensely, especially my listening and speaking.