Arrivial of a newborn in Russia

I'd like to know ...who cares for mother and baby the first days after birth. Is it the family, like grandmother and aunts, or a nurse?
Is there any difference between giving birth in a city or at the countryside?
And what's the role of the father? I found a site which said that fathers after the birth of their child the whole night go boozing with friends, but I thought that rather unlikely.

Next, is there some party for the family, friends, and neighbors or can they visit whenever they?
Are there special gifts you give the mother and child?
And is it still a custom to wrap the baby?

Asked by Maud, Holland
This is a big subject, but I'll try to summarize everything in several short paragraphs.

ALWAYS


Indeed, the world surrounding the birth of a new person rests in Russia purely the women's world. I will disappoint you to say that not that Russian men don't love their newborn children.... it is just rather cultural to leave the pregnancy and everything concerning this mysterious process to the women.

Social studies prove that majority of Russian women won't expect the father of their baby to accompany her through the pregnancy to doctors or even to be present at the labor room.

You will be surprised, but chastity and timidity would be the right words to describe the feelings of both sides.
Majority of women would have their babies in the official medical establishments where they will stay from 5-7 days after giving a birth (this, by the way, allows woman to rest) and just few would prefer to have a labor at home under the supervision of a midwife. Rural areas won't be much different from the towns.
The level of comfort could vary .....but this will be true for any other country.)))))


One important issue would be the restriction on the visits in the neonatal section of the hospital. In many places, even fathers are not welcomed. Hygiene standards don't allow any foreign infection in the hospital. So grandparents, friends, and relatives will have to wait until the newborn is allowed to go home with his mom. ...And that is why in every family you will have a picture of them on the stairs of the hospital accompanied by a woman wearing white robe holding wrapped pink of blue blanket ))))
Thus, the midwife presents a new member to the family!
...And yes, we do wrap our babies for the first several months of life ))))
TRADITIONS & SUPERSTITIONS

The modern life and technology definitely entered life of Russians, but there are some traditions and superstitions which survived all: Tsar, Soviet, and any modern times influence )))

1. During the pregnancy, a woman should not eat in secret (hiding). If she does so: her child could be born fearful.

Modern EXPLANATION: Such desire can appear either in case of food deficiency (which in our time is, fortunately, rare), or in case of eating “forbidden fruits”, for example chocolate or oranges, which can be considered as allergic for the baby. .... (Still not clear how could it make the kid fearful)))

2. Never mention that you are pregnant, except to a father of a child and a doctor! Until stomach becomes noticeable, a woman should not mention to anyone her pregnancy. ...Grandparents, friends included.
Modern EXPLANATION: This very ancient popular belief. Once there was an entire “system” of rites, which helped a woman to conceal the pregnancy from the evil spirits, which aimed to harm an unborn baby. Women wore husband's shirts, worked as much as others to hide her pregnancy especially from those, among whom could hide anyone with a "bad eye".

Nowadays contemporary psychologists recommend following this advice in certain cases (especially when there is a threat of the miscarriage). The reason for this is not in “being jinxed” but a probable natural miscarriage during the first term. If this misfortune happens, the possible questions on the state of mother's health can traumatize woman even more than the event itself.
3. The name of a future child must be held in secret. A name of an unborn baby can be considered but shall be held in strict secrecy as the evil spirits can try to harm an unborn baby.

4. Pregnant mother shall not touch domestic animals. A pregnant woman must not play with the cat, even take it into the hands, in the child will otherwise be many enemies.
Modern EXPLANATION: The discovery in XX century of toxoplasmosis, a very dangerous disease for future moms, which is actually transferred by cats, cleared this superstition.

5. No clothes or toys or anything shall be bought or kept in the house where the pregnant woman lives. If grandparents or father buy anything they shall never show it to a future mom. Everyone pretends that there is no change coming in the family's life. Father will have time to get it all once a baby is born. That is what he is doing together with all aunts and grandparents when mother and a baby rest after the labor.
6. A woman shall not cut her hair during the pregnancy. (I couldn't get a decent explanation why).

7. No stranger eyes should look at the baby until the child is the 1-2 month old.

There are no traditions of any baby shower in Russia. Presents are just given to the parents at the occasions.
Usually, the first party would be organized for the christening (if the parents plan to baptize a baby) or for any other close holiday (New Year/birthday of a member of a family). But more often you will not be invited to the house. Once again - "no infection in the house" is needed.

P.S. Hope, it covers more or less all of your questions. As for the father's drinking all night long after the day when his son was born. You know, I am sure this is not only Russian tradition...but who would blame the happy dad? ))

Ice hockey in Russia

Can you tell more about ice hockey in Russia. Is is as popular as we think. Thanks.
asked by Anonymous

Well, I don't know where to start....I'll start with a history because you will be surprised to learn that this strong love for hockey is rather young )))

HISTORY

Before 1917 the ice hockey was not really known in Russia. Several sport clubs made an attempt to break into a new winter sports competitions and in 1911 Russia entered International ice hockey league created 3 years earlier. However the puck did not manage to become popular and quit soon All-Russian hockey union leaved international Ice Hockey League.

The history of hockey in Soviet Russia began rather after 1917 with an extreme popularity of field hockey (called then “bandy or Russian hockey” http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bandy#Russia).

In the beginning of XX century this game was especially popular among women.
The ice hockey was rarely played and only by the students of sports universities who were supposed to study all types of sports. Ice hockey was an outsider among sports favored by Soviet youth until after the WWII when in 1946 Soviet Hockey league was founded.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soviet_Hockey_League

On April 1st, 1952 the Soviet Hockey league joined International Hockey League to become one of the best performer of this league.

Suddenly this winter sport became so popular that all Russian boys became obsessed with "the stick & puck".
It will be only fair to say that this popularity was provoked by success of Soviet hockey team which won 7:3 its first World Championship in 1954 beating Canada and 4:0 over US team in 1956 Olympic games in Cortina D'Ampezzo.

Suddenly every boy in USSR wanted a hockey stick for New Year or birthday. No wonder, in 1960-70th everyone was talking about Russian ice hockey dream team.
After seeing breathtaking success and foolhardy behavior of their players on the ice ring Russians considered this sport as "the one for REAL man" and all over the country little boys sang the song Coward doesn't play in hockey ("Trus ne igraet v khokkei")


National ice hockey was mostly dominated by two major clubs TSKA (Soviet Army club) and Spartak.

These people were more then movie stars their faces were all over the news and they were considered as the heroes of their times. They were dashing players and adored by everyone. Wikipedia mentions 4 Soviet players who marked those times:

"The IIHF Team of the Century included four Soviet-Russian players out of a team of six.
Goalkeeper: Vladislav Tretiak,
defense: Vyacheslav Fetisov
and forwards Valeri Kharlamov & Sergei Makarov who played for the Soviet teams in the 1970s and the 1980s were voted on to the IIHF Centennial All-Star Team in a poll conducted by a group of 56 experts from 16 countries."

Collapse of the USSR meant hard times for the national ice hockey.
1989 was the first year when Soviet hockey players began leaving the country searching for a better pay and the weakened team was not as performing as during the Soviet times. It took almost 15 years of ups and downs and searching of new team and coach for Russian hockey to show stable successful result in World championships:

• 2007 - Bronze medal winner
• 2008 - Gold medal winner
• 2009 - Gold medal winner

Now everyone is waiting for the results of upcoming 2010 Olympic games in Vancouver and Russia hopes to add medal to its Olympic gold medal list in ice hockey:

• 1956
  
• 1964
  
• 1968
  
• 1972
  
• 1976
  
• 1984
  
• 1988
  
• 1992
  

NOWADAYS

According to statistics Russia has a total of 77,702 players, about 0.05% of its population. Who knows, maybe soon we will see Russian girls ice hockey team (participating in the world championships since 2007) showing surprising results.

Meanwhile healthy outdoor sport wins over indoor ones during the long Russian winter and parents willingly put their little kids to learn the rules of this taught game ))))

Integration into Russian society

Would it be possible for me, an outsider, to, over time, become accepted by the Russian people? I'm not saying I expect to be accepted as one of your own, but just to be considered another person, friend etc there. I really hope to be accepted as a person there and not "the outsider".

My second question was: as I said, I want to go into writing when I have finished my education, probably as an author of books or something in philosophy, perhaps reporting if those two are not doable, but my main area that I really aspire to do well in, is teaching. I was wondering if there would be a lot of acceptance for a person like me with that kind of job, and whether I would generally be successful in your country with something like that.

asked by Darryl, UK

Dear Darryl,

I always believe that majority of our problems, when we are trying to settle down abroad, are related to a simply bad communication or absence of knowledge of local "communication codes". So I'll try to list the most important ones.

KEYS to INTEGRATION

It is true that integration process if not easy in any country even if you think that you know a lot about traditions and people. But I will not be very original indication the main key for integration. Knowledge of RUSSIAN language will be the most important key on your way of being fully integrated into the society.

This applies to any country, but for the one like Russia where according to the State statistics only 5% of population speaks English, knowledge of Russian will open you many doors..including those of human hearts ))))

http://www.perepis2002.ru/index.html?id=11

Another key would be the TIME. Once again in order to be accepted by the people...you'll have to spend your time with them )))). It seems obvious but as a long-term expat I have to admit that the most obvious things are the most difficult to handle.

It is always very tempting to stay close to the expat community which is welcoming and understanding....but if you close yourself with those who are just like you, you'll arrive to the point where people around you will be complaining about "complicated Russians" while doing nothing to break the fence they created around themselves. (P.S. I have met a friend who in order to integrate had purposely cut all communication with compatriots to the strict minimum and in several years was completely adapted to the local life)

It is true that people are different but when you hit an inevitable low point of your stay in Russian it is important to remember, that it was YOUR choice to come to Russia and it is up to you to make a bigger effort.

I always found Russians rather friendly and loyal as friends...but would not deny the certain idealization of the Western people.

Another success key would be asking people questions or advice when you don't understand something. Don't suppose that you can get it yourself and don't hesitate. Usually, they 'll help...or at least one of them will ))) And that might help you to meet a new friend.

Now to answer your second question....

I really don't know what to say. Teacher is always a demanded profession....but being a writer of philosophy books ???
The success of this project, I am afraid, wouldn't depend on the place of your residence, but on the content of your work.

P.S.

Hope I answered your questions. So please don't be discouraged or demotivated if you found my advises hard to follow. I am sure that you won't be disappointed coming to Russia.

Besides, the good thing is that you won't be alone, trying to integrate the Russian society. As you could see from the listed below charts there will be officially at least 10 0000-12 000 people (from non-CIS countries) per year who would ask themselves the same questions.

Russia - Foreign Countries Migration of Population*

( In thousand persons)

Most popular car brands in Russia (2009)

What are the most popular car brands in Russia?

asked by Anonymous

I would love to give you some dynamics of development of this interesting subject but in order to save some time I will have to stick to 2009 only covering the market of new cars. (
"The used ones" preferences are really hard to cover as the popularity really varies from one region to another (The Far East - Japanese brands, European part- German brands or so ))))

The 2009 rating of the most popular new cars in Russia was severely shaken by the latest economic crisis, when the sales of new cars in Russia had decreased by -50% comparing to 2008.

DEFEATED

Sharp recession has touched almost all companies.
It was especially severe to the traditionally popular in Russian Far East Japanese manufacturers. The Very high exchange rate of yen to dollar and Euro, not to mention the Russian ruble forced Japanese manufacturers to raise the prices for the car production.
As a result, the decrease in sales in 2009 for major Japanese car manufacturers was dramatic for Honda -72 %, Toyota -64 % and Mitsubishi -63 %.

It also cost Toyota two places in the rating of the most popular in Russia car brands, and now it is only the sixth, Mitsubishi has dropped 3 places and was only 11-th, and Honda from 13-th place has dropped to the 19th. It is a bit better for other Japanese manufacturers - Nissan, Subaru, and Mazda, but their parameters for 2009 also stay below market average: decrease was 56 %, 57 % and 59 % accordingly.


HANG-IN-THERE

Some producers, like Saab and Chrysler, for example, even had to close their car production facilities for Russian market, others, like Alpha Romeo, wished this year finished soon seeing the sales dropping to minimum (62 cars in first six months of 2009). The bad state of sales for all three brands of American Chrysler Group for 11 months of 2009 has resulted in -86 %. With the only one exception - the Hummer. Although Americans have sold this mark to the Chinese - the cars for Russian market were assembled in Russian Kaliningrad, that (together with the price reduction) helped the growth of sales of this huge off-road cars +74 %.

Despite the rather stable position of premium- brands, Volvo and Saab have suffered a significant drop of sales - 66 % and - 71 % accordingly.
Still there was a company which managed to show during this crisis year an outstanding result on Russian market: Citroen (growth of +6 %). Citroen has overcome in this year Mercedes-Benz, Subaru, Land Rover and some other companies and climbed in ranking from the 31-st to the 23rd place.

LUCKY ONES

The 2009 crisis of sale has practically left untouched "the big German three ": BMW (-13 %), Audi (-12 %), Mercedes-Benz (-29 %). They now have headed the premium-class brands, having thrown off the pedestal Volvo and Land Rover.
After transferring to the factory to Kaluga (Moscow region) production of almost all brands of Volkswagen and thus absence of high customs taxes Germans managed to keep the prices for the cars on a good level. During 11 months of 2009 VW has sold 36,500 cars and has risen from 17-th to the 12th place in rating. Drop of sales VW was only 19 % - which was one of the best parameters of this crisis year.

Other car brands worked hard to keep up the sales.


SUMMARY

2009 Top 10 sales leaders of the most popular cars in Russia (Jan-Oct 2009)

1. Lada Priora (84 779 cars)
2. Lada Samara (77 679 cars)
3. Lada 2105/2107 (57 513 cars)
4. Lada Kalina (52 499 cars)
5. Ford Focus (44 143 cars)
6. Renault Logan (43 595 cars)
7. Chevrolet Lacetti (24 889 cars)
8. Daewoo Nexia (23 275 cars)
9. Chevrolet Lanos (21 144 cars)
10. Lada 4x4 (20 661 cars)

http://auto.newsru.com/article/10Nov2009/popular

1 Russia = 2 New Years + 2 Christmases

I know that your Santa comes to you on the New Year Eve. Can you explain why?
asked by Frederic, Canada

HISTORY
Russia has been Christian since 980 A.D. (for over 1000 years) and the Russian Orthodox Church still follows the old Julian Calendar. The Julian calendar is currently 13 days behind the Gregorian Calendar which is used by the majority of the countries in the world including the Russian State. According to tradition, all Russian Orthodox believers celebrate their Christmas on January 7th of the following year.

It was not always like this. Until 1917 the Russian State celebrated Christmas as lavishly as the rest of Europe but with an official delay of 13 days. So kids received their Christmas presents on that day. This holiday opened seasonal festivities of Russian Imperial court and nobility, which continued until the Lent before Easter.
When at the end of 1917 the Bolshevik government decided to adopt the Gregorian calendar, the Russian Orthodox church decided not to follow the rules set by the increasingly hostile civil authorities. Part of the reason was to protest against the Bolsheviks and their interference in church affairs. Another reason, probably, was to preserve the older/ Orthodox (read "unchangeable") rules, and ways in which the previous generations of Russian Christians were praying, celebrating, etc.

So the new Soviet State also marked its territory by forbidding all possible reminders of "the Old times". That naturally banned Christmas trees and Christmas day became a working day. But still parents didn't want to deny their kids the pleasure of decorating a Christmas tree on long winter evenings. My grandmother remembers that even though the people were afraid of repressions they covered windows with blankets when they put a small tree in.
It was like this until 1935 when one of the party leaders addressed the Communist Congress with a clever note mentioning that "the most civilized State offering everyone an equal chance can't deprive its happy children of presents and the New Year celebration under the wise control of the Communist Party". That argument was unbeatable and here once more - tradition won. Now New Year became a Soviet version of an old Christmas celebration. Presents, Santa, and trees were adopted by the Soviet Union. Lenin had been dead for a long time, but every school had a right to a nice picture of him visiting children for the New Year.
It was only in 1938 when the Communist Party officially organized a Christmas/New Year tree inside the Kremlin and every small visitor had a right to a small present offered from Grandpa Frost (the Soviet version of Santa Clause).

No one knew those days that in just 3 years, the decorated tree would be almost the only consolation for children in bombed and attacked Russian towns during WWII.

The end of the war brought another calendar change, though. Now, the 1st of January officially became a day off.
People were allowed to have a celebration and all Soviet newspapers showed happy families united for New Year's Eve.


MODERN REALITY
As time went by and the regime softened, Soviet traditions included great festivities for the New Year with an obligatory Grandpa Frost's visit often accompanied by his granddaughter Snegurochka (Snow Maiden).

Like his Western counterpart Santa, Russian DED MOROZ (Grandpa Frost) travels in a sled (albeit with a Troika) and there are no unreachable places for this omnipresent old man. He prefers the daytime for visits, though ))))




LATEST

For the not-so-religious part of the Russian society, Christmas time is just a long holiday season.

Many people these days start parting with their Western friends on December 25 (together with the Western World),

then continue on the real New Year Eve with festive parties and Grandpa Frost , enjoy New Year's Day with their families, then, celebrate Russian Orthodox Christmas on January 7th together with Russian Orthodox believers, when children get another set of presents, and finally every person from ex-USSR territories celebrates the night of January 13 (known as Old-New Year).

P.S. So don't be surprised if your business partners in Russia wish you Happy New Year or simply are in the festive mood until January 13th. It's complicated, you know....well just like many other things in Russia.

One thing is sure, on the New Year's Eve you will hear these songs:

Russian science today

I always wondered what has happened to your country after perestroika. Where are all of your "great nation" science achievements?
Asked by Roderigo, Spain


Tough question to answer...may I say...and not because there is nothing to say, but just because there are so many topics to cover.

Well, to summarize and make it light, science achievements are still there)))
To be more precise, I am going to mention most recent several ones:



NOBEL PRIZE

http://nobelprize.org/nobel_prizes/

Russian winners of Nobel Prize (after 1990):

1990 Peace: Mr.Mikhael Gorbachev
2000 Physics: Mr.Zhores Alferov
2003 Physics : Mr.Alexei Abrikosov & Mr.Vitaly Ginzburg



FIELDS MEDAL

The Fields Medal is a prize awarded to 2, 3, or 4 mathematicians not over 40 years of age at each International congress - a meeting that takes place every four years. The Fields Medal is often viewed as the top honor a mathematician can receive. More on this medal you can see on Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fields_Medal

Russian winners of Fields Medal

1994 Mr.Efim Zelmanov
1998 Mr.Maxim Kontsevich
2002 Mr.Vladimir Voevodsky
2006 Mr.Grigori Perelman.*

* This funny guy has declined the medal even though he was awarded "for his contributions to geomerty and his revolutionary insights into the analytical and geometric structure of the Ricci flow"



ABEL PRIZE

http://www.abelprisen.no/en/

Russian winner of Abel prize:

2009 Geometry: Mr.Michail Gromov

SPACE
I am not aware of any prizes for space science development but the fact that Russians are not doing that bad in this science can be proved by the blog of one of the members of the International Space Station.

Too bad Russian cosmonaut Maxim Suraev updates his Russian version of the blog from the Space Station http://www.roscosmos.ru/DocDoSele.asp?DocID=528&ShowAdm= more often that the English one http://rt.com/About_Us/Blogs/orbital-log/2009-10-15.html

P.S.
I hope my brief review gave you some ideas, Roderigo. Watch for the updates, though ))))

Dinner and "good night" time for kids in Russia

What time is dinner (supper) for small children? Middle age children? Older children? What time do Russian kids go to bed?

Asked by Anza West


HISTORY

Traditions of dinner time for all children in Russia (and I mean on all ex-USSR territory) have not changed much since Soviet times when everyday life of any family member was supposed to be organized according to the general recommendation of the State sanitary control.

...Well, it sounds scary, but actually it was very well organized and every new mom could get an answer to any question regarding her child from her local pediatric center for children from 0 to 16 years old(polyclinic).

Quiet often all walls of this centers were covered with the clear slogans. from how to teach your child to eat to what time to put him to bed. As you can see from the picture, it was advised that for the child's health the best schedule will be:

9 am -breakfast
1pm - lunch
4am - snack
7:30pm - dinner

This recommendation applied to the children of all ages.

It was important to finish dinner before 8:45pm, as at 8:45pm every child on the territory of ex-USSR was suppose to be in front of TV for his evening treat.

He had a right for 15 minutes long program Good night , babies! (Spokoinoi noch malyshi!) which was often the only daily TV entertainment of a child from 3 to 9 years old .

Music from this program put all babies in the sleepy mood and they were ready to go to bed leaving some free time for their parents.


REALITY

Well, of cause many things has changed since then and now parents have access to all recommendations possible from all over the world. Some leave kids to eat when they want and to play until they fall asleep on the couch, others stick to a good old tradition of the grand-mothers.

But usually, since many parents work and are rarely home before 7pm, the dinner for all is around 7 30pm, unless grandma or nanny helps to feed hungry small kids before that. Teenagers will wait for parents or will eat before 8pm if parents left something to be heated.

You rarely will see small kids wondering around on the street after 9pm. The rule of 9pm-sleep-time still works but even if kids don't go to bed right away they are not allowed to go outside after the dinner. Those who will not go to bed might spent evening in front of computer or TV....just like in any other country)))))