The Russian's Own Rendition of Wedding Traditions

Anywhere you go, you will find that different places carry different traditions from wearing their dresses to dealing with people to holding traditions as special and as momentous as marriages. In Russia, for example, certain mores in solemnizing a marriage is still being practiced today from the wedding dress down to the more definite details such as the wedding bouquet and the wedding kiss. Like in most countries, white is the preferred color for the bride's gown because it embodies joy and celibacy. On the flip side, white is also a symbol of the mournful fact that a woman is retreating from her family to a new one. The bride's wedding shoes, meanwhile, are intended to be lifted from her savings because it will show her facility of becoming a good housekeeper, based on the pair's appearance and price.

Some other symbolisms in a Russian wedding include the veil, which is meant to shove aside evil spirits; the bridesmaids wearing exactly the same dress as the bride, which are meant to confuse the devil; the wedding pie, which is the symbol of abundance; the wedding kiss, which should be watched closely by the public as it cements the bond; and the wedding bouquet, which is thrown back to the single women guests embodying a coming wedding.

Russia an Perplexing Yet Lively Country

With a whopping land area of 17,075,400 km over the huge expanse of Europe and Asia, Russia hales as the bulkiest country around the globe in terms of area. However, despite its titanic scale, Russia remains to be quite a conundrum. In one of Churchill's anecdotes, he described Russia as "a riddle wrapped in a mystery inside an enigma" seems to be the exact illustration of existing Russia.

Such conundrum that envelopes Russia is one of the reasons why tourists still insist on observing this country. Russia's varying ethnic background constitutes one active cultural melting pot that contributes to the country's vibrant culture. Various institutions such as the Orthodox Church remains to be one of influential driving forces in establishing a holistic spiritual inclination of the Russian people. This is one thing I like about Russia: due to varying political turmoil that its history caused, its art advanced and remained steadfast up to this day. During my latest trip to St. Petersburg, I had the opportunity to observe the Russian Winter Festival. It is also held in other Russian locations such as Moscow and Novgorod and is normally celebrated from late December to early January. It stages folklore shows that gives a retrospective presentation of the culturally-rich country that is Russia.

Take A Sample Of The Russian National Recipe

When visiting a foreign country, a tourist must be familiar with a handful of things: where to stay, where to go, and what to eat. In Russia, where culture flourishes amidst the intense and cold weather, the food must be hardy, filling, and can keep a person warm for hours. It is here that the Pelmeni is beloved and is eaten by each one, regardless of their social status and religious belief. This dish is made of a thin dough filled with finely hacked meat, hidden and frozen for a while, and is cooked by boiling or frying. Originally, the recipe came from the Ural families, who made this by mixing together hacked beef, lamb, and pork seasoned with pepper, garlic, and onions to taste, served with a portion of butter or soured cream.

Considered related to dumplings and ravioli, pelmeni can be bought and found not only in Russia, but in faraway countries where their communities exists. In the old times, pelmeni was the principal food of Russian hunters because they were straightforward to make, light enough to bring in large amounts, and can be cooked with the minimum amount of fuss and effort. Unfried pelmeni can stay frozen for easy storage for a long time, making it ultimate for people who go out for unknown periods of time.

Stimulus for Dressmaking

Taking in new sights and tasting unfamiliar flavors for the first time can surely fire up one's creative flow. Artists who experience some kind of creative barrier venture out into the unexplored to find something that will inspire them. Most people wake up from a dry spell and jump-start the creative process without much struggle. Others discover what they subconsciously seek when they least expect it, perhaps while on a holiday spree or working briefly at some fantastic location.

Famous Italian fashion guru Laura Biagiotti certainly found inspiration during her memorable stay in Russia. She was far from losing her touch; she was merely captivated by the captivating backdrop of Moscow, and this influenced her to create a collection that was bound to blow everyone away. True enough, during a 1995 runway show in Milan, Biagiotti showcased Russian details designed into her highly artistic fashion clothes. The collection boasted of lush cashmere incorporated into shawls, skirts, coats, cuffs, pocket flaps, capes, and collars -- designs that have been constantly adapted in various fall and winter lines. While Laura Biagiotti remains to be a proud Italian fashion guru, she does not limit her creativity to her captivating roots. She welcomes inspiration from all over the world and pushes others to enjoy what she's seen through her unique creations.

A Four-Star St. Petersburg Escape

As opposed to what most people think, the most extragavant and pleasant stays don't only come from five-star inns. I have already verified this when I went to St. Petersburg in one of my Russian escapes. Being a bit tight on the budget and being there on short notice, I resolved to stay in a famed four-star hotel, the Park Inn Pulkovskaya Hotel. Set in the southmost part of St. Petersburg, the Park Inn Pulkovskaya Hotel belongs to the list of the most striking architectural structures of Victory Square. The hotel, which was opened in May 1981, is nearby one of St. Petersburg's most exquisite districts.

When I walked in Park Inn Pulkovskaya Hotel, it had not occurred to me that it was a four-star inn. I found little to no contrast between it and the upmarket five-star hotel just outside St. Petersburg that I stayed in a few months ago. The Park Inn Pulkovskaya Hotel's interior, services, and niceties are all admirable. The best part I love about Park Inn Pulkovskaya Hotel is that it's close to shopping centers and many spots of interest. Just some of the things you can see nearby the hotel are the house of the president of Russia and the Peterhof and Konstantinovsky Palace. The delightful experience I had in Park Inn Pulkovskaya Hotel taught me that there's really nothing to lose by checking in a four-star inn.