Russians sit before leaving the house (called «присесть на дорожку» or "to sit for the road") as a tradition rooted in folklore, stemming from beliefs in house spirits (Domovoy) that needed appeasing, and it's also a practical moment to calm down, check for forgotten items, and mentally prepare for a journey, ensuring good luck and preventing mishaps, https://qz.com/quartzy/1347195/this-russian-ritual-keeps-your-domestic-demons-from-following-you-on-vacation, https://www.quora.com/Where-did-the-custom-of-Russians-sitting-before-a-trip-come-from, https://www.facebook.com/lingualift/posts/russian-corner-why-do-russians-sit-before-a-journey-%EF%B8%8Fif-youve-ever-traveled-with/1164017909067002/, https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2016/05/23/moscow-lifehack-my-russian-girlfriend-makes-me-sit-down-for-a-moment-before-we-leave-the-house-on-trips-why-a52917.
Sitting briefly before departure is often treated as a small ritual to confuse or appease misfortune. It's thought to delay evil spirits or bad luck that might follow a hasty departure, or to ensure the household's protection while you are away.
You might think that it's a cold country and that's totally fine, but shaking hands with gloves on is considered to be extremely impolite. Be ready to take your gloves off if you're about to be introduced to someone. Another 'handshake rule', never shake hands over the threshold if you're in Russia.
Keeping gloves on while shaking hands. Shaking hands across a threshold (considered bad luck!) Initiating a cheek kiss too soon or in the wrong setting. Overusing informal greetings in professional environments.
Russia severely restricts free speech. Publishing and distribution of information (including private comments on chats, social media or social apps) related to the Russian leadership, government, government policies, armed forces and any military operations may be considered illegal.
Everyone may freely leave the Russian Federation. Citizens of the Russian Federation shall have the right freely to return to the Russian Federation.
The current Penal Code permits the death penalty for five crimes:
Russians do smile at people they know. Shop assistants smile at the clients they already know, not necessarily at others. If you smile at a stranger in Russia, he/she can smile back, but it can already mean an invitation to come and talk. Russians take smiling as a sign that the person cares about them.
Never make "your mom" jokes unless you are 100% sure the other party knows you are going to make one. An odd number for flowers in a bouquet for a living person, an even for when you visit a cemetery. Don't ask “How are you?” to people you don't know.
Article 228 concerns “Illegal acquisition, storage, transportation, manufacture, processing of narcotic drugs, psychotropic substances or their analogues, as well as illegal acquisition".
A flick on the neck
When you see someone bending their neck slightly and flicking the side of it with their finger, congratulations, you've got an invitation. This is an exclusively Russian gesture meaning “Let's have a drink”. It can also be used to allude to someone being drunk without saying it out loud.
A lighter version is “Пока-пока!” (paka-paka). It appeared in the 90s of the last century under the influence of English “Bye-bye!” Pronounce it like [пак̀а / pak̀a]. The English equivalent is “Bye!
The leading cause of death in Russia is overwhelmingly diseases of the circulatory system, primarily ischemic heart disease and stroke, followed by cancers (especially lung cancer), with significant mortality also from external causes like accidents, alcohol poisoning, and suicide, reflecting high rates of preventable deaths compared to Western Europe. Cardiovascular diseases account for over half of all deaths, a much higher proportion than the European average.
Jawbone's data scientists crunched data from millions of Jawbone users in about 40 countries and found that people in Russia typically go to bed at 12:51 a.m. But just because Russians tend to go to bed later doesn't mean they get less sleep.
S Lyogkim Parom!
(s lyokh-keem pah-ruhm; literally: Congratulations on a light steam!) Russians say this when they see someone who just came out of a shower or a sauna, but you can also use it as a joke when you see someone who got caught in the rain or who spilled a drink.
PC is the most popular gaming platform in Russia, most Russian children did not have Nintendo or PS, especially in the 90s and early 00s, and started straight away with PC games, and since Half-life has always been very famous and popular in the rest of the world, it naturally also became very popular in Russia too.
As of 2022, Coca-Cola has suspended its operations in Russia due to the invasion of Ukraine. Coca-Cola has been a point of legal discussion in the Middle East.
me and my friends usually say чзх - че за хуйня, че за - what the or че/что блять. or you can say втф which is basically wtf abbreviation.
However, the topic of menstruation remains one of the most taboo topics in modern Russia. It is not openly or freely discussed, and for years, feminine hygiene product advertisements have used the same general phrases, clichés, and euphemisms.
Hugs, backslapping, kisses on the cheeks and other expansive gestures are common among friends or acquaintances and between members of the same sex. Russians stand close when talking. Putting your thumb through your index and middle fingers or making the "OK" sign are considered very rude gestures in Russia.
According to Gallup's 2023 Global Emotions Report, Indonesia has been named the country that smiles the most, showcasing the nation's warmth and optimism even amid global challenges.
In the Slavic culture, the long-lasting tradition of two men exchanging a kiss on the lips when they met was a sign of respect and friendly intentions. At the same time, a welcoming kiss on the hand, leg or arm was to show уважение перед старшим (consideration to elders) or to a person belonging to the elite.
PAPUA NEW GUINEA, the CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC, EQUATORIAL GUINEA, and ZAMBIA abolished the death penalty for all crimes. ZIMBABWE abolished the death penalty for ordinary crimes. PORTUGAL abolished the death penalty for all crimes. DENMARK abolished the death penalty for all crimes.
Number of death sentences worldwide 2024, by country
The highest number of death sentences in the world in 2024 was recorded in China, with at least 1,000 cases registered, although the actual number is likely to be significantly higher. Egypt followed behind with 365 death sentences.
Criminal Code of the Russian Federation, Article 229.
substances, as well as plants containing narcotics or psychotropic substances, or parts thereof containing narcotics or psychotropic substances». The maximum penalty is imprisonment for up to 20 years with a fine of up to 1,000,000 rubles.