[Sidney_Ivan]

While we are waiting for our dossier to be submitted to Russia, my husband and I are looking ahead to incorporating some Russian cultural aspects into our family traditions and regular daily life. Do you have any ideas?

Also, I'm looking for some good (and healthy) Russian recipes for my kitchen. Do you know of any good Russian cookbooks, websites, etc.?

Thanks!

[kretzklan]

We do things that come up in everyday life. We attend the annual Russian Festival in Denver. We see cultural events - like Russian dance shows when they are available.
I know many people like the culture camps. We haven't taken part.
We have the opportunity to do projects on Russia whenever they have a heritage day or the like.

Sorry - not a cook at all - so no help on the food!

[MamaChinch]

My dd has just turned three, so I hope we can do more in the future but we have made Russian desserts and bread and she looks at picture from Moscow and tell you this is the Kermlin, this is where I lived, this is Moscow. She can even say Novokuznetsk! I also bought a lot of souveniers while there. She has many up in her room and knows they are from Russia....matroyska dolls, a St. Basil's music box, a Russian flag, a map, and some Russian story books. Although I read a few of those fairy tales and they are not for young children!!! We have friends names and photos next to her map and a string that shows were they are from, Russia and other places. I also made a little photo collage and framed it of the children we know from the same Baby House.
We listen to a Russian music Cd and she loves to dance to it. Every night when we say g'nite, we say I love you in Russian and do the "Russian kiss", a kiss on each cheek.
Some else may chime in with a good cookbook, I stole some recipes off my agency's website and just looked some on line.
Congrats on getting our dossier out! Big step!

[another2]

I come from a Russian family and cooking Russian dishes is passed down from mother to daughter -- usually without written recipes. I do have one cookbook that I use occasionally called "Please to the Table: The Russian Cookbook." It is fun because there are cultural and holiday explanations and the recipes come from several countries where Russian people live (Estonia, Latvia, Ukraine, etc.) -- not just Russia.

[beckyww]

I confess we're mostly "souvenir" people. No other family members would want Russian food and now - after two years home - I doubt Julia would eat it either. Ditto for listening to Russian music or whatever. We have stuff for Julia for when she wants it. We have souvenirs scattered about, as well as pictures of her in Russia in almost every room. We'll hang our Russian flag on our two-year-anniversary of "Sisters Day," which is the day she came home (5/18.) But reality is that she moved to America w/an American family - the youngest of four sisters. You're only going to move the needle of a whole group so far.

Becky
The Woodworth Family in Beautiful San Antonio TX

[momraine]

We also have multiple children, we have one born in Russia, one in Poland and two born in Texas. We have my nieces who are half Mexican and of course dh and I have lots of things in us. So this year for Christmas eve we did an international feast. We had Polish food and Russian food, and Mexican food, French bread, Jewish Latka's and I can't even remember what all else. The kids tried new foods and we talked about all the countries represented and of course had left overs for the week after christmas so the kids could try stuff again. It was a lot of fun and as the kids get older each will make something to contribute.

[k8c]

Maslenitsa is a Russian holiday that I plan to celebrate yearly with my daughter--and with her friends. It's a celebration of spring. PM me if you want more info.

Kate, in Russia

[Bcelli]

While we celebrate No.2 DS's Ohana Day (Gotcha Day for most) on June 1, it was pointed out to us by the judge that June 1 is Russian Children's Day. Great timing, huh? We try to hit the Russian cultural stuff that blows through here and anytime Russia is in the news, we alsways make sure the boys are aware of any issues. Our older (9) is interested, our younger (6.5) couldn't care less.

[DelMarie]

Perhaps you could try a subscription to "Russian Life" magazine and/or check out their website. They have a great russian cookbook that you can order online (can't remember the name).

Our daughter is 4.5 years old and will be with us three years in June. I keep a Russian Life calender on the wall in the kitchen and we look at and talk about the photos of Russian Landscape and Russian Holidays'.

We often make Russian recipes' like Borsch and Syrniki (fried cheese cakes) or Russian pancakes-like a crepe. We have a collection of the matroshyka dolls but I really don't let her play with them because they are a little expensive and sentimental to me. I'd like to get her her own set to play with.

We do celebrate her homecoming but can't necessarily say it is steeped in Russian traditions. I too am like some other posters a Russian "souvenir collector" We have a collection of Russian currency that my husband set into a collage and it is beautiful. Also we have a picture collage of our first trip to russia and we talk about that whenever my daughter asks about it.

I personally as a hobby like to read the Russian Life magazine and keep up with current events. I also enjoy reading about Russian history of any type but probably because I am a bookworm!

My dream is to take my daughter to the 2012 summer olympics because she was adopted from Krasnodar which is somewhat close to Sochi-the olympic city. I'd like her and I to take Russian lessions before we plan this event so we can speak some Russian-The fare amount of RUssian I learned is very rusty now!

[Jessi_76]

Fun ideas! I'm making notes of what everyone is doing so I can add these to the customs that I've researched to share with our children...like Name Days, Father Frost, etc.

I LOVE the idea of an international feast!!! Dh's brothers married a Chinese woman and a Mexican woman and they both have children, and my sister married a Swedish man so our family is very diverse as well. How fun!!

[B@M]

It a russian tradition to give flowers on a loved ones Bday. But make sure you give a odd number of flowers as opposed to even, because another Russian tradition is receiving an even number of flowers is bad luck.

[RusMama]

I am Russian myself, if you have any questions I will be very happy to help you.
As for the flowers, you are right Odd number of flowers are given to the dead people in Russia. That is why my husbands throws away one every time
There is Russian holiday, which is called Women's day, it is not only RUssian, but international, though it is not widely celebrated. It is celebrated on March, 8. It is similar to american MOther's day, but it is a holiday for all females from baby-girls to seniors. Men give their women flowers (tulips are traditional as they are one of the first spring flowers), and gifts. It is my favorite holiday!!!!!!
Another tradition is to celebrate NEW YEAR night with a big dinner and great party all night long. At home or out (clubs, restaurants, etc). It is FUN! This holiday is greater than Christmas.BTW, Russian Christmas is January, 7.
I can help you with food recipes if you need. Just ask!

[RusMama]

Some of you sent me private messages, asking about traditional Russian Recipes. I decided to answer here , maybe they will be helpful to the others too.
Ok, just yesterday I cooked A Russian Pie with cabbage. I noticed that people in America do not like cabbage. Not a problem! You can cook this pie with other fillings.
You need ready yeast dough or you can cook it yourself. I cook myself, and I like to cook. I need to notice that in Russia people usually eat home made food. But I am always looking for ways to make my life easier. That is why I bought a bread machine. I bake the bread which I like, and which I cant buy in the USA. So, my bread dough recipe is:
1 teaspoon of dry yeast
4 cups of flour
2 tablespoons of sugar
0.5 teaspoon of salt
0.5 cups of oil
1.5 cups of milk

I load everything in a breadmaker and it cooks the yeast dough. Then, you divide it into to halves: roll out one and put it on the bottom, then put the filling, then cover it with the second half of the dough and seal the ends of the dough. Put it aside for 40 minutes to rise and then bake in the oven at 350 F until golden (approximately 30 min)

The fillings might be:
- fried cabbage+ hard boiled eggs (my favorite)
-fried ground meat (beef) with spices
-mashed potato and fried mushrooms (my favorite)

This is a main dish.

But if you use sweet filling like apples, cherries, farmer cheese, it is a desert.

I do not how good you cook, and if it is too difficult, for you, I just wanted to give you a traditional recipe.

Another one:

Potato Pancakes (Draniki)

You need to peel 2lb of the potato and grate it (or use the grinder). To avoid darkening of the potato, add 1 grinded onion (you can use food processor),add 1 egg, salt, pepper, and 3tablespoons of the flour. Fry like pancakes in the vegetable oil. Eat them with sour cream.

Farmer cheese pancakes (Syrniki)

1 lb of farmer cheese, 1 egg, 2 tablespoons of sugar, salt, 4 tablespoons of flour. Mix everything and fry like pancakes. Eat with jam and sour cream. Good for breakfast.
P.S. I attached a picture of a cabbage pie

[B@M]

Originally Posted by RusMama

I am Russian myself, if you have any questions I will be very happy to help you.
As for the flowers, you are right Odd number of flowers are given to the dead people in Russia. That is why my husbands throws away one every time
There is Russian holiday, which is called Women's day, it is not only RUssian, but international, though it is not widely celebrated. It is celebrated on March, 8. It is similar to american MOther's day, but it is a holiday for all females from baby-girls to seniors. Men give their women flowers (tulips are traditional as they are one of the first spring flowers), and gifts. It is my favorite holiday!!!!!!
Another tradition is to celebrate NEW YEAR night with a big dinner and great party all night long. At home or out (clubs, restaurants, etc). It is FUN! This holiday is greater than Christmas.BTW, Russian Christmas is January, 7.
I can help you with food recipes if you need. Just ask!

Please clarify, is it bad luck to give odd or even flowers for a Bday?

[RussianJen]

Originally Posted by B@M

Please clarify, is it bad luck to give odd or even flowers for a Bday?

It's bad luck to give an EVEN number of flowers, anytime.