Russian Travel Guide

Коллекция Russian Travel Guide. Города. Ярославль

Fishing for Garfish on the Black Sea

They say that the Black Sea is home to creatures that look more like fairytale characters than things that could actually exist. Denis Golovko got to know one of these unique sea creatures – the garfish. In the resort city of Anapa the RTG TV host caught one of these fish known for its unusual appearance, ritual dances and green bones.

Russian wedding traditions — the ceremonial doll

In Ancient Rus’ dolls served as a type of companion in everyday life. They helped to ensure that peace, health, prosperity and love reigned supreme in every home. Each important event — be it a wedding or the birth of a child — had its own special doll. The Krupenichka doll — named after the Russian word for grain, «krupa» — was considered the most important doll in home. During the harvest it was filled with grain and people believed that if filled to the top, the next year’s harvest was guaranteed to be plentiful. Another doll, the Kubyshka-travnitsa, was made by filling pieces of fabric with yarrow, mint, sage and hops. Such a doll was believed to protect the home and preserve a woman’s beauty and health. The Bird Woman was more of a ceremonial doll. It was made at the end of winter with the goal of encouraging spring’s timely arrival. In village homes there were as many...