Russian Travel Guide

Коллекция Russian Travel Guide. Природа. Камчатка

The bears of Kamchatka

The Kamchatka Peninsula is known for its breathtaking northern nature full of volcanos, hot springs, endless tundra, impassable forests and protected lands, which are teeming with wild animals. This is turf where the great and mighty brown bear reigns strong and people can meet him almost anywhere – in the forest, mountains, valleys, rivers or a lake – these are all bear territory. The area around Kuril Lake is a particularly good place to observe such wildlife. Every year, at the end of summer, thousands of bears come here in search of Pacific salmon. Giant schools of salmon travel to the lake in order to lay eggs and are met by these sharp-clawed, hungry landlords who tirelessly feast on fish. Such a filling food-fest helps local brown bears to build up the fat reserves they need in order to spend the winter in hibernation. During this time the bears are so involved in their intense fi...

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...