Russia, Russian Teenagers, and a bit of naming

[alanahikarichan]

Unlike the abundance of Evereything You Ever Needed To Know About Japan on the internet, I'm having very little luck finding anything about everyday life in modern Russia. Most of my knowledge comes from being in Fiddler on the Roof, which is a little outdated, or playing video games, which tend to be more on the millitary side of wildy inaccurate

Comments

[alanahikarichan]

*Wikipedia's*

Oooh, good one! :d I'll keep that in mind. ^_^ Thank you!

erm...

[tamtrible]

I don't think "Russian Orthodox Catholics" exist.
afaik, Catholics cross themselves one way, and Eastern Orthodox (which includes Russian Orthodox) people cross themselves another way, though my source is fictional (a short story by... I'm thinking either Niven or Asimov, though I could be completely wrong--involving mind transfer) so could be wrong.
I believe Catholics do up-down-right-left, while EO's do up-down-left-right.

Addendum

[tamtrible]

However, I am neither, so I could be *entirely* wrong on the directions.

Re: erm...

[alanahikarichan]

Ah, entirely my own error. ^^;; You're right, of course, Russian Orthodox isn't Catholic... I'll go fix that. >.> *Is an atheist surrounded by Lutherans and Catholics, and gets all the variations mixed up on occasion*

Thank you! ^^

Re: erm...

[tamtrible]

Simple answer is Yes. Russian Orthodox would do the cross, but its opposite the way Catholics do it.

[meardaba]

Maybe read up on some of the Russian classics, especially their short stories. Also kind of dated, but gives you some good background on religion, politics in the 20th C. and the like.

[alanahikarichan]

Any reccomendations? My familiarity with Russian classics is that War & Peace is one... and that's about it. ^^;;

[ficciones]

If you have a lot of time, read The Brothers Karamazov by Dostoevsky. It's a big, big book, but I'm very much in love with it. Though I do note that it's pre-Soviet (though post-emancipation-of-serfs). What I learned from it is that Russians seem to enjoy lacerating themselves, but the book itself is said to embody Russian character. And from how the characters in the book talk, they agree with this.

Another one, which is set in a camp during the Soviet reign, is One Day In The Life of Ivan Denisovich. It's not exactly something that might really hit the kids of today, but as background it could be useful.

[alanahikarichan]

Ooh, thank you. ^-^ I've much time (School? Finals? Promises of artwork for friends? Ha!), so I'll see if I can get my hands on the first-- and the second looks intresting, as well. *Sets into it*

[atropos_lee]

The Archangel Michael is often depicted in Orthodox iconography as a knight destroying the devil in the form of a dragon or demon, and the patron of the Archangel Cathedral in the Kremlin.

[elva_barr]

1. Not nearly the same political awareness climate as it is in the States, but (unlike the States) most kids/teens know what's going on, at least marginally.

2. That sounds pretty normal. Lot of meat-pie kind of stuff, and a staple food (other than Borscht) example could be this salty fish called 'salyedka' and potatoes.

4. Nothing particular that I can think of. It should be noted, however, that Russian women go to great lengths to look good - hose and a miniskirt during the winter kind of stuff.

Agreed with Beowulf or Asimov, too.

[elva_barr]

Oh, and the Russia tag is probably helpful.

[alanahikarichan]

Thank you! That's very helpful. ^^

The Russian tag would be more helpful if I was intrested in, uh, hookers in Moscow and antique bowls. XD;;

[elva_barr]

Glad that helps. Oh, and as far as religion goes -- this isn't fact, it's just what I've picked up living in Russia -- not many people are actually very religious. Most people are Jewish (though not specifically religious, usually just by blood, actually) or apathetically 'Eastern Orthodox,' which consists of wearing a cross and occasionally mentioning how beautiful Russian churches are.