Culture & Customs

A holiday survey detailed Russians' preference for gift-receiving.

Despite the pandemic (and a bad reputation for a distinctly Russian grimace), it’s not all sad faces in Moscow at the end of 2021.

Florence, Italy, is joining in on the Dostoyevsky anniversary fun.

An annual Russian competition to decide the best school cafeteria cook in all the land was held recently.

In this week's Odder News, next year will be better, St. Petersburg's mayor should move to Africa, and bunkers are hip.

Thankful for the care they received while ill, one citizen gladly gives away their wheels for the greater good. 

"Ancient instincts work – I licked the thing."

–  Hermitage artist-restorer Galina Fedorova discovers a candy stuck to the ball gown of Grand Grand Duchess Xenia Alexandrovna, sister of Tsar Nicholas II.

A granddaughter of Father Christmas who is blonde, slim, and very kind? This year’s Snow Maiden doesn’t seem to fit the bill.

Second-class travelers on Russian trains may soon be required to take turns with their neighbors to use their compartment's table.

This is our Video of the Week. Gorgeous drone footage from across Altai.

The world's youngest female pilot to circumnavigate the globe recently stopped in Russia's Far East.

In this week's Odder News, gigolos must be stopped in Russia, Yappy might take over TikTok, and "Timothée Chalamet" promotes Russian pastries.