Showing posts with label Russia. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Russia. Show all posts

August 22 - Russian Flag Day

   Posted on August 22, 2022     

This is an update of my post published on August 22, 2011:



Today Russians commemorate the 1991 hoisting of their new flag.

You probably already know that Russia used to be largest state in the communist nation called the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR).

Did you also know that Russia is the largest nation on Earth? It covers about one-eighth of all the land area in the world, which means that most of the other 195 other nations do not have their “fair share” of land!

Of course, Russia is only the 9th largest nation by population.


This map cuts off parts of Russia (in the north) - but you get
the idea. Russia's vast land houses fewer people than much-
much-much smaller Bangladesh!


Unlike the Soviet Union's red flag (seen above), which was almost entirely red, decorated with a yellow star, hammer, and sickle, Russia's flag features three broad stripes, one each of red, white and blue. Of course, these colors are associated with the U.S. flag, as well...but did you know that more than 30 countries have tri-color red-white-and-blue flags? Here are some of them:


This website has tons and tons of links you can use to learn about the Russian language and other aspects of this huge nation. 




I cannot talk about Russia without restating that its horrible leader, Vladimir Putin, has wrongfully invaded Ukraine and has killed many innocent people. Russia's government is guilty of crimes against humanity, and its military is guilty of war crimes. It must stop!




Posted by at 1 comment:
Labels: , , , , , ,

August 14 - Honey Spas in Russia and Ukraine

  Posted on August 14, 2022     

This is an update of my post published on August 14, 2011:




As always, since the wrongful invasion of Ukraine by the Russian government under Vladimir Putin in February of this year (2022), I want to emphasize that talking about Russian people and Russian culture is difficult, right now - I stand emphatically with Ukraine! - but many of the Russian people are innocent of wrong doing and as against the war as most of the rest of the world is. Note that one of the many overlaps between Russian and Ukrainian culture is this holiday!!

Traditionally, "Honey Spas" is the day on which Russian people gather honey and have it blessed in the church, and then (of course) enjoy eating the honey!


Why this day? The story goes that on August 14, swallows fly away for the winter. Vacant swallow nests resemble honeycombs, and so this date also marks the beginning of the honey harvest.

It seems to me quite early to be talking about the end of summer, the beginning of fall, and the harvest season. Here in Southern California, it will probably be warm-to-hot until mid-October. Or later! However, much of Russia is at relatively high latitudes and far inland, away from the ocean's temperature-moderating effect.

At any rate, I love a good excuse to eat honey! Here is a recipe website.







Also on this date:

















World Lizard Day





Plan ahead:


Check out my Pinterest boards for:

And here are my Pinterest boards for:





Posted by at No comments:
Labels: , , , , ,

July 9 - DNA Puts Romanov Rumors to Rest

  Posted on July 9, 2022     


This is an update of my post published on July 9, 2011:




Forensic scientists use a variety of tests to figure out what happened in a crime and to identify bodies. Most forensic scientists work on current mysteries—such as solving murders that occurred today or yesterday—but sometimes they are called upon to solve a long-ago mystery.


In this case, the tests were able to squash a lot of rumors and speculation about what really happened to Russia's last czar and his family—a crime committed more than a century - 100 years! - ago!

During the Bolshevik Revolution in Russia, in 1917, Czar Nicholas II (a Romanov) and his wife and five children were imprisoned, along with the family's medical doctor, the valet and lady-in-waiting, and the family's cook. They were supposed to be put on trial, but in July of 1918 they were hastily murdered, instead—all of them, servants and doctor included! They were buried in a common grave.

The imprisonment, murder, and burial site of the Romanovs stayed secret for a while. In 1926, Soviet Union officials admitted that the emperor and his family were dead, but there were rumors that some of them had survived. Once in a while somebody would come forward and claim to be a long-lost Romanov. Princess Anastasia was particular popular as a target for imposters.





In the late 1970s, the mass grave was found, but the discovery was kept secret. When the USSR government was dissolved in 1991, and the mass grave was officially revealed, the remains were dug up and analyzed. The DNA evidence confirmed (on this date in 1993) that the remains were the Romanovs. But there were two skeletons missing—Prince Alexei and one of his sisters seemed to be missing from the mass grave. There was a lot of uncertainty about which sister was missing—Anastasia or Maria?

See, there goes the mention of Anastasia again. Maybe one of those imposters wasn't really an imposter! Maybe, somehow, the princess had survived!

In 2007 partially-burned bones from the prince and one princess were unearthed near the mass grave site. Once again, DNA tests were run, and Romanov identities were confirmed. It seems that the entire family had, indeed, been murdered in 1917, but that the Bolsheviks wanted to split the burial in case the White armies found the grave—the grave would confuse them by having the wrong body count!


These are photos of Nicholas II and
his children in happier times.



Posted by at No comments:
Labels: , , , ,
Subscribe to: Posts (Atom)