Unit 9 - Russian Parties!

Unlike Americans, a key trait of most Russians is their close relationship with family and friends. This is most evident in the parties that Russians hold, which are very unlike the parties held in America.

To begin with, Russian parties always include vast quantities of food. In America, the food mostly consists of anything that can be ordered or made quickly, including pizza, chicken, hot dogs, and hamburgers. In Russia, however, the food is prepared with much more care and effort. Typical food selections at Russian parties include salads, potatoes, sausage, chicken, and bread, served with water, black tea, or the infamous Russian vodka. These parties contain so much food that it is common for the entire dining table to be full with dishes of food.

Once everyone has eaten, the festivities begin. A family member will grab whatever instruments are around and play some music. In harmony (or not, depending on how much vodka was consumed), the rest of the family and friends will begin to sing along to a number of different folk songs that everyone knows. Along with the music and singing, dancing is a must. Everyone, from the youngest to the oldest, will get up and dance (or wobble, again, depending on the amount of vodka). As a guest, a Russian may ask you to dance, but this is more of a rhetorical question and you are expected too anyway.

Russian parties are very frequent and are an essential part of Russian culture. Unlike in America, these parties are more than just a social gathering. They are the bonds that hold families and friends together.

-Micah Ivey