The Russian Coat of Arms

The Coat of Arms for the Russian Federation is adapted from the coat of arms that was used during Imperial Russia until 1917. All the Romanov's get killed, there's a big revolution and BAM! The Soviet Union is born. Obviously, this emblem with its notions of imperialism did not reflect the goals of the new communist regime, so it was abolished. the Imperial coat of arms was replaced by the well-known hammer and sickle. It was not until after the fall of the Soviet Union in '93, that the imperial coat of arms was adapted again to suit today's Russian Federation. It is said the the crest has been changed many times since its creation during the reign of Ivan III. The current crest was designed by Yevgeny Ukhnalyov.

The design of the coat of arms features a double-headed, crowned eagle (Russia's national bird called a Tundra Swan). The bird is holding an imperial scepter in one hand and an imperial orb in the other (you know what Elsa was holding when she was coronated? Her hands were shaking cuz she was trying not freeze everything? Yeah, you do. Great.) These guys represent Russia's sovereignty.

The other main feature of the crest is the mounted, sword-wielding soldier fighting off the dragon in the center of the image. He is supposedly meant to represent Saint George. Today nothing is mentioned of the religious nature of this figure to keep in line with Russia's modern secular character.

This figure is a common feature on Russian souvenirs like ushanka hats, jackets, and patches. It is also seen in many prison tattoos. The convicts cover themselves in many symbolic tattoos. When the coat of arms is used it can either mean that they were in the army or that they hold the government responsible for their lack of freedom.

7 Russian Superstitions

"Russians are very superstitious and are attentive to various omens. The majority of these omens emerged in the pre-Christian era, and neither the traditional religions that arrived in Russia more than 1,000 years ago nor the ideologues of the Communist regime during the almost 70 years of Soviet rule were able to stamp out faith in them. If you’re going to live among Russians, you have to know what these superstitions mean and how to react to some of them." - Anna Varyonova

 SO if you find yourself in Russia, you should probably know the following (so as not to offend someone)....


1. Spit on and touch wood: Russians believe in the evil eye. So, anytime someone is discusses potential good things or success, they will spit three times over someone's left shoulder and touch wood. This superstition is said to keep the evil eye at bay. Sort of like knocking on wood!

2. Do not carry an empty bucket: This is considered a very bad omen. If you see someone walking with an empty bucket, it is believed you will have a bad day.

3. Never give scarves, clocks or knives as gifts: These are all considered bad omens. The scarf symbolizes tears, the clock the idea of leaving, and knives of enemies. If you get someone one of these gifts, do not be surprised if they give you a small coin in return. This helps them feel as if they "bought" the item, therefore getting rid of the omen.

4. Avoid the threshold at all costs: The thresholds between rooms in your house is considered to be a place of great evil. Nothing, no talking or handing of items, can happen across the threshold. If the delivery guy comes, you must go outside or he must come in.

5. Don't sit on a table: This is considered a foreshadowing of death and poverty.

6. Sit down before you go: Before leaving for travel, everyone in a Russian household must sit down right before they are about to leave. They must sit for one minute to ensure safe journeys.

7. Not that bench: Young women are scorned if they sit on benches outside if it is a cold day. This is derived from an old myth that sitting on a cold bench will jeopardize her fertility.

Climate Change and U.S. - Russia Relations

The arctic region of the world is melting due to climate change. An area that has been predominantly frozen over for as long as anyone can remember, is now a sea that ships can navigate through. The United Staes Navy has recently been scrambling to catch up with countries prodding around with large navy ships. China and of course, Russia, have been sending their navies to explore this area significantly and officially "snoop around'. We have now sent some ships up to this area, formerly protected by the ice, to snoop on the folks that are snooping. This is also really freaking NATO out, cuz we all know how friendly those two are. Who knew climate change would cause so many problems?!?!?!

http://www.breitbart.com/national-security/2015/09/08/u-s-adds-spy-intelligence-in-arctic-due-to-russian-chinese-ships/

Click the link above to learn more about sneaky Russian ships :)

Russian Folk Dances

When Slavic tribes moved into Russia around the 10th century, Russian folk dance became very popular. These dances were and still are a main event at any holiday, celebration or gathering. The dancers wear elaborate costumes, always with the color red incorporated as the Russians associate this color with beauty. Women wear headdresses and elaborately embroidered tops or dresses depending on the region. Men wear similar outfits with high boots. These dances were developed overtime due to the huge populations of non-ethnic Russians contributing to the country's culture.

I have attached a video of a traditional Russian folk dance. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=niY0GZpQQSI

Putin Continues to Support al-Assad

                



               BBC and a multitude of other news sources have been reporting on Vladimir Putin's continued support of Bashar al-Assad, Syria's dictator. Syrian and Russian state media said on Saturday that two Russian cargo planes with 80 tons of humanitarian aid had landed at Latakia - a stronghold of President Assad. Since 2011, Syria has been in a bloody civil war between Muslim extremists such as ISIS and the Assad's military- mostly Christians. Putin released a statement telling other European countries that they should get involved to combat the deluge of refugees into Turkey and Greece. He has also been pointing fingers at the United States for not getting involved in the war- one which has violated the United Nations' idea of human rights on numerous occasions. Assad has been caught using chemical weapons on children and the opposing side has bombed schools. Putin is using the inconvenience of the refugee situation to appear to be the "good guy". However, while the media is engrossed in the brutality of ISIS, Assad has been one of the least democratic rulers in the past 20 years. The refugees are peaceful Muslims and Christians caught in the crossfire between Assad and ISIS. This is not a war of religion but one of regimes. 

1 Ruble = 63 USD

One ruble, the currency in Russia, is equivalent to $63. This is over double what the dollar was worth in Russia one year ago. According the the New York Times, this will make most Russians 50% poorer. The economic crisis Russia has been facing is due to Putin's controversial acts of military aggression toward Ukraine. The rest of the Western world has handed many sanctions down upon Russia and Putin has done his best to isolate as much of Russia as possible. The world is eagerly awaiting Putin's next attempt at expanding the Russian Empire, no matter what economic downturn for the average Russian it causes. I have attached the New York Time's article called "The Myth of Russian Oligarchs".




http://www.nytimes.com/2014/12/11/opinion/masha-gessen-the-myth-of-the-russian-oligarchs.html?_r=0

We could use a warm stew in coms today//

In Dr. Fowler's Empire, Power, and Culture class (I highly recommend it!!) we had to create a dish that symbolized Russia, Eastern Europe and Eurasia for our midterm. This is my "quintessential" REES recipe.

My Recipe: Melting Pot Stew

Russia, Eastern Europe, Eurasia, whatever you want to call it. Its a melting pot of ethnic diversity, culture, and ideologies. What better way to combine all these ingredients than in a stew? It makes sense, stews are an easy way to combine your rations. Depending on where in the region you are, you will need to alter the recipe in accordance with what you have on hand. That depends on the seasons, the harvest, who happens to be ruling.. and rationing. Luckily the basics of a stew are pretty simple. The general ingredient base is as follows: meat, vegetable (I am told that Russians like their vegetables VERY soft), and a starch (potatoes ,pasta, rice or widely popular in Romania, polenta)

Here I’ll try to take traditional stews from the whole region, and combine them in a way that would be reminiscent of a “melting pot”. This undefinable region is made of hundreds of different ancient ethnic groups, different environments, different governments, and different traditions. It is not much different than America. Dishes originate when cultures meet. In my opinion, those dishes are the most love-labored and delicious. Point and case: Creole food.  

Ingredients:

As much oxtail as you can afford/ are supplied   

Root vegetables (carrots, beets, turnip, parsnip)

For our starch we will use the quintessential dumpling, because anywhere you go will have them.

Sauerkraut after the meal *for good digestion*

Red wine and broth derived from oxtail

Directions:

1. Employ your eldest children to chop your root vegetables

2. Brown the oxtail in a pan with onions and oil or butter  

3. Add wine to pan with oxtail and onions to create a stock. season to your liking

4. Add root vegetables to the stock

5. Add several cups of water

6. Pan sear the cheese filled dumplings

7. After some time, pull the oxtails out of the stock

           cut into pieces, reseason, return to stock

8. Add flour to the stock to thicken if needed

Notes:

Do not put the dumpling in the pot, instead, pour your stew over them so they do not get too tender and break apart.

Served in big bowls over the dumplings and sauerkraut at the end of the meal for digestion.

Because the dumplings can be pre-made and frozen, this dish is relatively easy. I created this dish thinking of cold winters at home in Massachusetts and the bone-defrosting warmth of my Mom's beef stew. I thought since a large part of this region has cold winters also, this is a cheap, "throw in a pot and cook" kind of dish that represented many different states with the ingredients chosen. Some are more Russian ingredients, some more widely loved in places like Poland or even Hungary. Some, like the dumpling, are universal through the region or even the world.

This is a family meal, a weeknight meal. Eaten at the table with good helpings of daily gossip and anecdotes

Racism in Russia

The spotlight on Russia's conflict with Ukraine has peaked the world's interest on life in Russia. There have been numerous reports of racism and sexism coming from not only the general population, but high-ranking politicians as well. For example, the star tennis twins, Venus and Serena Williams were called the "Williams Brothers" and nearly 200 attacks on African immigrants in Russia since 2010. The article below illustrates some stories of African immigrants in Russia and their struggle to adapt and find equality.


http://www.latimes.com/world/africa/la-fg-russia-africans-20141102-story.html#page=1

My mother is a figure skating coach. Growing up, she was a national level competitor and could have been an Olympic contender. Her biggest competition was the Russian team. She describes them as "fierce competitors, self-disciplined, and dedicated."

The following is a video of 15 year old, Olympic gold medalist Yulia Lipintskaya. She is arguably the best in the world and my mother's students biggest competitor on the international circuit.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ke0iusvydl8

Anastasia: The Ugly Truth v. Children's Movie

When I was a child, the movie Anastasia was constantly playing on my Barbie t.v. Now, as I watch it with a basic understanding of Russian history, I realize the movie is really a representation of a common 20th century Russian conspiracy theory.
During the Russian Revolution, Czar Nicholas II abdicated from the throne and took his family into hiding. The family was executed but many believed that one of the Czar's daughters, Anastasia, had escaped and fled. Many people attempted to impersonate the Grand Duchess and one, Anna Anderson, had her case heard by German Courts. After testing her DNA, it was reported that she had no relation to the royal family. It wasn't until 2009 that Anastasia's remains had been officially identified and tested.

This is a quick summary of the movie:

In 1916, Tsar Nicholas II hosts a ball at the Catherine Palace to celebrate the Romanov tricentennial. His mother, the Dowager Empress Marie Feodorovna, is visiting from Paris and gives a music box and a necklace inscribed with the words “Together in Paris” as parting gifts to her youngest granddaughter, eight-year-old Grand Duchess Anastasia. The ball is suddenly interrupted by Grigori Rasputin, a sorcerer who was banished by the Tsar for treason. Rasputin sells his soul in exchange for an unholy reliquary, which he uses to place a curse on the Romanov family, sparking the Russian Revolution. Only Marie and Anastasia are able to escape the siege of the palace, thanks to a young servant boy named Dimitri, who shows them a secret passageway in Anastasia's room. Rasputin confronts the two royals outside, only to fall through the ice and freeze to death. The pair manage to reach a moving train, but only Marie climbs aboard while Anastasia falls, hitting her head on the platform.

Ten years later, Russia is under communist rule, and Marie has publicly offered 10 million rubles for the safe return of her granddaughter. Two con men, Dimitri and his friend and partner Vladimir thus search for an Anastasia lookalike to present to Marie in Paris and collect the reward. Elsewhere, Anastasia, now using the name "Anya", leaves the rural orphanage where she grew up, having lost her memory prior to arriving there. Accompanied by a stray puppy she names "Pooka", she turns down a job at a fish factory in favor of going to Saint Petersburg after her necklace inspires her to seek out her family in Paris. In the deserted palace she encounters Dimitri and Vladimir, who—impressed by her resemblance to the "real" Anastasia—decide to take her with them.

Bartok, Rasputin's albino bat minion is nearby and notices his master's dormant reliquary suddenly revived by Anastasia's presence; it drags him to limbo, where the soul of Rasputin survives. Enraged to hear that Anastasia escaped the curse, Rasputin sends demonic spirits from the reliquary to kill her; despite two attempts, the trio manage to (unwittingly) foil him, forcing Rasputin and Bartok to travel back to the surface.

Anastasia, Dimitri, and Vladimir eventually reach Paris and go to meet Marie, who refuses to see her, having been nearly fooled numerous times before by impostors. Despite this, Sophie—Marie's cousin—quizzes Anastasia to confirm her identity. Dimitri and Vladimir had taught Anastasia all the answers, but when Anastasia independently (though dimly) recalls how Dimitri saved her ten years ago, Dimitri finally realizes that she is the real Grand Duchess, and later informs Vladimir at the Russian Ballet. Dimitri, however, insists they do not reveal this truth to Anastasia. Sophie, convinced as well, arranges for Anastasia to meet Marie after a Russian ballet. However, Marie wants nothing to do with Dimitri, having heard of him and his initial scheme to lie to her. As Anastasia overhears that Dimitri was using her all along, she then slaps him across the face and storms out. Dimitri, having fallen in love with Anastasia, manages to change Marie's mind by presenting her with Anastasia's music box, which he had found after their escape. Anastasia's memory returns upon meeting Marie, and grandmother and granddaughter are reunited at long last.

The next day, Marie offers Dimitri the reward money, but to her surprise he refuses it and leaves for Russia, convinced that he cannot be with Anastasia. That night, at Anastasia's return celebration, Marie informs her of Dimitri's gesture and leaves her to her thoughts. Anastasia then wanders through a garden and onto the Pont Alexandre III, where she is trapped and attacked by Rasputin. Dimitri returns to save her, but is injured and knocked unconscious. Anastasia manages to kill Rasputin by crushing the reliquary under her foot, avenging her family. With Rasputin's soul having been tied to the reliquary, he promptly dies and dissolves.

Afterwards, Dimitri and Anastasia reconcile; the two then elope and Anastasia sends a farewell letter to Marie and Sophie, promising to return one day. The film ends with the couple finally kissing on a riverboat, and Bartok shares a kiss with a female bat.

Discrepancies with Actual History

The Czar's mother is not mentioned in connection to the murder or even rumors of Anastasia's escape. There is no jewelry box, locket, or mention of fleeing to Paris anywhere in history. The family had been in hiding for many years during the Bolshevik revolution and was not overthrown by Rasputin at a ball in any palace. 

Perhaps the most interesting point of view presented in this movie is that of Rasputin. He is depicted as an evil ghost and serves as the villain that tries to prevent Anastasia from regaining her name. . In 1910, scandal broke out among the royal family and their association with Grigori Rasputin. He was accused of rape by one of the Governesses, molestation of the children and devil worshiping. The children and their mother had a very close relationship with the "holy man" and were devastated when the Czar ordered him to leave.

It is important to note that this movie was produced in 1997, before Anastasia's body had been found and confirmed. There was still a lingering hope that the Duchess had escaped execution and had lived a happy life. History now confirms that Anastasia was, in fact, murdered a long with the rest of her family, though it is unclear how she was killed. The guard that wrote about killing her was inebriated that the time of the attack and though he said he shot her in the head, there are not bullet holes or any kind of damage to the scull for that matter. There will always be an air of mystery as to what happened to the youngest daughter of Czar Nicholas II but unlike the movie, we know she did not live past 17 years old.