In the 1920s and 1930s hundreds of American socialists, blacks seeking a society free from racism, Jews who had fled the tsarist pogroms, Russian immigrants and their children, ordinary workers and recent college graduates were fascinated by the Soviet experiment. Between 1920 and 1925 nearly 22,000 American and Canadian men, women and families moved to Russia intending to remain there (Paula Garb, “They Came to Stay: North Americans in the USSR”). These idealistic Americans who went off to the USSR to build the world of the future were quickly introduced to Russian reality – and to Russian romance.

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Before the revolution Bolsheviks had no define policy in regard to sexuality. The “sex issue” was for them mainly economic and sociopolitical and essentially boiled down to the problem of emancipating women and overcoming gender inequality. Sexuality was mentioned only in passing, especially in relation to the family.

Soviet legislation and social policy on issues of marriage and procreation in the 1920s were the most daringly progressive in the world. As early as 1918, women were accorded full equal rights with men in all and privet areas, including marriage and family relations. Women had the right…

Unfortunately, the realities of life that confronted the Bolsheviks immediately after revolution  were much more difficult than they had anticipated…

And the costs associated with the subsequent breakdown in marriage and family patterns – unwanted pregnancies, fatherless children, prostitution, the spread of venereal diseases – were great and provoked mounting concern…

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National Altai holiday El-Oiyn -”national games, national celebration” – sprang up at the end of 1980s in a wave of the revival of national culture as a direct heir of the meetings of ancient Altai tribes. Absorbed the best elements of ancient national traditions the El-Oiyn is a young holiday at the same time, that meets modern conception about a national festival.

Initially the El-Oiyn was intended not only as a peculiar local “Olympic games”, a championship for national sport games, but as a national festival that contributes to revival of cultural-historic traditions.

The first El-Oiyn took its place in 1988 near a village Elo of Omgudai region, and it included such national sport games as “kuresh” (sash wrestling), “shatra” (national Altai checkers), “kodurger tash” (rock lifting), archery, equestrian sport, theatrical show, and performance of national singing and dancing bands.

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St Petersburg has been the cradle of three revolutions: one in 1905 and two in 1917 (in February and October)

In the Soviet period November was considered to be the month of the Revolution, and 7 November (25 October old style) was a red-letter day in the calendar. Hundreds of thousands of people joined in demonstrations, meetings and parades in honor of the Great October Socialist Revolution…

These days 7 November has been renamed the Day of Harmony and Reconcilation, and causes few palpitations. However the memory of those revolutionary days is preserved.

7 November Parade in 1984

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The Russian sociologists after their researches came to a conclusion that the ideal husband in the Russian women’s conception must to be smart, strong and family prosperity provider. A happy family for a Russian woman is a family where she feels protection and support of her man, as we say in Russia to be as behind a stone wall. Read more

Women’s Day is this Saturday, of course; so here is a walk that celebrates a few of the many talented women who have called Moscow home. Our journey ends at the striking Novode­vichy Convent, which was a refuge or prison for many influential noblewomen in the 18th century while the cemetery next door remembers women from every field (If you wish to take a trip just to Novodevichy, take the number 15 trolley – tickets are 25 rubles from the driver – passing close to the houses of a number of Moscow’s famous females). Read more and view photos

A great trip to cheer up a gloomy weekend or celebrate a sunny one, is a journey by monorail to the incredible All-Russia Exhibition Center (Vserossiyskiy Vystavochny Centr, VVTs), packed with colorful Soviet-era pavilions to explore, followed by a brisk walk through the Botanical Gardens beyond. You can also start from the VDNKh Metro Station, of course, which commemorates the park’s old acronym, “The Exhibition of Economic Achievements.” Read more and view photos

Maslenitsa is one of favorite holidays by Russians and people from other FSU countries. The history of the Maslenitsa lies in the pagan time of Russia. The Orthodox Church could not take the Maslenitsa away from people therefor just adapted the holiday for Orthodox calender. Read more about Maslenitsa week

Arkhangelskoye, a royal collection of palaces and parkland just outside Moscow, is known for its beautiful gardens as much as for Prince Yusupov’s art collection. Although some of the statues have already been boxed up for winter, and – like so much of Moscow – there is a perpetual “work-in-progress” feel about the place, the relative peace and freedom of the surroundings more than makes up for it. Read more

venigorod is not too far from Moscow – in fact, it is very close. It was even in medieval times, due to its location on the Moscow River that enabled easy travel. Its prime location has dictated the town’s lifestyle since Moscow emerged as the center of power – but chances are that Zvenigorod is even older than Moscow itself. Read more