Visit the hometown of the Russian Santa Claus, see the ‘The Nutcracker’ ballet, go skiing and snowboarding! What else you can do in Russia during the winter? 🤔

Getting a visa to Russia is getting easier and easier, so apply for one and come enjoy the snow and frost! ❄🏂 🇷🇺

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Sharp peaks, crystal rivers, and unique stone towers await in this breathtaking mountain area on the edge of Siberia. From easy walks to epic treks, this hidden gem has it all for outdoor lovers.

Video by:
https://www.tg-me.com/visitkuzbass

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A feast to the fullest – that's how one could describe the subject of these works. In them, people are gathered around tables for a variety of occasions: from bride shows and family celebrations to coronations and harvest festivities.

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On the top of Smely, even silence has a voice — the breath of the ocean and the echo of freedom 🌊🌫️

The Far East - the Land of Adventure! More travel-themed short videos here @travelerdv

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Ingushetia in 3 #Russian words

1⃣ ХРАМ ТХАБА-ЕРДЫ (Thaba-Yerdy Temple)

This is possibly the oldest Christian temple in Russia. Some scholars believe it was built in the 8th century. Tkhaba-Yerdy, according to various versions, translates as ‘Our Faith’, ‘Temple of Faith’, or ‘Two Thousand Saints’.

2⃣ ИНГУШСКИЕ БАШНИ (Ingush Towers)

The republic is dotted with hundreds of stone towers built between the 13th and 17th centuries. Some towers are residential, others are for combat, while some are transitional – semi-combat. Some towers also have flat roofs, while others have pyramidal ones.

3⃣ МАВЗОЛЕЙ БРОГА-КАШ (Borga-Kash Mausoleum)

Built in the 15th century, the Borga-Kash Mausoleum (‘Borgan's Tomb’) is one of the oldest surviving Muslim monuments in the North Caucasus. It’s believed to contain the remains of a high-ranking warrior of the Turkic-speaking Borghan tribe.

Credits: Legion Media

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Juan Manuel was born in Argentina, so Spanish is his native language and French is his second. After all, French was spoken in his family, too. He knows English because "in today's world, it's essential." But Juan only just started learning Russian. "English for work, French for love, Russian for the soul," he says.

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Meet the #OverlookedRussiangreats

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Locals say that whoever comes here with a pure heart will find an echo deep within their soul 💫💧

The Far East - the Land of Adventure! More travel-themed short videos here @travelerdv

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In the USSR, public order was kept by millions of volunteers - the "druzhinniki". With just an armband, they patrolled cities for free!

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Warm, golden, sprinkled with sugar — their aroma instantly takes you back to childhood and the long lines at tiny cafés 🍩☕

Video by:
https://www.youtube.com/@Liubov_Sazonova/videos

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Question time!

Ballet, literature, cinema, music — which part of Russian culture fascinates you most?

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#FactsabouttheRussianlanguage

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Russian peasant women would typically get married with a hoarse voice, scraped knees, torn hair and a crushed foot. Even if it was all for love…

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What was the ‘Sorrow Commission’ & how did it come to be in #Russia?

The first Sorrow Commission was established after the death of Peter I in 1725 to organize future funeral ceremonies. Prior to this, this task was carried out by the so-called ‘Panikhida Prikaz’ (‘memorial service office’).

Unlike its predecessor, the Sorrow Commission operated according to standards accepted in Western Europe. Thus, it was in the early 18th century that Russia began to make ‘death masks’ of deceased monarchs in Russia and use knightly swords and shields in ceremonies.

The Sorrow Commission was headed by the Grand Marshal and the Grand Master of Ceremonies, chosen from the new ruler's inner circle. The position could be held multiple times. For example, Prince Nikolai Yusupov served as Grand Marshal three times – at the funerals of Peter III, Catherine II and Paul I.

The commission's staff was recruited from various departments, attracting the very best in their fields. Among them were chancery officials, merchants, artists and architects — more than 50 people, in total.

They worked in a wing of one of the imperial palaces. A mourning atmosphere was created in the rooms – tables were covered with black cloth and documents were issued on mourning paper with black sealing wax.

The commission oversaw the entire mourning process, determined the participants in the ceremonies, the timing and details of mourning and procured the necessary props. A special department translated the ceremonial into French, the then international language, and sent it to the foreign diplomats expected at the funeral.

After the funeral, the Sorrow Commission reported on its expenses, its staff would receive money and gifts and then disband until the next time.

Artifacts from Peter the Great's funeral and other items from the era can be seen in the ‘The Last Triumph of Peter the Great. Eternity Ahead’ exhibition (https://kreml.ru/en/exhibitions/poslednii-triumf-petra-velikogo-vperedi-vecnost ) at the Moscow Kremlin Museums until February 1, 2026.

Credit: Public domain

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