Russia Local Custom Tips by Pablos_new

BANYA!!!!

One could not imagine Russia without a Russian Steam Sauna - BANYA!
Banya is not a special type of sauna, it is not of how Russians have bath, or smth else. Banya is a special way of life!

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Below is the link to the site about Russian Banya, developed and supported by my friend - Alexey Razorenov There you can find diferences between sauna and banya and lern many more interesting things.

Russian banya from Russia

Website: http://www.rusbanya.com

Kiss instead of shaking hands??? Is that true?

> Hi!
>
> I've just read from a magazine that in Russia men greet by kissing each
> other on the mouth.
> Is that really true or only friends do that?
> And how do meen greet women? And how do women greet each other?
>
> Cheers! =)

Hi,

That was very old orthodox tradition, hardly could be called alive now a days.
Though in soviet times or state leaders greet each other with embrances and sometimes with kisses. See very famouse picture - this is General Secretary Brezhnev and Honneker (East Germany leader).

Really tradition was popular in XVIII-XIX cc. But now this will be considered as a "mauvais ton". People greet each other with shaking hands, just like everywhere.

Kissing tradition is still alive only amoung very religios persons and only when they greet each other at bid christian hollidays like Orthodox Christmas (at January, 7 ) or Easter.