Russians really love visiting their friends and relatives’ homes. If you are travelling to Russia and are lucky to have some local friends here, you most likely also will be invited. Russians are great hosts and such a dinner will be a whole experience for you. So let’s find out what will be waiting for you during a typical dinner in a Russian family.
Russians cook a lot
It is typical for Russian families to cook a lot. Be ready to see a lot of meals. Some starters, to begin with, salads, first plate, second plate, tea, and dessert. You may ask if you are supposed to eat all this? The answer is yes, in fact, you are. At least you should try most of the meals not to offend the hosts.
Russians spend many hours eating
You are invited for dinner at 6 pm. When do you expect it to finish? There is no correct answer, but be sure that you won’t leave by 8 pm, and probably not by 9 pm… Russian love having long dinners, people talk a lot, eat a lot and drink a lot. If you happen to come to New Year celebrations, you will realize, the dinner may last even for a couple of days with short breaks. So if you are coming to dinner, cancel all your other plans for the evening.
Russians will make you wear slippers
Russian don’t wear street shoes at home. It may be surprising for some people, especially for those who come from countries with a hot climate. However, there is a good reason behind this habit, and this is the weather. When it’s raining or snowing outside, you most likely don’t want to bring all this mess home. So if you are invited to a Russian home, be ready to wear slippers. No, you cannot just wipe your shoes.
Russians put bottles under the table
Another strange habit you may notice, Russian don’t keep empty bottles on the table. According to popular superstition, it brings bad luck. Nobody knows for sure the roots of this superstition, but according to some versions, the roots of the tradition go back to the Napoleonic war. When Russian soldiers came to France, they visited local saloons and put the bottles under the table, so the waiter couldn’t count the exact number of bottles they had.
You are supposed to bring a small gift
It is not obligatory, but it is a good gesture to bring something if you are going to dinner to a Russian home. A bottle of wine, some juice, a cake, flowers for the host — all this will make you seem a good guest in eyes of your host. Of course, nobody will blame you for bringing nothing, but it is a good and typical gesture in Russia.
The most important, Russians are great hosts who care a lot about their guests. So if you are invited, you will be treated as a dear guest and will be in good hands!
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