Coffee and Spring in Russia…

Life is like a Cup of Coffee...

It is the start of Spring and instead of seeing buds of jonquils and blooms of crocuses emerging from the ground. We have a dropping thermometer and a new foot of snow being laid down, in a furious storm with winds that are drifting the snow into meter high piles. So that cup of coffee is really good this morning…

But my thoughts are really about that Russians are very optimistic about Spring. In my opinion they have developed rituals that promote that optimism:

Maslenitsa 2011: February 28th to March 6…

These rituals have to do with Spring and making sure that Winter goes away and Spring is welcomed… (Except this year Old Man Winter is Cranky!)

It seems that we just go from holiday to holiday at this time of the year starting at the New Year occasion. We just ended Defender of the Father Land on the 23rd of February. Remember we also had 11 days off at the first of the year for Winter Holidays.

Plus we have had several other wonderful holidays. It seems to be the therapy for the super long Winter… 🙂

Now we have International Women’s Day on March 8th. It is sorta like Mothers day and if you treated it that way you would not fail at making women happy. Just act like all women are mothers and you got it. The flower shops are ready and the flowers will be sold. Plus chocolates are a huge favorite with the women in Russia… (Just make sure to carry them upside down as you walk to deliver them…)

Spring In Moscow...

All this is part of what makes Russia what it is. Russia is a world that unless you live here you really can not understand it. Especially if you are from the West…

So we are enjoying our Spring in Moscow. As the snow flies and frostbite nips at your nose. Gotta Love It…

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