There is a chasm of difference between Russians and Americans. No matter how much we resist, the political conflicts of countries are reflected in ordinary people, who are brainwashed from TV screens. Like, the smiles of Americans are fake, education is unimportant and in general they lie down on the bed in shoes. And although we are gloomy in appearance, but we have a wide soul. Americans have heard about bears, vodka and balalaika, but in reality they are surprised by something else.
New Year
Adored by Russians, the New Year holidays and the New Year's Eve are an inexplicable phenomenon for Americans, whose main holiday is Christmas. A Christmas tree, an exchange of gifts, a family meeting at a covered table - all these are Christmas attributes in America and New Year's in Russia. What kind of Christmas, when almost the entire XX century Russians lived in the dogma "religion is the opium for the people"? And whether it is worth trying to explain to the American the strange phrase Old New Year and the difference between the Gregorian and Julian calendars - we ourselves do not fully realize it. And why not celebrate Christmas twice?
Table toasts
In Russian, toast is a table wish, and in English - a slice of toasted bread. The tradition of making toasts about and without surprising Americans. They have "salute", "chin-chin", "for you" - zero imagination. In Russia, the concept of "toast" came from the old Russian rite of wishing health at the table - health. People drank health for each other's health, often using a zdravnym cup, chara or a massive bucket, which was let in a round. The custom has been known since the XI century.
Slippers
Americans do not undry at home, and if they take off their shoes, they walk barefoot. Russians prefer slippers, neatly folded and waiting for the owner at the threshold. Each member of the family has a personal couple, and for guests there are spares of all sizes and styles. The best way to feel at home is to take off your street shoes and put on soft, homely, even tadtannye, but favorite slippers.
Tea
Remember, Chekhov in the play "Three Sisters" Lieutenant Vershinin exclaims: "Half a life for a glass of tea. I didn't eat anything in the morning"? We have tea and a drink and in some ways food. The good tradition of tea eating warms the soul and unites at the table conversation. But Americans are coffee fans. Not to say that they are foodies in this matter, but coffee is a ubiquitous drink, and the probability of hearing an invitation to tea tends to zero. Of course, they sell soulless bags or refreshing ice tea in the hot season, but you can hardly see in an American family a porcelain teak with flowers.
Signs
Why do you think the parents forgot Kevin in the attic in the family comedy Home Alone? That's right, because we did not sit down on the track, but rushed to the airport in the turmoil! The Russian tradition of "sitting on the track" discourages American guests - why waste precious time? Do not understand them that a couple of minutes of silence will help calm the mind, inspect the bags, remember where the passport lies, and at the same time deceive the brownie, so as not to be happy ahead of time that he is left alone for the owner.
