Test your knowledge of Russian culture

In honor of Russia, who is currently hosting the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, why not test your knowledge of Russian culture (facts) with this Russian trivia quiz.  Answers can be found at the end of the quiz.

1. Russia is home to how many ethnic/culture groups.
a) 6 b) 16 c) 60 d) 160 e) Too many to count

2. The famous Russian novel, Crime and Punishment, was written by which notable Russian writer.
a) Leo Tolstoy b) Fyodor Dostoevsky c) Alexander Pushkin d) Ivan Turgenev e) None of the above

3. The most popular religion in Russia is
a) Roman Catholic b) Protestant c) Orthodox Christian d) Islam e) None, atheism dominates

4. The most important Russian holiday is
a) New Year Day b) Victory Day c) Christmas d) Defender of the Fatherland Day e) Russian Day

5. What is the current political system in Russia?
a) Communism b) Fascism c) Republic d) Dictatorship e) Democracy

6. The Russian Federation was established following the disbanding of the Soviet Union. Who was the Federation's first president?
a) Dmitry Medvedev b) Vladimir Putin c) Viktor Chernomyrdin d) Boris Yeltsin e) Mikhail Gorbachev

7. Russia does NOT share a border with which of the following countries.
a) China b) South Korea c) Mongolia d) Ukraine e) Poland

8. What is the name of the royal palace which has served, for centuries, as the official residence for Russian kings and presidents?
a) The Summer Palace b) The Winter Palace c) Pashkov House d) The Kremlin

9. The literary rate in Russia is estimated to be
a) 79% b) 89% c) 99% d) Less than 50% e) More than 50%

10. The national sport of Russia is
a) Association football/soccer b) Ice Hockey c) Tennis d) Figure Skating e) No official designation

11. Which of these Russian cities is the country's most populous?
a) Moscow b) Saint Petersburg c) Samara d) Kazan e) Novosibirsk

12. True or False. Russia is the largest country (by landmass) in the world.



Answer Key:
1)d 2)b 3)c 4)a 5)c 6)d 7)b 8)d 9)c 10)e 11)a 12)True
Classification:
Expert - more than 9 correct
Intermediate - 7 to 9 correct
Novice - less than 7 correct

Published by Simon Nguyen

Simon Nguyen is a researcher who holds a degree in economics. His areas of expertise are public policy, labor and sport.  View profile

Baltic capitals (with Russia and Berlin) cruise

Baltic capitals (with Russia and Berlin) cruise

Land of windmills, bicycles, canals, and Hansa

I find the Baltic capitals 12 day cruise to be one of the most interesting cruise itineraries of all because it is rich in history, beauty, variety, and it includes visits to the hub of activity and seat of government of several northern European countries. It is also an affordable means of visiting expensive cities. I enjoyed my second visit to this impressive region of the world even more because I travelled on Celebrity Cruise Line in a concierge class room. The itinerary included visits to six ports of call, including an overnight stay in St. Petersburg, Russia, and four much-needed sea days. If I had to do it over again, I would've spent time in Amsterdam, the departure city, prior to the cruise.

Here are the highlights of the trip:

A visit to Berlin, Germany a city that I still find to be one of the most interesting in the world. Not only is it the birth place of Nazism and rise to power of Hitler, but it served as the epicenter of the 40+ year Cold War. The remnants of our recent history, especially of World War II and Berlin's role, abound-- from the war-torn Kaiser Wilhelm Cathedral to the monument to the murdered Jews, to the iconic East Berlin traffic signals, to Check Point Charlie, to the Reichstag , to the memorial of the book burning, to the Brandenburg gate, to remaining segments of the Berlin wall scattered throughout the city -- there's always something to stimulate the mind about horror, war, duty, paranoia, denial, resistance, heart break, and resilience. What's most impressive is how the Germans take full responsibility for the horrors of the Nazi regime. In this effort, they continue to build monuments to commemorate and enlighten about what happened. I could go back time and time again, to explore all its museums, monuments, public places, and memorials.

Our tour included visits of Museum Island, The Brandenburg Gate, The Reichstag, Charlottenburg Palace, the Holocaust Memorial, and everything listed in the previous sentences. Bratwurst for lunch was delicious.

This time, I spent more time at the Topography of Terror Museum (comprehensive indoor and outdoor exhibits detailing the history of repression under the Nazis) and the Memorial to the Murdered Jews.

It is well worth the 3 Hour drive. from Port city of Warnemunde. Both times I took a full day tour with SPB, a company that provides excellent tours of Russia and Baltic capital cities.

Brandenburg Gate

Berlin Wall

Charlottenburg Palace

My second two-day visit to St. Petersburg, Russia was as enjoyable as the first. This fabulous city, patterned after the great capital cities of Western Europe with royal palaces and gardens mirroring Versailles, should be placed on everyone’s bucket list. Highlights included visits to Catherine’s Palace, Peterhoff, Peter and Paul Fortress and Cathedral, Senate Square, a Hydrofoil ride, the Palace where Rasputin spent his final hours (Yusopov), a canal cruise, the Church of the Savior on Spilled Blood, typical Russian meals, and the piece de resistance: The Hermitage, the world's second largest art museum behind the Louvre.

Prior to my visit, again, I studied the lives of the Tsars, with a focus on Peter the Great, Catherine the great, and the downfall of the Romanov dynasty.

Hermitage and St Issac's across The Neva River

Peterhoff Gardens and Fountains

Matryoshka Dolls

Bronze Horseman

Sunrise and sunset cruising through the Stockholm archipelago of 30,000 islands and islets.

Vasa Museum in Stockholm. This was my second visit to one of my favorite museums in the world. The museum actually houses the 384year-old war ship that sank during its maiden voyage in 1628, along with informative-interactive exhibits describing the raising of the ship in 1961, life on board the ship, naval warfare, life in Sweden in the 1600s, skeletal remains, and more. There are even facial reconstructions of victims onboard the sunken ship, enhanced by modern technology, created from skeletal remains. See http://www.vasamuseet.se/en/

View of Tallinn’s OldTown from the ship

Tours in St Petersburg, Berlin, Tallinn, and Stockholm. HOHO bus tour in Copenhagen and Helsinki

Nyhavn

Little Mermaid-Mascot of Copenhagen

On the Stroget

Helsinki-Market Square

Tallinn, Estonia-City Walls

Life onboard the Celebrity Constellation. It is a beautiful ship, newly refurbished, and decorated with eclectic, thought-provoking artwork throughout. The food was well above average. I had escargots EVERY NIGHT! We loved the ship’s song and dance cast!

Escargots every night

Excellent guest lecturers. There was a naturalist, Karen Dodd and a Harry Murphy, a doctor of Education. They lectured on the Romanovs, The Berlin Wall, Alfred Nobel, WW II, Russian, Viking, Prussian, and Hanseatic history and culture, Amber, and even The History of Hollywood. Karen Dodd delivered such impassioned and interesting talks that I would listen to her lecture on toothpicks. She even invited everyone to join her from 5AM-9AM, up on deck, as we cruised through the Stockholm archipelago. I learned so much from her about the Hanseatic League, the development of German vs. Viking societies, whales, and more. Her lectures truly enhanced my experience. We replayed both speakers’ lectures several times in our room, on the Celebrity channel.

Our wonderful dinner mates. Agnes and Richard from Ohio; Juanita and Ross from Portland, OR; and Jane, Don, and their 12-yr old grandson, Anakin, from Portland, OR

Don, Jane,Anakin, Karla, Joel, Juanita, Ross,Agnes, Richard

As before, the weather was pleasant everywhere--we only had rain in Stockholm and at the Memorial to the Murdered Jews (15 minutes, in Berlin).

What Russian Brides and Grooms do on Their Wedding Day

During both of my visits to St Petersburg, Russia, I observed wedding couples celebrating near all the key monuments and buildings including The Bronze Horseman in Senate Square, The Church of the Saviour on Spilled Blood, and The Rostral Columns

Here is an article describing this Russian wedding tradition.:

What Russian Brides and Grooms Do on Their Wedding Day

By Susan Breslow Sardone,

Senate Square near Bronze Horseman August 30, 2012

Russian brides and grooms celebrate their wedding day much like romantic couples the world over although they do have certain traditions unique to their country.

 

Russian brides seek out the fanciest dress their budget can afford (usually an elaborate white confection) while Russian grooms arrange for an appointment at a civil office where the ceremony and marriage registration can take place. The cost is approximately 60 Euros.

Traditions Among Russian Brides and Grooms

Before the wedding, it’s tradition for Russian grooms to accomplish a few tasks. For instance, when he comes to pick up his bride, the groom may be handed a napkin with lipstick prints of the bride and her attendants on it. If he can’t pick out his bride’s kiss, he must pay a tribute. Grooms who guess wrong may have to cover a shawl with rubles.

Once the Russian bride and groom exit the civil marriage registration office, it’s time for picture taking to commemorate the occasion. Friends and family members toss flower petals, coins, and sometimes release butterflies to wish the couple good luck.

And before they leave, it’s tradition for the groom to sweep the bride up in his arms and kiss her in front of all assembled.

A City Wedding Tour for Russian Brides and Grooms

It’s also tradition for Russian brides and grooms in St. Petersburg to visit three to five places around the city that hold special meaning for citizens. There they have post-wedding photos snapped.

To transport themselves and their guests to the locations in style, Russian brides and grooms hire a limousine bedecked with gold rings and flowers. Sometimes the couple’s names are painted on a side window. If the couple cannot afford a limo, any car suitably tricked out will do.

For Russian brides and grooms it’s not only a matter of showing up in a specific and often scenic location, it’s also a matter of performing a simple act to symbolically assure a long and happy marriage.

St. Petersburg Wedding Picture Locales

Out of tradition, Russian brides and grooms in St. Petersburg typically pay a visit to three to five of the following places:

· The eternal flame of the heroes of World War II and the Bronze Horseman statue and monument to Peter the Great dominating Senate Square.

· To the sphinx embankment on Peter Vassilevsky Island to pet the 4,000-year-old Egyptian statues and stone griffons for luck.

· To the Rostrum Column, decorated with ship prows and surrounded by an iron-link railing. Side by side, couples pose for photos with their hands fitted inside the links to symbolize their new bond.

· A few steps away, fountains gush in the shadow of the Peter and Paul Cathedral. And it’s tradition for couples to toast with champagne then smash their glasses against a large concrete sphere.

· To the New Hermitage Portico along the city’s Millionaires’ Row, where giant marble Atlanti statues act as columns. Here Russian brides rub the huge marble toes for luck and pose between the statues.

· To emphasize the purity of their love, Russian brides and grooms sometimes simultaneously release white doves beside the waterfront.

· Couples have themselves photographed beside spectacularly beautiful and religiously meaningful structures such as the onion-domed Church of Spilled Blood.

7-country, 12-night Russia & Scandinavia cruise on Aug 24-Sept 5, 2012:

In 15 days, I will take a 7-country, 12-night Russia & Scandinavia cruise. Of note, I took this same cruise on NCL two years ago. I will use the same great tour companies for visits to St Petersburg, Tallinn, and Berlin.

12 nights departing August 24, 2012 on Celebrity's Constellation
ITINERARY
DAY DATE PORT ARRIVE DEPART Fri Aug 24 Amsterdam, Holland 4:30pm Sat Aug 25 At Sea Sun Aug 26 Berlin (Warnemunde), Germany 9:30am Midnight Mon Aug 27 At Sea Tue Aug 28 Tallinn, Estonia 10:00am 5:00pm Wed Aug 29 St. Petersburg, Russia 7:00am Thu Aug 30 St. Petersburg, Russia 6:00pm Fri Aug 31 Helsinki, Finland 8:00am 5:00pm Sat Sep 1 Stockholm, Sweden 9:00am 4:00pm Sun Sep 2 At Sea Mon Sep 3 Copenhagen, Denmark 10:00am 6:00pm Tue Sep 4 At Sea Wed Sep 5 Amsterdam, Holland 5:00am