Beyond football, Russia is a country of wonderful cultural and historical wealth. Here is a review with everything you need to know about the World Cup host
That Russia is the largest country in the world is something that almost everyone knows. Its temperatures below zero are also a characteristic feature, so this information is not surprising, certainly.
But, apart from its 17 million square kilometers, diversity and cultural, historical and geographical wealth, the Russian Federation has many secrets such as legends, records and curiosities that, surely, you did not know. Here are ten amazing facts about this nation.
The beautiful Red Square
This is one of the most important sites in Russia. Its name, contrary to what is thought, is not linked to communism, although this political current is usually represented by the color red. The square was named “Krásnaya plóshchad” long before communism was born, in the seventeenth century being precise.
The translation of the word "Krásnaya" is "red." In the specific case of the Red Square, "Krásnaya" is derived from the word "krasnyi", which, if translated into ancient Russian, means: beautiful.
Hermitage's cats
The Hermitage Museum, located in St. Petersburg, has several of the most important works of art in the world, some of the famous director Leonardo Da Vinci, as well as Greek statues and genuine Egyptian scrolls, so it must keep severe safety devices.
The Winter Palace, as this museum is also known, is strictly guarded by some 70 cats! These felines are very important, so much so that there is a position of “director of the cat program”, whose job is to take care of the felines. How did the cats get there? There are several hypotheses about it.
One of the versions assures that it was Isabel I, daughter of the emperor Pedro El Grande, who ordered to fill the Palace with the biggest and most beautiful cats brought from the city of Kazan, where Rubin plays. Finally it must be said, the presence of these animals responds to one thing: mice move away from works of art.
Vodka as water
When we talk about vodka we relate it to the touch with the Russians. However, this is not the most ingested drink in that country. The Russian service of the BBC said that, in terms of consumption, it is beer that takes the first prize against all odds.
But vodka itself is considered by the Russians as a "vital liquid," and its name suggests it. The name of vodka is shaped by adding a diminutive suffix to "voda", whose meaning is water. In a few words vodka can be translated as “agüita”.
Record women
The tendency for women to live longer than men is common throughout the world. But this has an important connotation on Russian soil. Official statistics for 2017 reveal that women in Russia live around 77.06 years, while men live 66.5. The difference in life between men and women is at least a decade! In the rest of the world the difference is about seven years. Women always have the advantage.
Earmuffs up or down?
In Russia there are topics for discussion that, although they may seem silly in the rest of the world, are fundamental for them. Such is the case with fur hats, commonly known as Ushanka, and when it is "appropriate" for their earmuffs to be lowered. For some it is necessary that the temperature falls below -20 ° C to be able to deploy them.
But, others do not consider this adequate. Some in Russia qualify as absurd and meaningless that the Ushanka earmuffs cannot be lowered in cold climates so that they fulfill their function: warm the ears.
A blind architect?
What if. The famous St. Basil's Cathedral, an architectural work of enormous value and spatial dimension located in the heart of Moscow, was erected by the architect Postnik Yakovlev. Although there are official documents that suggest that the work was done in conjunction with Barma, his colleague.
But a murky legend tarnishes this famous Russian building. The same account that Iván El Terrible ordered that Postnik be blinded for life so that he could never build something as beautiful as St. Basil's Cathedral. But no official document has been found to verify this legend.
The country where day and night coincide
Asking the time in Russia could be complicated and very confusing. Why? Being such a large country has several time zones, 11 to be specific. While in Moscow, its capital, it is noon, in the city of Petropavlovsk-Kamchatski, which is located at the southern end of the country, it is 9:00 p.m. In Kaliningrad, the port enclave city, which is on the westernmost side of the nation, the difference becomes even more noticeable.