March 8th is a kind of obsession for Russians. On this day, and a couple of days before it, men pretend they are loving, caring, gallant, chivalrous, and generous. Very good for commerce.
On this day, and a couple of days before it - at work that is, men are entitled to say dubious compliments to women. In Europe and America many of these compliments will result in a slap in the face, but here in Russia girls and women blush, giggle, and behave coquettishly to encourage some more dubious compliments.
On March 7th, all business activities stop dead in Russia around lunchtime to resume on March 9th or 10th. On March 7th and 8th, you can see women with big happy and slightly foolish eyes all around Russia with flowers, usually tulips, and men with huge boy-wasn't-I-extravagant-today smiles on their faces. Those men who have raised too many glasses to women and their health end up puking quietly on side streets.
On March 7th, all business activities stop dead in Russia around lunchtime to resume on March 9th or 10th. On March 7th and 8th, you can see women with big happy and slightly foolish eyes all around Russia with flowers, usually tulips, and men with huge boy-wasn't-I-extravagant-today smiles on their faces. Those men who have raised too many glasses to women and their health end up puking quietly on side streets.
Once, after visiting my class, a friend from Britain said thoughtfully: "You know what? Out of 12 girls in that group 10 were of different types! One blonde with blue eyes, and one girl with dark wavy hair, and one with red hair, slim girls and plumpy girls, and... Gosh, now I know why Russian girls are so popular in the world!" I know why, too. I've known this for years. I work in a School of Linguistics which, at least in Russia, means lots of girls and few male students around. Look at the picture from our recent cooking party. We have such parties once in a while, together with our American friends. Economically speaking, it's oligopoly! Are you jealous, guys? Know what I mean? Nudge, nudge. Wink, wink. Say no more!..
2 комментария:
I guess only a few "chosen-ones" are aware of the special meaning of this day here, in the UK. Mainly those who have Russian wives or friends:) But we are getting there, en-light-en-ing works just fine:) My best wishes to all the 8-March-related readers! And to my former students - missing you a lot! Hope you do well!
my friend from Haifa has written today:
"...U nas otme4aut vo vsu---Izrail eto malenkaya rossiya i mnogo prazdnikov iz goda v god zdes obosnovivautsya. pomnu e6e let 5 nazad 8 go marta bila ti6ina! a v etom godu--aziotaz--uze segodnya vse nosyatsya s tsvetami--i korennie ziteli s radostiu podxvatili etu volnu!!! na ivrite napisanno vezde-plakati--s 8mim marta!..."
funny! :)))
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