Russian social etiquette

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1) Social etiquette: In interpersonal interactions, Russians are well-known worldwide for their warmth, generosity, bravery, and honesty. In social situations, Russians are accustomed to shaking hands with people they meet for the first time. But for those they know well, especially when meeting again after a long time, they usually give each other warm hugs. When welcoming guests, Russians usually offer them “bread and salt”. This is a great honor shown to the other party, and the guest must accept it with pleasure. In terms of address, in formal situations, they also use titles such as “Mr.”, “Miss,” and “Mrs.” In Russia, people place great importance on a person’s social status. Therefore, for those with positions, academic titles, or military ranks, it is best for them to be in line with those positions, academic titles, or military ranks. According to Russian folklore, when addressing Russians by their surnames, different methods can be used depending on the relationship between the individuals. It is only when dealing with someone you meet for the first time, or in very formal situations, that it is necessary to use all three parts of a Russian person’s name when addressing them. 　　(2) Dress code: Russians place great emphasis on appearance and pay attention to their clothing. Among the Russian people, married women are required to wear headscarves, with white being the most common color ； Unmarried girls do not wear headscarves, but often wear hats. In the cities, Russians currently tend to wear suits or dresses; Russian women often also wear a dress. When visiting Russians, be sure to promptly and voluntarily take off your coat, gloves, and hat as soon as you enter, and also remove your sunglasses. It is a form of courtesy. 　　(3) Dining Etiquette In terms of eating habits, Russians prefer large portions at affordable prices, with rich flavors and plenty of oil. They like sour, spicy, and salty flavors, prefer fried, pan-seared, roasted, and stir-fried foods, and especially enjoy cold dishes. Generally speaking, their food is rather crudely prepared. Generally speaking, Russia has a diet centered around pasta, and they enjoy black bread baked from rye very much. Besides black bread, other well-known specialty foods in Russia include caviar, pickled cucumbers, kefir, and so on. When eating fruit, they often don’t peel it. When it comes to drinks, Russians really enjoy cold beverages. Vodka, the liquor characteristic of that country, is their favorite drink. Furthermore, they also like to drink a beverage called “gazpacho”. When dining, Russians usually use knives and forks. They avoid making noise while eating, and should not drink tea with a spoon or let it stand upright in the cup. Usually, they use plates instead of bowls when eating. When attending a Russian banquet, it is appropriate to praise their dishes and try to eat as much as possible; when Russians put their hand on their throat, it generally indicates that they are full. 　　(4) *Popular taboos: In Russia, sunflowers, which are regarded as a symbol of light, are extremely popular. They are known as \"sun flowers\" and have been designated as the national flower. When visiting Russians, it is appropriate to give women an odd number of flowers as gifts. In terms of numbers, Russians prefer \"7\" the most, considering it a sign of success and happiness. They are very averse to the numbers “13” and “Friday”. Russians revere salt and horses greatly. Russians believe that the left hand brings bad luck while the right hand brings good luck; therefore, they also do not allow using the left hand to touch others or to pass things to them. Russians value the principle of \"ladies first,\" and in public places, men tend to voluntarily act as protectors of women. Those who do not respect women will be met with disdain everywhere. Topics that Russians avoid discussing include political conflicts, economic problems, religious disputes, ethnic tensions, the dissolution of the former Soviet Union, the Afghan War, and issues related to Russia’s status as a great power.