Of all the Russian holidays and traditional days, and there are many, New Year or Novy God is perhaps the most important. Also, a holiday of at least two days: it starts on 12/31, with Christmas, the Fourth of July, and Thanksgiving, All Rolled Into One (The New York Times, 2018).

You need to know at least two things about one of the classic symbols of Russia. First, the matryoshka (матрёшка) has only been made in Russia since the late nineteenth century (around 1890). There’s something Japanese in it too (some claim Chinese), and it was originally a children’s toy. Second, and take note, a matryoshka is a matryoshka.

As many non-Russians as there are in the world, there are just as many stereotypes about the Russians. They drink vodka like water and survive on pickles and beetroot soup. All women over fifty look like farmers or grandmothers, and men over fifty don’t exist. Oh yes. Russians love Adidas, Russians don’t smile, and Russia is impossible to understand, and so on. More stereotypes here, and there’s much more to come.