Whats the big deal about 08 марта (08 March)? Across the Eastern world, the 8th of March is a day like few others. Known simply as “Woman’s Day” or “International Women’s Day” the eighth day of March is like Valentine’s Day on steroids.
8 March is International Women’s Day, and perhaps the best way for us from the West to understand it, it might help to think of it as a sort of Eastern equivalent to Valentine’s Day. (Its much more than that, but this is a good starting place.)
To miss March 8th a guy runs the risk of embarrassing a lady if you are in a regular relationship. Flowers and chocolates are also given to female relatives such as Mothers, Aunts, mother in laws, daughters, etc.
Valentine’s Day wasn’t even a day on the Russian calendar a decade ago–in fact it still controversial to some. Even though the Western concept of Valentine’s Day is being more popular, ladies in Eastern Europe and Asia still view 08 March as the most important romance day of the year. Women sometimes receive gifts from their employers and schoolchildren often bring gifts for their teachers.
For those in a relationship with a lady from the former Soviet Union you should understand that if you fail to grasp the importance of 08 March it will be a cause for hurt feelings.
So let’s say you want to send your lady a card on International Woman’s Day, 8 March. But your local Hallmark store has no idea of any such day. How does a gentleman find a card representing a holiday not celebrated in the West? The easiest way is to send an e-card in the Russian language.
First, navigate to this website: http://www.davno.ru/cards/m8.html
There in the upper centre page, you’ll see Голосовые открытки с 8 марта and that translates as “cards for 08 March” and there are six pages from which to select. The first page is of old Soviet designs and the more modern designs are on following pages. Find a favourite and click on the card. Here are instructions:
Кому: (To whom)
Введите имя: (Their name)_____________________________
Введите E-Mail: (Their email) ___________________________
От: (From)
Введите имя: (Your Name) _____________________________
Введите E-Mail: (Your Email) ___________________________
Заголовок открытки: (The card’s “heading”) ________________________________
Текст открытки: (Text of the card)
Выберите марку: (Choose a “mark” which means “stamp”). They’re not really using a stamp–its just a nice realistic touch.
Most readers will select no and the “answer” button is preset on 0. Leave it and go to the bottom button.
Click on bottom button: предварительный просмотр октрытки
(Preview the card before emailing)
Review the card and then most likely you’ll select the button on the LEFT which says послать октрытки (Send the card).
Select the right button to go back if not satisfied with the result.
As it is considered bad luck to give/receive a card or gift before the actual day, time your delivery. A day or two in advance would not be cool if you lived down the street but most ladies understand that this is not an exact science so a day or two out and you should be okay. Just for goodness sake DON’T be late. That would not be cool.
One of our gifts to you dear reader, is the delicious 08 March salad recipe! We hope that you enjoy it with our compliments.
Состав:
Помидоры
Сыр
Кукуруза
Чеснок – 1 зубчик
Соль, перец
Натуральный майонез «Ряба»
Порезать помидоры кубиками, положить в отдельную миску, посолить и дать настояться 15 мин. Сок слить.
Натереть сыр на крупной терке.
Продавить чеснок через чеснодавку
Все перемешать, посолить и поперчить по вкусу. Заправить майонезом. Выложит салат в форме цифры «8». Круглые дырки в цифре удобно сделать с помощью стакана. Сверху посыпать кукурузой. По желанию украсить зеленью. Приятного аппетита!
Quick translation:
08 March Salad with corn, cheese and tomato bits.
Cut the tomatoes into small cubes, put into a separate bowl, add salt and let stand 15 minutes. Drain off the juice.
Grate the cheese on a coarse grater.
Add some garlic, minced.
Mix everything, add salt and pepper to taste. Form the salad in the shape of numeral “8”. Top with corn and decorate with greenery. Bon Appetit!
Любовь долготерпит, милосердствует, любовь не завидует, любовь не превозносится, не гордится, не бесчинствует, не ищет своего, не раздражается, не мыслит зла, не радуется неправде, а сорадуется истине; все покрывает, всему верит, всего надеется, все переносит. Любовь никогда не перестает. (Библия, 1 Кор.13:4-9)
Translation:
Love is patient, love is not jealous, love does not boast, not proud,
does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil, rejoices not in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth, always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails. (Bible, 1 Corinthians 13:4-9)
Today’s recipe is a courtesy of Ryaba Russian Mayonnaise, light and heart-healthy.
It is interesting to see what kinds of gifts that Russian guys typically give on 08 March. Keep in mind that this is a multiple lady holiday for local men. For example, when you see that money is a percentage, remember that unlike you, a Russian male will often have a gift for grandma, Mom, girl/wife, daughter, Aunts and close cousins in some instances. He might have given some money to grandma along with a rose, or a bag of chocolate to a daughter plus flowers for his wife.
Clockwise:
Flowers: top right, dark blue
Souvenirs: bottom right, reddish brown (that was a surprise)
Chocolates/Confetti: bottom left, green
Perfume/Cosmetics: left above confetti, purple
Jewelry: left, 11am position light brown
Toys: left, 10am position (obviously children)
Money: top left, light blue
This information may be helpful in deciding what you will give the lady in your life for 08 March.
President Medvedev has made a tradition of hosting state award winners for a lunch each year at Women’s Day.
The Easter fast is observed and this year the meal was served in the informal dining room at the Presidential Residence in the Gorki region outside Moscow. The menu included soup, salad, bread, cake and fruit.
The Mendeleyev Journal - Live From Moscow 