In certain parts of Russia, the Russian winter is especially cold and snowy, but despite the weather, winter has an interesting tradition associated with it.

From the time when I began to understand Russian, I became acquainted with charming Russian sayings that made me laugh more often than not. Read and ruminate about a few of my favorites.

Troitsa or Trinity Sunday is celebrated 50 days after Easter. Churches and homes are adorned with greenery and flowers. The symbolism of the color green is that of life and it also is a grafting of the old Russian customs with the sacred.

August second in the church calendar is Saint Elijah the Prophet’s day. Saint Elijah is a popular prophet and is common to the religions of Christianity, Judaism and Islam. He is known as "The Thunderer."

Read the tale of the three daughters and the squirrel. It's a good reminder of what our priorities should be.

Nikolai Gogol was born in 1809 in the Ukraine in close proximity to the village of Dikanka. Gogol had a mystical personality and he wandered for a good portion of his life. He is the author of Dead Souls.

The rooster is one of the many animals that appears in Russian fairy tales. Read a tale about Pete the rooster and the pea pod and a nursery tale.

Russia’s best known and recognizable folk craft items are the nesting dolls known as matrioshka dolls. These dolls come in a wide array of colors, sizes and motifs and represent Russia herself.

Read the Russian folktale about the old woman, her field of oats and the goat with the glass eyes and golden horns.

Russia is sometimes referred to as "The Land of the Firebird." The firebird or "zhar ptitsa" is Russia's bird of fame, appearing in folktales, music, and art. In one tale, this bird eats golden apples in the king's or tsar's orchard.