Read This Russian Fairytale Baba Yaga & The Wicked Geese

 

 

Tell this story with this Baba Yaga Russian Fairytale Nesting Doll!

Once upon a time, there lived a man and his wife. They had a daughter and a little son. One day the mother said to her daughter: “Darling, your father and I are going to work. Take care of your brother, keep an eye on him and don’t leave the house. Be a good girl and we will bring you a present”.

After parents left the house, the girl forgot her mother’s instructions, and left her little brother in the garden near the house so she could play with her friends. While the girl was enjoying herself, Baba Yaga’s wicked Geese [servants of Baba Yaga] swooped down and stole her little brother out of the garden. The poor girl returned home only to discover that her brother was gone. She wept bitterly calling for her baby brother.

While she was crying, she saw the wicked Geese in the sky. The girl figured out that they might have been the ones who kidnapped her brother. She suddenly remembered that people always were concerned about Baba Yaga’s Geese frequently kidnapped the little children to bring them to Baba Yaga for her to eat them. She ran after them desperately trying to catch up to them when she saw the Stove. The girl asked it if it had seen the Baba Yaga’s Geese and asked it to show her in what direction they had flown. The Stove answered: “Eat my rye patty and I will show you the direction”. The girl replied: “I won’t eat your rye patties. I don’t eat even wheat patties at home.” Since the girl was so rude, the Stove did not show her the direction.

The girl kept on running and soon she saw an Apple-Tree and asked it if it had seen in what direction the Geese flew. The Apple-Tree answered: “Eat my wild forest apple and I will show you”. The girl responded rudely: “I won’t eat your wild apple. I don’t even eat good apples from my father’s garden.” The Apple-Tree didn’t answered her and did  show her the direction.

The girl ran and ran, and at last she saw a Milk River with kissel [a kind of sweet starchy jelly] banks. The girl asked: “Milk River, kissel banks, could you tell me in what direction Baba Yaga’s Geese have flown carrying my poor little brother?”
The Milk River replied: “Eat my milk kissel and I will show you the direction.” “I don’t eat even cream at home,” the girl responded.

The girl ran in forests and fields, and in the evening she saw a little hut that stood on chicken legs and turned itself around. Her little brother sat on the bench and played with silver apples. In the hut old Baba Yaga was spinning her yarn. The girl said: “Baba Yaga, let me rest and warm myself.” “Take the spindle and spin,” Baba Yaga replied.

After Baba Yaga had left the room, the girl saw a little gray mouse. “Give me some grain and I will give you a piece of good advice,” said the little mouse. The girl gave it some grain and the mouse continued: “Baba Yaga has gone to stoke a stove, she is going to wash you, and then she is intending to roast you in the stove and eat you. Take your little brother and run, and I will spin instead of you.” The girl was very frightened and naturally followed the mouse’s advice. She took her brother and ran away.

Baba Yaga asked if the girl spun yarn and the mouse answered that she did. When Baba Yaga returned and found that the girl and her little brother disappeared, she ordered: “Baba Yaga’s Geese! Fly and catch that sister and her   brother.”

The girl and her little brother reached the Milk River and noticed that Baba Yaga’s Geese were in pursuit of them. ”Dear Milk River, please hide us,” the girl entreated. “Eat my kissel.” The children ate kissel and the Milk River hid them under its kissel banks. The Baba Yaga’s Geese didn’t find them and the children went on running but soon they noticed the Baba Yaga’s Geese spotted them and were in hot pursuit.

They saw the Apple-Tree and the girl begged: “Dear Apple-Tree, please, hide us!” “Eat my wild forest apples.” The children ate the apples and thanked the Apple-Tree. The Apple-Tree covered them with its branches and Baba Yaga’s Geese didn’t notice them.

The girl and her brother continued running and this time, when the Baba Yaga’s Geese saw them again the children nearly got caught. Fortunately, at the right moment, the children saw the Stove and cried: “Stove, please, hide us!” “Eat my rye patty,” said the Stove. The children ate the patties and hid themselves inside the Stove. The Baba Yaga’s Geese could not catch the sister and her brother and they flew away. The children thanked the Stove and ran home.

At the exact moment that the children returned home, their parents came home from work. They praised their daughter for taking good care of her brother. They never found out what happened to them, because the girl vowed not to worry her parents with the events that happened that day. She also learned to listen to her parents, not to be naughty and feisty, and to have a respect to others.

Since then, everyone lived happily ever after.

Tags: Baba Yaga, babushka, children, children’s story, Matryoshka, Matryoshka Dolls, nesting dolls, Russian, russian children story, Russian Dolls, russian fairytale, Russian Fairytales, russian folk story, Russian Folklore, Russian Folktales, russian nesting doll, russian tales, russian witch, Stacking Dolls, story for children

How is Amber Formed? Well Here’s Where You Find Out!

Amber has a humble roots – literally! It comes from an organic source: trees! This is why you may have heard the term “organic gemstone” thrown around when discussing amber. (However unlike other things that have an organic label, we’re not going to charge an arm and a leg for it ) Amber is actually formed from the resin of trees; this resin becomes fossilized over millions of years if the right conditions are met. Most often amber comes from pine trees. In this picture Tim the tree is just relaxing and having a good time …

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Tags: Amber Jewelry, Baltic Amber, History of Amber, how is amber formed, interesting facts, russian amber, Russian Cartoons, what is amber

44 Million Year Old Spider Has Uninvited Guest

 

 

Have you ever seen the original Jurassic Park movie? The concept is based on the whimsical idea that scientists can clone Dinosaurs and other prehistoric creatures that have been trapped in fossilized amber by extracting their preserved DNA.

While this idea may have been far-fetched at the time it was written, scientists today are using amber to learn some pretty interesting things. In the Discover Magazine article of March 25^th, 2011, Michael Ohl, an employee of Berlin’s Museum of Natural History, has been working with the museum’s collection of prehistoric spiders trapped in amber. His work is centered around insects called mantidflies and their method of spider-boarding. .

Ohl has found a beautiful example of this behaviour amidst the museum’s collections. It’s a 44 million year old piece of amber with a spider inside it. And there, latched onto its underside just as its modern relatives do, is a mantidfly larva. It can be seen in the detailed photos above:  it’s facing to the right and you can clearly see the three legs on its right side.

Spider-boarding is practiced by a group of insects called mantidflies. The larvae of most mantidfly species are fussy diners – they only eat the eggs of spiders. That seems like a dangerous enough strategy, for spiders are formidable hunters. But it gets crazier – some mantidflies find spider egg sacs by hitching a ride on the backs of adults.

 Amber is a window into our past. Science now has yet another link from the past to help people better understand the natural world. We commend the work of Mr. Ohl, and we hope that scientists can continue to learn about the past from amber.

Maybe one day we will be able to see the Dinosaurs in the Zoo. In the meantime we can dream about this idea while peering into one of our collectible amber stones.

 

Tags: Amber, Amber Jewelry, amber stone, Baltic Amber, bugs, bugs in amber, creation of amber, History of Amber, Insect, Insect Inclusion, petrified tree sap, Science, spider in amber, spiders, story about amber

Happy Russian Old New Year!

It may sound strange to some Americans… “happy old new year,” but it makes a lot of sense to Russians. In Russia today, January 13th 2012, many will celebrate the new year with friends, family, presents, and vodka. The new year came to be one of the best holidays ever for Russians because of the meaning and history behind it.

Before Communists took power, Russian Orthodox Christmas was a very important and sacred Russian holiday. However, Communists banned all religious holidays as they banned religion in the country, so Christmas became less and less popular with years passing by. New Year replaced Christmas in the hearts of people, thus the Christmas tree became the New Year tree.

The Russians party all night long on Old New Year’s Eve night. They make sure to have a table full of delicious food and they try to stay up as late as possible, if not the entire night, including children.

The Russian Old New Year came to be on the 13th-14th because of the switch from the Julian calendar to the Gregorian calendar. The Russian Old New Year is not an official holiday, but many still celebrate it, especially with friends.

So whether you’re Russian or not, I’d like to say Happy Old New Year (Счастливый Старый Новый год!) to ya!

 

Tags: new year, Russian, Russian Culture, russian holidays celebrations, russian people, russian traditions

Bet You Did Not Know These Facts About Baltic Amber…

The Fascinating World of Amber

Its allure is obvious, its charm is unmistakable, its appeal is widespread, and its beauty is unmistakable, but still what exactly is amber? Why do people hold it so dear to their hearts, what’s the big deal? Read on, and you’ll find yourself immersed in the story of this natural wonder– be careful though, for just like the insects in our special collection of amber with natural inclusions, you may just find yourself trapped in a world of amber!

How Amber Is Created

So, what separates amber from other precious and semi-precious stones? The answers lies in its organic roots, and when we say roots, we mean it in both the literal and figurative sense. Amber is the product of organic resin from ancient trees. Not to be confused with tree sap, the dense resin emerges from just below the tree bark, and if the right conditions are met, the resin will fossilize, and eventually, after a little time passes (a few million years) the result will be a piece of amber that after being polished, is ripe for adorning a stunning piece of jewelry.

The Origins of Amber as Jewelry

Now before reading that, you may have thought, “I don’t know how it’s formed, but I know it looks pretty.” This would put you in the same boat as some of our earliest civilized ancestors. Some people date the use of amber for decorative purposes back to the bronze ages (roughly 3,000 BC – 1,000 BC.) However it may have been used for jewelry even long before then. Entomologist and museum curator David Grimaldi writes of polished amber beads being found in Southern England that could date back to 11,000 BC! Over 13,000 years, and still in demand; in fact during the Middle Ages the demand was so high for amber prayer beads was so high that anyone without the proper authority would be hanged for collecting amber stones. Luckily for you there are no Teutonic Knights guarding the king’s supply of amber anymore, and whether it’s religious amber jeweler, or just a gorgeous set of earrings, you can get them with ease nowadays (and free shipping on orders over $75! )

Common Myths

With such a rich history, it’s no wonder that amber jewelry plays such a prominent role in the culture of societies so far separated by geography. When societies moved away from egalitarian hunter-gatherer societies, and onto agricultural based societies, that relied on trade, amber was a highly sought after commodities and made its way around the world. A Chinese legend tells that the honey colored amber stone is the spiritual remains of a tiger, and to wear an amber pendant, or amulet would give someone the strength and courage of a noble beast. Many cultures also believe amber protects children from harm, its luster providing a guide for the power of good to protect them from the evil in the world. Other tales tell of amber being the tears of the gods, Norse mythology tells of Freya the mother of Odin crying tears of amber, and Greek mythology tells the same tale of Phaethon, son of Helios god of the son, being mourned by his sisters, whose tears turned into stones of amber.

Natural Healing Powers

Now, we hope those tales of crying mythological figures didn’t get you too sad, because aside from wearing a beautiful amber ring, or amber bracelet, there is much talk of the healing, and medicinal properties of amber. According to the world of metaphysics, Amber emits a soothing calming light, known to enhance mental clarity. Amber’s organic roots, and close relationship with the earth supposedly draw negative energy, and illness, and anything unnatural from the wearer, thus purifying them, and restoring the natural vitality of life. It has been common practice to wear an amber necklace, especially an amber beaded necklace, to help ease the pain of a sore throat. Not only that, but wearing an amber necklace is said to work wonders on helping children deal with the hardships of teething, this can be attested to by not only tales of folk-lore and legend, but by many smiling children, and happy parents who can now get a good night’s sleep thanks to amber. Amber also carries with it a negative electrical charge, bringing your body back in balance if you’re over stimulated, or restless. Small pieces of amber are occasional used in skin care products for their regenerative and restorative properties. The list could go on and on, seemingly ever culture that has come into contact with amber make claims uses for healing the body and/or mind. From clearing up the respiratory system, to aligning chakras, to helping with thyroid issues, even the most skeptical of curiosities would be peaked after learning of the innumerous claims backing up amber’s healing properties.

Knowing What to Look For When Buying Amber

Chances are however that you’re in the market for a piece of amber for aesthetic purposes, you want a piece of jewelry, and you want a beautiful piece of jewelry. Well you’re in the right place, despite the lore surrounding amber; the main attraction people have with it is its beauty. The incandescent sun glistening through a green amber ring and lighting up all of its natural inclusions is going to make it more appealing than anything else. Or maybe not green, maybe you prefer butterscotch, or cherry red, or citrine, or honey, or cognac, amber jewelry comes in a rainbow of colors! Each piece of amber is truly unique. Many pieces contain natural inclusions, or bits of organic matter caught up in the tree resin before it solidified, and fossilized. These inclusions make the light dance around the amber stone making it shine like no other piece of jewelry you have ever seen.

Just as every person has their own unique personality, characteristics, and charms, so does each piece of amber, and we’re positive we can match you up with your perfect piece of amber. Do you prefer something with more of a natural flair, something to highlight your natural beauty, a look that defies refined standards, and exemplifies the pure spirit of life? Our natural amber bracelets are just the thing showcases the raw beauty of nature, to compliment a casual outfit, or to add a gorgeous contrast to something more formal.

Perhaps you’re looking for a gift with a touch of class, and classical appeal, a piece of jewelry to show that special someone how much you care. Well then, take a look at our amber cameo pendants. Made of beautifully polished Baltic amber; the traditional art of etching an image into amber has been perfected by modern technology. Artists use the amber stone as their canvas for making a beautiful three dimensional work of art. Symbolizing the meeting of two worlds, nature and art, our cameo pendants, and cameo rings are the perfect anniversary gift to show her how she means the world to you.

Tags: amber brooch, amber from russia, amber gemstone, Amber Healing Properties, Amber Jewelry, Amber Myths, amber ring, amber stone, Baltic Amber, History of Amber Jewelry, How Amber Is Created, How Amber Jewelry is Made, jewelry made from amber, Natural Healing Powers of amber, The Origins of Amber as Jewelry

June 12: Russia Day!

Here in America, we just finished celebrating Memorial Day, and soon we will be firing up those backyard grills to celebrate another Independence Day, or as some call it: the 4^th of July. In Russia, the struggle for independence was not as clear cut as it was here in America, but there is still one day each year for Russians of every age to come together to celebrate their past. Each year on June 12^th since 1992 Russia has officially been celebrating it’s own independence day, more commonly referred to as Russia Day. On this day in 1990, the Russian parliament officially declared sovereignty from the USSR, thus creating the Russian Federation. The Russian Federation is, in effect, a democratic republic very similar in many ways to the government of the United States. In addition to Russia Day, this occasion and the transition of political power was marked by a new Russian constitution, a new Russian flag, and a new Russian national anthem.

Initially, not everyone was happy about this change, and even more were confused about who exactly Russia was declaring independence from. For many, the end of the Soviet Union was followed by years of economic and social hardships. For this reason, Russia Day was not very popular when it was first introduced. Over the years, however, as social and economic conditions gradually improved, Russia day came to mean more than just another day off work.

Today, people all over Russia celebrate this official holiday in their own way. The holiday has taken on a new life of it’s own as people find new ways to celebrate their heritage. Government offices, banks, and schools are closed for the day, and many employers give their workers the day off as well. There are many concerts and firework celebrations all throughout Russia, very similar to the tradition of fireworks on the 4^th of July here. In some parts of the country you may even see parades with massive floats, and people dancing in traditional costumes. The holiday is less about the Soviet Union today and more about national pride; about connecting past, present, and future generations with everything that Russia has to offer. So, when this June 12^th rolls around celebrate in your own style. Drink a cup of tea from your Russian tea glass holder. Wear your favorite Russian wool shawl. Open your favorite nesting doll. Crack your favorite fabrege egg. Pray to your patron saint. Or tilt back that bottle of vodka, because Sunday June 12^th 2011 is Russia Day!

Tags: june 12th, Russia Day, Russian Culture, russian holidays, russian people, russian traditions

Massive Diamond Unearthed in Russia

When you think of diamonds, what part of the world do you think about? Alaska? Canada? Africa? Well, from approximately 1969 until 1999, Australia was the world leader in terms of amount of diamonds being mined within the country. During these years Botswana and Russia were second and third respectively in terms of diamond production. In 1998 all of the known Australian deposits had been all but depleted, while new deposits were being discovered at a rapid pace in Botswana. Meanwhile, in Russia, diamond mining had remained rather constant from 1994 until about 2003. Russia first started mining diamonds in its northern regions of Siberia in the late 1950′s as a way for the USSR to remain self-sufficient while competing in a new high-stakes world market. In 1970, Russia was competing as the world’s third largest producer of diamonds, far surpassing any production rate that America could keep up with. When the USSR fell, the diamond mines in Russia came under private ownership and continued to flourish. From 2003 to 2004 Russia increased its diamond production by nearly 250%; pulling away from the pack and making it the true and solid second in today’s world diamond game. Botswana still remains the top producer however.

On April 21, 2011 workers of the Udachninsky Mining Company in Siberia unearthed a massive 136 Carat honey-yellow diamond. This is a very unique color for a diamond, and some speculate that it has something to do with the extreme latitude at which this diamond was found. The diamond mines in Siberia are some of the most northerly mines in the world. Several mines in Canada’s Northwest Territory rival for this position. In any case, there is no denying the impressiveness of this discovery. The diamond is said to have an irregular shape which has led to much more curiosity surrounding it. At this time, the diamond has not been appraised, but it is expected to catch a lot of attention if it ever goes to sale. This extremely rare find gives hope to all armature diamond hunters around the world. Your big one could still be out there. If you aren’t into digging in the dirt, however, The Russian Store has you covered with our line of exquisite gemstone and diamond jewelry. Treat yourself today.

Tags: Diamond, Diamond Jewelry, Mining, Russian Culture

Google Honors Yuri Gargarin

Today, April 12, 2011 marks a historic event for humanity. 50 years ago today, the former Soviet Union sent the first human being beyond the Earth’s atmosphere into space. After the fall of Nazi Germany and the end of WWII, the United States and the Soviet Union remained as the world’s most powerful nations. The two countries entered into fierce competition with each other in order to obtain the rank of world’s most powerful nation. The Cold War began, and with it so too did the first international space race. The Soviets were first in space, but America was first on the moon. Yuri Gagarin was the lucky cosmonaut to make the truly historic flight. He spent nearly two full hours in orbit around the Earth, and then returned safely to solid ground, much to the delight of people watching around the world.

Yuri was born in the village of Klushino which was then part of the U.S.S.R. He wore the official CCCP logo on all of his cosmonaut gear as he dared to travel where no man has traveled before. His call sign on the radio was Kedr, which is a Siberian Pine tree. The spacecraft that carried Yuri around the globe was named the Vostok 1. This was Yuri’s first and last flight into space. He later served as an alternate for another Soviet space mission, but never made it back into space. Yuri was hailed as an international celebrity until his tragic death in 1968 as the result of a jet-plane crash.

Today, people still pay homage to Yuri in different ways. His face appeared on a commemorative coin in Russia in 2001. There are many status all around Russia that depict Yuri. Here at The Russian Store, we carry a special Yuri t-shirt to honor his memory and lasting legacy. Even Google got in on the fun today with one of there signature Google Doodles for Yuri. Yuri is loved throughout the world, and he will remain an inspiration to people of all ages; always reminding them that they can achieve the impossible.

Tags: Astronaut, Cosmonaut, cosmonavt, cosmos, first man in space, History, man in space, Russian Culture, russian space flight, space ship, yurij gagarin

Our re-grand opening!

Hi, welcome to The Russian Store blog.  This is the first post (one of many) that we’ll be making to share more about our company and our products.

Today we’ve launched our latest website and are excited to share a bunch of new features with you.

Enjoy!

Amber Laine: A Great Source for Fashion, Amber, and Gemstone Jewelry

Be sure to check out our sister store Amber Laine. You’ll find a selection of 100% natural top-of-the-line amber jewelry which you would expect from our site, but Amber Laine also focuses on a unique line of Fashion Jewelry and Gemstones as well. Whether you’re looking for a turquoise bead necklace, a amethyst ring, or a sterling silver pendant, or a fashion bracelet you’ll find it at Amber Laine. Our eclectic, always updated collection of jewelry is something to see, and our low prices are something to act quick on! Check out 2010 hot jewelry trends, and get a heads up on 2011′s upcoming looks.

Tags: Amber Jewelry, amber laine, amethyst, celebrity jewelry, costume jewelry, fashion jewelry, gemstone, turquoise