My Virtual Reading Room

Watercolor by Eric Christensen, and I got it from levkonoe 

Do join us at holiday_wishes if you can :)

The more, the merrier!

We've just had our first entry for the season ;)

A few days late, I know, but I just came upon this post from 4 days ago and had to share ;)
~~~

И уже по традиции в этот день - байка из книги "Изюм из булки".

And, as has become traditional for me on this day--a tale from my book "Raisins from a bun".

ЕЛКИН И ЕВРЕИ

В сентябре 2006-го от р.Х. я имел неосторожность поздравить человечество с Новым годом по еврейскому календарю. Так и написал в собственном интернет-журнале: «поздравляю ВСЕХ».

Ибо из Ветхого завета выходит, что все люди в той или иной степени евреи…

Лучше других шутку оценил товарищ Елкин из Хабаровска: он накатал на меня ябеду в Генеральную прокуратуру. Елкин потребовал привлечь меня к уголовной ответственности, потому что своим поздравлением я «нарушил ст. 26 Конституции РФ, в которой записано право человека самому определять свою национальность»!

Ну, меня позвали в прокуратуру. Как говорится, здрасьте, давно не виделись. Следователь сказал: давайте, пишите пояснения. Я довольно раздраженно спросил: с какого места? Он довольно неосторожно ответил: как можно подробнее.
Тогда я написал: Авраам родил Исаака, Исаак родил Иакова…

ELKIN AND JEWS

In September of year 2006, A.D., I, incautiously, wished everyone a Happy Jewish New Year. That's exactly what I wrote in my personal online journal: "I wish EVERYONE a happy holiday."

Because, according to the Old Testament, all people are Jews, to a greater or lesser extent...

Comrade Elkin from Khabarovsk appreciated my little joke more than everyone else: he sent in a complaint about me to the Attorney General. Elkin demanded that I be held criminally responsible, because, with my holiday wish, I "violated Article 26 of the Constitution of the Russian Federation, which states that a person has the right to determine their own nationality"!

So, I was called into the law office. As the phrase goes, why, hello, been a while, hasn't it? The prosecuting attorney said, all right then, write an explanatory note. I, rather irritatedly, asked, "Where should I start?" He, rather incautiously, replied, "Be as detailed as possible."

Then I wrote: Abraham begat Isaac, Isaac begat Jacob...( Read more... )

Info is here: holiday-wishes.dreamwidth.org/119278.html

Please do join in :)

Look at the darling knitted mice ezhiuke  made for me! :)

The chef mouse and plate were a gift from my husband, a few years ago, on Valentine's Day. The recipe is spot-on, I think...;)

Happy Easter, to everyone who's celebrating it :)

Wishing everyone sunshine and good cheer :)

9 Things You Didn't Know About Rosh Hashanah

(Happy 5780, btw--may we all be inscribed for a good year)

The Crushing Culture of Parental Expectations

"At Least It Isn't Cancer!" by the Complex Child website

An unusual zebra found in Kenya, by The National Geographic, with photos

How Do People Learn to Cook a Poisonous Plant Safely?, by BBC News

Some people said they'd like to hear more--hope you enjoy ;)
~~~

Ded Moroz ("Grandfather Frost") is the Slavic equivalent of Santa Claus, but he acts just a bit differently from the St. Nick that Americans are used to. He does wear a long red fur coat and fur-trimmed hat, but Ded Moroz also carries a magical staff, and instead of sneaking down chimneys to deposit gifts before disappearing into the night, he actually shows up at New Year's parties to give kids their gifts. He’s also accompanied everywhere by his granddaughter Snegurochka, the Snow Maiden.

( Read more... )Additional ETA: https://venividiv0dka.wordpress.com/2015/12/31/how-russians-celebrate-new-year/
~~
Here's one of the traditional children's songs:

https://youtu.be/VAG1UTfDSjY


( Lyrics and translation: )

...If not, do take a browse in the comm!

The wishes can be anything, really...and perhaps you might even come across some wishes you could fulfill? :)

Here's the comm:

https://holiday-wishes.livejournal.com/

And, in case you're curious, here's my wishlist:

https://holiday-wishes.livejournal.com/2266506.html

...If not, do take a browse in the comm!

The wishes can be anything, really...and perhaps you might even come across some wishes you could fulfill? :)

Here's the comm:

holiday-wishes.dreamwidth.org/

And, in case you're curious, here's my wishlist:

holiday-wishes.dreamwidth.org/30871.html

On Dreamwidth: holiday-wishes.dreamwidth.org/

(yes, I am co-moderating with doranwen again :))

and on LiveJournal: holiday-wishes.livejournal.com/


Do come and join the fun!

...it's mentioned in one of my longtime favorite books, "Colas Breugnon" by Romain Rolland
~~


The St. Martin's festival is celebrated on 11 November, or sometimes the night before, in some regions of the Netherlands, Flanders, northern France, some German-speaking areas, Portugal, Hungary and on the island of Sint Maarten.

The children walk past the doors, sing songs and get something tasty.

(from the Vintage Postcards FB page)

(this holiday season/New Year's)

...To absent friends...

"Но те, которым в дружной встрече
Я строфы первые читал…
Иных уж нет, а те далече,
Как Сади некогда сказал.
Без них Онегин дорисован.
А та, с которой образован
Татьяны милый Идеал…
О много, много Рок отъял!

Блажен, кто праздник Жизни рано
Оставил, не допив до дна
Бокала полного вина,
Кто не дочел Ее романа
И вдруг умел расстаться с ним,
Как я с Онегиным моим.".

"But those, to whom, at an amicable gathering
I had been reading the first verses of my book...
Some are no more, and others are far away,
As Saadi had once remarked.
I finished sketching Onegin without them,
And she, from whose pattern
The lovely image of Tatyana was formed...
Oh, how much, how much has Fate taken away!

Blessed is he who left the feast of Life
Early, not drinking the full glass of wine
To the the lees,
Who hadn't finished reading Her Novel
And was able to part with it suddenly,
As I part with my Onegin."

(Pushkin, the last lines of his novel in verse "Eugene Onegin")

[and no, I don't quite agree, but I thought it might interest some of you to see the full quote. It was the first four lines that I was really thinking of.]

Горячий привет

Прислала мне тётя печенья, конфет,
Варежки, шарф и горячий привет.
Вот варежки, шарф и конфеты с печеньем.
Но где же привет?

Я смотрю с нетерпеньем.
И с чем он? С грибами, с капустой, с вареньем?
Наверное, мама привет этот прячет,
Чтобы остыл. Видно, очень горячий!

Warmest Regards

My auntie sent me some cookies and candy,
Mittens, a scarf, and warmest regards.
Here are the mittens, the scarf, and the cookies and candy.
But where are the warmest regards?

I look for it, impatiently.
And what is it filled with? Mushrooms, cabbage, fruit preserves?
Maybe Mom is hiding this warmest regards
Until it cools off. It must be a very hot one!