For more than 20 years, the Russia State Fund of Precious Metals and Precious Stones (‘Gokhran’) has been holding an annual competition among jewelers. And the best works are added to its collection. 

Tangerines from Morocco, processed cheese from Finland, canned vegetables from Hungary and Bulgaria – Soviet housewives knew how to make an impressive holiday table spread.

This phrase is part of a proverb that goes as follows: “Не все коту Масленица, будет и Великий пост” (“Ne vse kotu Maslenitsa, budet i Velikiy post”) or “not all the time is Maslenitsa for the cat, there will be Great Lent”.

"The delight with which the residents greeted us brings the greatest honor and glory to the Russians. From the very gates of St. John to the soldiers' quarters, both sides of the streets were dotted with inhabitants of both sexes," reported Lieutenant Pyotr Balabin.

In the West, October 31 is the eve of ‘All Saints' Day’, while, in Russia, it's ‘Veles Night’ after sundown and before dawn on November 1!