For everyday occasions, it’s not customary in Russia to issue invitations in writing or well in advance. Russians tend to make invitations further in advance for big celebrations such as a wedding, house-warming, big anniversary if it is going to be celebrated at a restaurant, then you may get a beautiful card with the invitation. Most often Russians issue an invitation in person or over the phone 3-4 days in advance. Usually Russians invite for a weekend or evening to come to their home or datcha (summer cottage).
Gifts
It’s not necessary to ask what you can bring when going to someone’s house. If you ask a Russian, most likely the answer will be “Nothing at all!”, but it doesn’t mean you should go empty-handed. If there’s no special occasion and you have just been invited to someone’s house, you should bring the hostess some flowers or a box of candies. The host usually receives a bottle of good wine that he will put on the served table. It’s polite to bring something for the hosts’ children, for example candies or toys.
Pay attention to the number of the flowers, it should be odd because the even number of flowers is brought to funerals and laid on graves. However, when a hostess receives many flowers the number of all of them may be even, then the flowers are separated in a few vases the way that there will be the odd number in each vase. A single flower is usually not given, even if it’s very beautiful.
If you go to a wedding, birthday, etc., the present should be more serious. It’s not common to present money in Russia unless you are going to a wedding or a house-warming. The present should meet the tastes and interests of the person whom you are giving it. It may be books, DVDs, cosmetics or perfume (if you are sure about them), etc. Just give the gift from all of your heart.
It’s not good to be late at the celebration because it starts when all the guests have gathered. Then they sit at the served table and spend there the whole time. So you come in, greeted, gave the flowers and the gifts and came in the room. The idea of food served buffet style isn’t common in Russia. Even if you are invited to datcha where your host might cook shashlyks, the guests will still be supposed to sit around the table all the time and the hostess will take care of the food and the host will take care of the drinks.
Food
Foreigners may be surprises by the number of different appetizers and salads served. Even if the family isn’t wealthy, the hostess will always make an effort to serve a full table with several varied dishes. The meal usually consists of appetizers, a main course and dessert with tea. When guests arrive the appetizers are already served, so everyone helps themselves to what they want. Appetizers can include various vegetable salads, of course the salad “olivie” (in France it’s called “Russian salad”), raw and pickled cucumbers and tomatoes, marinated mushrooms, fish salt or smoked, caviar, sliced ham, cheese, bread.
At the table the guests say toasts and wishes. If they are celebrating someone’s birthday, the first toast is for the birthday person’s mother, the second one is for father, then there go grandparents and so on and everyone raises their glasses together and clang. First of all they say toasts for those relatives who are alive. During the celebration they say a toast for those who have passed away, in this case the glasses aren’t clanged.
After that, the main course is served. Usually it’s meat, chicken or fish with side dishes. Then there may be a break and the guests can leave the table, rest from all they have eaten, dance or smoke. After the main course the tea with a dessert is served.
You shouldn’t be surprised if there is more food than you can eat, it’s typical for Russians. We think there would better be extra food than not enough.
The Ending
The dinner usually lasts 3-4 hours. The guests are the ones to end it. Then they say it’s time to leave and thank the hosts. They hosts may offer to take some food that is left or sweets. It’s up to the guest to take it or not (I usually do 
). The host may offer to drink the last glass “na pososhok” (the leaving glass).
When the guests are leaving they thank the hosts once again and give them wishes. However, the hosts may go out with the guests to see home for a while and talk as they are walking.
Attribution to Karavanova N.B. “The Illustrated Encyclopedia RUSSIA. Cities, People, Traditions”
Categories: 
Метки: 
