"Thank God no one is writing any filth. Everything somehow really worked out very soulfully. This kind of thing is a sincere message from one to the other."

–  A representative of the Omsk ritual company “Heritage,” explaining the response to a New Year’s letter-writing campaign for the deceased, headed by a very punny Dead Morose.

A little girl from Moscow just asked for a robotic toy dog, but instead, she got a rather unusual tale from one of Russia's head political leaders. 

In Russian, neither a Scrooge nor a Plyushkin be!

The pirog is quite capable of holding the flag as the most important dish in Russian cuisine. It is a filling, generous, and hearty meal, containing all the major food groups (vegetables, animal protein, grains, and bread) rolled up in one.

In this week's Odder News, stay out of the elevator, be careful where you ice skate, and Ivan Urgant says goodbye to 2021 in grand fashion.

"Since I am also a lawyer, I can act as an attorney for Father Christmas, and remind the plaintiff that Father Christmas fulfills wishes and gives gifts only to good girls and boys. Let him analyze his behavior and, perhaps, find something that has prevented Father Christmas from presenting him with gifts for the New Year holidays. This will be the main line of defense."

–  On December 23, Russian President Vladimir Putin offered to defend Father Christmas after a St. Petersburg lawyer sued the gift-bringer.

A holiday survey detailed Russians' preference for gift-receiving.

A granddaughter of Father Christmas who is blonde, slim, and very kind? This year’s Snow Maiden doesn’t seem to fit the bill.

A delightful Soviet winter tale about children, a big holiday tree, and the true meaning of Christmas: communism.

A Russian tree retailer lends some tips on how to land the perfect spruce you've been pining for. 

Ever wonder about the ideal police officer every Russian citizen dreams of? Look no further!

A thoroughly incomplete list of ways to scratch your Dostoyevsky itch ahead of his 200th birthday.