Culture & Customs

In which we unpack what Putin had to say about Ukraine while in France and what it's got to do with a punk band and a folk ditty.

In this week's Odder News: kitty subscriptions, sketchy sledding, and spiteful Valentines.

Embroidery brings 84-year-old Yulia Aleshicheva peace and focuses her mind ravaged by dementia. But thanks to an enterprising grandson, her colorful art has many fans around the world.

A Russian teenager faces 5 years in jail for crimes committed in Minecraft.

“If you had a fight with your wife, then you should ask for forgiveness like this: 'Darling, please forgive me for asking you to marry me….' There is a real chance that suddenly your wife will smile and forgive you. True, wives are unpredictable in their grievances—you can die from violence.”

– A Russian priest's "life hack" for marital struggles.

A security guard at the Boris Yeltsin Presidential Center was fired after defacing a $1 million Soviet-era painting. 

In the face of anxiety and uncertainty, sales of books about tarot cards, karma, and other esoteric, spiritual practices are skyrocketing in Russia.

Where we remember Vladimir Lagrange, the photographer who showed everyday Soviets living their lives.

Performance art, adventure, and psychedelia in a Russian village. What more could you want?

In this week's Odder News: cartoons, a tiny apartment, and an alpaca using the metro.

Two panda bears at the Moscow Zoo have predicted the winners of this year's Olympic Winter Games.

“About the dangers of alcohol, volumes have been written on the benefits of more than one brochure! From lack of education, we walk for five days and crawl for two! And, on Saturday morning, Russia from space looks like.”

– An unintelligible sign alerting Muscovites to the effects of alcohol.