Surviving holidays with a Russian Woman: Women’s Day and Birthday

Posted on May 9, 2011 by admin
Holidays are a very important part of Russian culture and if you were paying attention to my previous articles you should know how to make her first New Year with you special and memorable. Two more holidays which you have to pay special attention to are Women’s Day and her Birthday. In this article I am going to give you suggestions on how make these holidays with a Russian woman extra special.
Because my husband tends to forget Women’s Day every year (even though I nag about it throughout the year), I am going to remind you again: make sure you don’t forget about this holiday. It is very important for a Russian woman. Women’s Day is celebrated on March 8th and is an official holiday in Russia and most Former Soviet Union countries. It is as important for Russians as Thanksgiving and Independence Day are for Americans.
Womanhood, motherhood and femininity are celebrated on this day and men are expected to give women flowers, gifts and lots of compliments. This is the only day in the year when it is appropriate for random men on streets give women compliments and wish them Happy 8th of March. Male co-workers frequently organize parties for women they work with and even school kids are giving gifts to their female classmates, siblings, mothers and grandmothers.
It is hard to describe the beautiful atmosphere of this holiday and it will be impossible for you to recreate it, but you can do some things to help your Russian woman miss it less and by making her feel special.
Remembering this holiday and buying a gift in advance would be your first step. Don’t get her kitchen utensils (you can get these some other time), get something more personal and/or romantic. Jewelry, perfume or even a stuffed animal are good “female” gifts for this type of holiday. As an addition to your gift, on 8th of March buy your wife flowers and take her out for dinner. If your schedule allows, you may take her out for movies or on a romantic walk You cannot overdo her first 8th of March in a new country, because unless you live in a Russian community you will be the only male who knows about it and there fore the only male who will give her special attention and appreciation.
Your wife’s birthday is equally if not even more important that 8th of March. Once again, since her family and friends are far away, all pressure is on you, so you have to try and make it perfect. Her birthday is a BIG deal, so don’t let her do any housework or God forbid, fight with her. Russians like to celebrate birthday with family and close friends, with lots of food, gifts and toasts. Her first Birthday away from her loved ones will be hard, so try to treat her like a queen. Take her out for dinner, buy her a nice present or three, do housework for her and tell her how much you love her.
If you already have friends which your Russian wife feels comfortable with, invite them to celebrate her Birthday as well. Keep in mind though, that in Russian culture if you invite someone to a restaurant to celebrate your or your spouse’s Birthday, you are expected to pay for all the food and alcohol, so if you are inviting Russians, expect to pay for everyone. If you don’t feel that generous, but still would like to throw her a nice birthday with Russian friends (if she has any already), invite people to your home instead.
If you can take some time off work and take her to a romantic Bed & Breakfast trip instead, this will make her happy as well.
In Russian culture they say that it is not the gift that matters, but the effort and attention. If you try hard to please her, no matter what you end up doing, she will feel loved and be happy. Her first birthday and 8th of March with you may turn out to be her best ones yet.

Holidays are a very important part of Russian culture and if you were paying attention to my previous immigration relationship articles you should know how to make her first New Year with you special and memorable. Two more holidays which you have to pay special attention to are Women’s Day and her Birthday. In this article I am going to give you suggestions on how make these holidays with a Russian woman extra special.

Because my husband tends to forget Women’s Day every year (even though I nag about it throughout the year), I am going to remind you again: make sure you don’t forget about this holiday. It is very important for a Russian woman. Women’s Day is celebrated on March 8th and is an official holiday in Russia and most Former Soviet Union countries. It is as important for Russians as Thanksgiving and Independence Day are for Americans.

Womanhood, motherhood and femininity are celebrated on this day and men are expected to give women flowers, gifts and lots of compliments. This is the only day in the year when it is appropriate for random men on streets give women compliments and wish them Happy 8th of March. Male co-workers frequently organize parties for women they work with and even school kids are giving gifts to their female classmates, siblings, mothers and grandmothers.

It is hard to describe the beautiful atmosphere of this holiday and it will be impossible for you to recreate it, but you can do some things to help your Russian woman miss it less and by making her feel special.

Remembering this holiday and buying a gift in advance would be your first step. Don’t get her kitchen utensils (you can get these some other time), get something more personal and/or romantic. Jewelry, perfume or even a stuffed animal are good “female” gifts for this type of holiday. As an addition to your gift, on 8th of March buy your wife flowers and take her out for dinner. If your schedule allows, you may take her out for movies or on a romantic walk You cannot overdo her first 8th of March in a new country, because unless you live in a Russian community you will be the only male who knows about it and there fore the only male who will give her special attention and appreciation.

Your wife’s birthday is equally if not even more important that 8th of March. Once again, since her family and friends are far away, all pressure is on you, so you have to try and make it perfect. Her birthday is a BIG deal, so don’t let her do any housework or God forbid, fight with her. Russians like to celebrate birthday with family and close friends, with lots of food, gifts and toasts. Her first Birthday away from her loved ones will be hard, so try to treat her like a queen. Take her out for dinner, buy her a nice present or three, do housework for her and tell her how much you love her.

If you already have friends which your Russian wife feels comfortable with, invite them to celebrate her Birthday as well. Keep in mind though, that in Russian culture if you invite someone to a restaurant to celebrate your or your spouse’s Birthday, you are expected to pay for all the food and alcohol, so if you are inviting Russians, expect to pay for everyone. If you don’t feel that generous, but still would like to throw her a nice birthday with Russian friends (if she has any already), invite people to your home instead.

If you can take some time off work and take her to a romantic Bed & Breakfast trip instead, this will make her happy as well.

In Russian culture they say that it is not the gift that matters, but the effort and attention. If you try hard to please her, no matter what you end up doing, she will feel loved and be happy. Her first birthday and 8th of March with you may turn out to be her best ones yet.