15 Signs You Grew Up In Moscow

If you grew up in Moscow, then you'll definitely be familiar with the signs that every Moscow resident has experienced growing up!

A very beautiful and unique city, Moscow doesn’t get nearly as much credit as it deserves. But what about the people that live there? Trust me, they’re nowhere near as bad as most media outlets make them out to be, although admittedly they do have a lot of odd quirks that can be hard to understand. Here are 15 telltale signs that you grew up in Moscow (or pretty much anywhere else in Russia):

1. You rarely smile

This doesn’t necessarily make you a bad person, it’s just that most Russians rarely smile. I suppose you could put that down to the cold, unwelcoming winters and our somewhat introvert behaviour (which changes as soon as you get to know us better).

2. You’re used to being judged by babushkas

These seemingly harmless old ladies that hang out outside every apartment block entrance are actually pretty terrifying. Not only will they spread false rumours but they will also judge every single person who comes through the door, which includes you. The worst part is that there’s no way of avoiding them. This is one of the of the biggest signs you grew up in Moscow!

3. New Year’s Eve is a big deal

The New Year would have been the most important celebration in your family throughout your time in Moscow. With so many gifts and food, as well as a huge colourful Christmas tree, this day was bound to bring lots of fun and happiness. Forget your birthday – Noviy God is where the party was at.

4. You celebrate Easter even if you’re not religious

The Easter holidays always brought lots of excitement with them because decorating eggs and baking delicious cakes was a lot of fun when you were a child (admittedly, it’s still fun when you’re an adult). You’d go to Church even if you’re not religious just to have your food blessed and then return home to overload on protein as you inhale about 5 eggs at a time.

5. Traffic became a way of life

With a ridiculous amount of congestion on the roads, you’ve become used to constantly being late pretty much everywhere you go (unless you’re fortunate enough to be within walking distance). This, in turn, made travelling quite hellish, but you’ve stopped worrying about it because you know that no matter how hard you try, you’ll be late either way. The traffic is definitely one of the biggest signs you grew up in Moscow!

6. You always wear shoes indoors

No, I don’t mean the shoes that you’ve been wearing outdoors – instead, you change into tapochki, a kind of warm and cozy pair of slippers. In fact, nobody is allowed to enter the house without wearing tapochki, not even your guests.

7. You’ve worn valenki at least once in your life

Or multiple times, especially when you were younger and it was freezing cold outside. You might also remember them being kind of spiky and maybe even a bit uncomfortable, but nonetheless extremely warm.

8. Everyone always talks about the Soviet Union

This is especially true for your grandparents, who would’ve referred to it as the good old days. No matter the scenario, most conversations inevitably mention the past, at least as a point of comparison.

9. You know that carpets go on walls

Okay, you might not have had any on your walls, but you’ve definitely met other people who have decorated their walls with carpets. Why? I don’t think anyone really knows so we’ve stopped questioning it altogether, but it’s a definitely a sign you grew up in Moscow.

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10. 1st of September was a huge event

School always started on the 1st of September and it was definitely no ordinary day. With thousands of school bells ringing across the city and young girls trying to compete with one another to have the largest possible headband, you were bound to come home tired and none the wiser.

11. Tea became a substitute for water

Growing up in Moscow, you drank more tea than water and continue to do so to this day. At this rate, your tea addiction can easily rival that of the British, which is saying something. You’d also stuff yourself full of delicious Red October chocolates and a fair few sushki.

12. You ate lots of mayonnaise

Mayonnaise in Eastern Europe is the equivalent of ketchup in the West – it goes on everything and tastes good with everything. Whether you’re having soup, a sandwich, or a regular meal, you’ll be putting mayo in it. But hey, at least the mayo here is pretty damn good!

13. You don’t understand why caviar is such a big deal

Growing up in Moscow or just about anywhere else in Russia, you would have had caviar on a regular basis, especially with pancakes. Chances are, you didn’t even like it, and if you did it was still no big deal. Why does everyone else seem to treat it as a delicacy?

14. Durak is your favourite card game

You would have been taught to play it at a really young age, which is how it became ingrained in your memory for the rest of your life. To be fair, it is a fun game, although there is always at least one person in the group who decides to cheat.

15. You’re at least a bit superstitious

It still makes you uncomfortable when someone decides to whistle indoors. It’s also terribly upsetting when Westerners just laugh at your explanation – there’s nothing funny about a death omen, now is there.