The art of setting a festive table in the Old Russian style -

Take the survey

Reading time: 3 minute(s)

In Ancient Rus', eating always marked a celebration. Often, a special reason was not even required for it to be a holiday. However, when a significant date approached, it was customary to decorate the table on a grand scale. Numerous serving items were used for this. It should be honestly noted that you and I cannot even imagine the use of many of them today.

The table and dishes were monumental, massive and stable. And in addition to its practical purpose, this grandeur also had a solemn character. That is why, on large kvass pots, bowls and bowls, ancient Russian craftsmen carved, painted, sculpted and minted. These were a variety of traditional drawings that set the tone for the event and created a special mood during the feast.

Beverage containers

Drinks in Rus' are a separate interesting story. Each drink was placed on the table in a special container. For example, wine was served in korchagi, beer in valleys, honey in bratins, and kvass in kvass houses. All these containers had a characteristic shape. At the same time, they could be made of metal, wood or clay. The Endovs and the brothers were similar to each other and represented a kind of ladle from which each guest could scoop up a drink with his own cup. The shape of each container was appropriate, based on whether it was necessary to keep the drink warm or cold. To maintain the temperature, special lids were often used, which, in turn, also served as an important decorative component of the serving.

Endova

Bro

Strong drinks were drunk from niello- or enamel-covered glasses, charms and stops. The predecessors of modern glasses typically had heavy, thick stems for greater stability, and even lids at the feet. The most festive were cups made of bone, glass and expensive wood. They were then filled with wine and presented to guests at feasts.

Kvasnik

Event decoration

You can hold a party at any time of the year. In each season, the Russian people had many interesting customs and traditions that can be played up in decoration.

The mood will be different. For example, in winter you can use Maslenitsa motifs, and the holiday will be more fun, bright, and exciting. In the summer - remember the holiday of Ivan Kupala, and then the evening will become more mysterious and active.

You can celebrate outdoors, at home, in the country, and even in a cafe or loft. It is the first three options that are preferable, since the Russian folk style will require additional decorations - it is better to install them without limiting yourself to the confines of a rented room.

Interior details

Party decor won't be complicated, but it will take a lot of little things to create the right atmosphere. The convenience is that you can ask friends for help - most probably have something suitable for decoration on their mezzanines.

Decor elements:

Wildflowers, ears of corn, straw. Poppies and sunflowers are perfect for fresh or artificial flowers.
Bundles of bagels, rowan beads, bags of herbs. A bold decision is to use paws and felt boots as vases for flower arrangements.
Toys, dishes, paintings in the style of Khokhloma and Gzhel - traditional Russian patterns - will add atmosphere.
Great find - musical instruments. Balalaika, button accordion, harp, bells. If it is difficult to get them, you can make props. Then they will become excellent accessories for photo zones or competitions.
You can cover parquet or laminate flooring with woven striped rugs - those called “granny rugs”.
You can hide unnecessary interior details with bright scarves with folk patterns. For example, cover walls with them or hide equipment.

For the photo zone, prepare a Russian oven. It could be a photo wallpaper or a drawing, but in fact, you can prepare an analogue using a simple table and cardboard. But guests will be able to not only stand nearby, but even lie on the stove, like the hero of Emel’s fairy tales.

Also, such a stove can be adapted under a table and treats can be placed on it. And what if you take out a pot of food from it!

A good idea for a photo zone could be a tantamaresque in the form of fairy-tale characters.

Invitations

This is an important part of the holiday atmosphere. It will not only let guests know what you are up to, but will also set the mood and add intrigue.

However, the text of the invitation must be in the appropriate style. Use outdated combinations: instead of a party - festivities, instead of competitions - fun. You can address yourself as a prince and princess, boyar and noblewoman. Another interesting option is to write the text in the form of a ditty.

Invitation options:

A postcard with a picture of “fun”: sledding, jumping over a fire, drinking tea with bagels, etc.
Postcard made under Khokhloma or Gzhel.
In the form of Russian musical instruments.
Matryoshka doll with a note hidden inside.
Holiday poster.

Bread and pastry boards

Pies, pies, bread and buns were served, as a rule, on beautiful carved boards. Access has always fit perfectly into the overall picture of the topic. They also accommodated a large amount of baked goods.

Buffet table: Main rules for serving

New year in Russia. How long has it been celebrated?

Choosing a party theme in Russian style

There are several options for how to style the holiday:

Party in the style of a Russian village. Sundresses and blouses, flowers, bagels and a samovar are all that first come to mind when we think about the people. This style would be especially appropriate when organizing a holiday outdoors, but at home you can also style the room in the right atmosphere.
Party in the style of Russian fairy tales. Puss in Boots, an old man and a goldfish, Guidon, thirty-three heroes - all those heroes that we once read about. This idea will help you immerse yourself in childhood. The holiday will be colorful and magical.
In the style of the 90s. Bandits, chases, crimson jackets, gold chains - the era of the “Russian mafia” was very atmospheric and unusual. This theme is less associated with folk style, but that time has become an important part of Russian history, and if desired, it can also be implemented.

Drinks and treats for a Russian party

A Russian feast is always plentiful, varied and tasty. The table is literally bursting with an abundance of dishes, but they should not be complicated - rather homemade, rustic.

The menu includes various meat, fish and vegetable combinations, but traditional snacks include:

Appetizers: sauerkraut with cranberries, vegetables, mushrooms, pickled apples, caviar.
Main dishes: roast, porridge with mushrooms or meat, jellied or baked fish, casserole, goose with apples, baked pig.
Among the soups that are associated with the Russian people are borscht and okroshka.
Drinks: tea, juices, compotes, herbal teas, kvass. Alcoholic drinks include mead, berry liqueurs, and vodka.
Sweet dishes: berries, jam or jam, pies, cheesecakes, kulebyaki, pancakes with various fillings and pancakes, bagels. If you are celebrating a birthday, then even the cake can be made in Russian folk style, decorating it with themed figures or made under Khokhloma or Gzhel.

You can make a wide feast or a small buffet by placing small portions of dishes in tartlets.

Decor

A Russian feast is simply unthinkable without a samovar! He will become the central figure of the table. If you can’t get it, make a cardboard figure.

Another important element is a white hanging tablecloth with sewing around the edges. Choose napkins with national patterns.

Dishes made of clay, wood or wicker are suitable. It can be regular or painted. Barrels and tubs will add atmosphere. The devices are wooden.

However, the main decoration of the table should be the food itself. Large dishes - large portions. This is a “feast” in the literal sense of the word, when there is a lot of everything, for every taste, so that your eyes run wild.

What to wear to a Russian holiday

The most interesting part of the evening. It will be unusual for a modern person to wear Russian folk costumes, but this is a new emotion and experience. Finding the right outfit can be tricky, but a sewing machine or costume rentals can help.

For girls:

A single-color loose sundress in blue, red, yellow or green, underneath - a white shirt or tunic with wide sleeves. The sundress can be simple, “rustic” or richly embroidered, “royal”.
The simplest option is modern clothing with an ethnic print in red: a dress, tunic, jacket, skirt.
If the holiday takes place outside in winter, you can wear a fur coat and felt boots and cover your head with a scarf.
Shoes: closed shoes or short boots. First of all, bast shoes come to mind, but they will be too uncomfortable, and you will miss all the dances and competitions.
Braid your hair. Keep your makeup soft and natural.
Hair ribbons, headbands, large earrings, and beads will complement the look. If desired, you can make a kokoshnik from a cardboard base and bright fabric.

How to dress for men:

Traditionally, Russian men's suit is associated with a kosovorotka: a loose, light-colored shirt made of linen or cotton with a characteristic collar. It should be untucked.
You can wear a simple one-color tunic.
Pants – summer light or regular dark, striped.
An important detail of the image is a sash or cap.
When it comes to footwear, the simplest and most comfortable option is shoes.

Men can also choose themed costumes: a hunter going hunting, a fisherman, a miller, etc.

Invitations

When the costumes are finished, you need to write invitations. To do this, you should use parchment paper to give the invitations a more antique look. It's worth writing in ink. Try to make as many curls as possible in the letters. Invitations can be drawn up as follows: Charter.

“I (indicate your name and patronymic) decree that you (name and patronymic of each guest) will appear for the celebration (for what reason) in my chambers (indicate the address and date of the party). Be so kind as to come and taste the treats from my place, take with you a good mood and the breadth of the Russian soul.”

National Russian dishes

Since ancient times, the main national dishes have been porridge and soups. For the first course, soups made from meat with vegetables, mushrooms and grains. The most famous Russian national dish is borscht.

Porridges make up the assortment of second courses.

To prepare porridges, buckwheat, oats, pearl barley and millet are used. Served with meat, pickles, fish and vegetables. Potatoes are one of the national Russian dishes. The popularity of this root vegetable is explained by the great possibilities of its use for preparing various dishes, from simply boiled tubers to potato pancakes and stuffed pies.

You will learn how to prepare delicious potato pies with meat from our video with the famous TV presenter Yulia Vysotskaya.

Famous national Russian dishes include all kinds of pies and pies. Rasstegai is a special type of pie with filling (vegetable, fish, or meat). The signature feature of this pie is the hole in the center. The pie seems to be unzipped. Hence the name. Pies are served as an independent dish or as an addition to hot dishes.

Suits

An important aspect of the party is the selection of costumes for the guests.
To make the right choice, you should turn to the history of your country. After all, each country has its own national style, which in the modern era has become forgotten. And, as for Russian, here it is very rich and diverse. Already starting with clothes, you can notice the breadth of the Russian soul. So, you need to start preparing the costumes. First, count the number of guests: how many women and how many men. There is no need to sew such clothes. It's worth renting . It’s good if you manage to come to an agreement with some theater, because it is there that the most correct costumes of the national style are collected. The basis for a women's suit will be a long-sleeved shirt, red or white. The shirt can be decorated with antique patterns in the form of trim or embroidery. A long or short sundress is worn on top of such a shirt. You can put a kokoshnik on your head or tie a ribbon. Hair can be braided. Also don't forget about shoes. Bast shoes are a good fit here - these are low shoes, they were woven from wood or wicker. To keep the shoes in place, they tied them to the feet with laces, also made from lyca. You can use shoes or boots. For men, a shirt with wide and long sleeves and pants are also taken. Here the men's suit is less varied than the women's. To give it a more elegant look, you can wear a caftan. tafya on your head . This is a small round hat. There are also murmurs and three-headed caps.

At the Russian party

There should be a scenario for a party in the Russian folk style, but it boils down to a simple one: “We walk a lot, noisy, have fun.” However, it is recommended to combine active competitions with quizzes so that guests have time to relax.

The script will help to maintain a compromise between the fun part and the calmer one, so that no one gets bored, but also doesn’t get tired too quickly. Don’t forget that guests will also want to talk and eat, so not all the main part of the timing should be devoted to competitions and games - free time is required.

Competitions and games

Active entertainment options:

"Turnip". A volunteer becomes a rebellious fruit that does not want to crawl out of the ground. He clings to something hard, and “grandfather” grabs him around the waist. If he fails to “get the turnip” in 5 seconds, another person comes to his aid. And so on until a team of five is assembled or the turnip is pulled out.
"Pan". Participants are divided into two teams. They can be called peasants and boyars, kings and princes - whatever you like. Players remember the members of their team, and then stand in a circle, one after another. Music plays, everyone dances, moving from place to place. When it stops talking, it is necessary to push a person from someone else’s team outside the circle. Crossed the line - dropped out. You can do several rounds or a day. The team that remains in the majority wins.
"Pile". The protruding part is fixed to the floor. Players receive rings that they must throw on top. With each move you can change the task: throw from behind, from the side, with your eyes closed, etc.
"Swan, crayfish and pike." Participants are divided into threes. They are tied around the waist with ropes. Everyone’s task is to pull the “cart” to their side.
"Guess who". The presenter tells the player the name of a fairy tale or character. He must explain this word or phrase to other participants without the help of words.
"Baba Yaga". One of the guests receives a broom. The music turns on, the players pass equipment to each other. When it stops, the one in whose hands the broom remains must fulfill the wishes of the other players or perform a funny dance with the broom.

An excellent option would be Russian folk games: lapta, leapfrog, “Burn-Burn Clear.” Do round dances, sing ditties and songs.

Also don't forget about traditional dancing. You can turn on the video and try to follow the masters. Even if it doesn’t work out, laughter and smiles are guaranteed!

Quizzes

Guests can be offered:

Testing knowledge from the history of Rus' or Russian life.
True or false about unusual facts.
Guess a fairy tale or character by description, part of the image.
Musical or craft instrument, its name or purpose.
The meaning of the Old Russian word.