Staying Warm in the Russian Winter

Staying Warm in the Russian Winter

by Rick Chapo

Considering visiting Russia this winter? If so, you are going to need to learn how to stay warm in the legendary Russian winter. Alas, the Russians have come up with a fail proof strategy over the years.

Mention the Russian winter, and most people think of mind numbing coldness and gulags. Well, the gulags are gone…at least for the moment. The mind numbing coldness, however, definitely is still around. Simply put, it is insanely cold. Allow me to offer a personal experience.

I lived in Russia for a year, ranging roughly from September to September. In November, I thought we were entering the cold period. After all, it was 10 degrees outside, by far the coldest temperature I had every experienced since I was coming from comfy California. Little did I know, February was the coldest month in Russia. How cold? Try …#34;48 degrees where I was, which was the city of Chita in Siberia.

Given this severe cold, who in their right mind would visit Russia in the winter? Well, everyone. Russia is defined by the winters, so it is the best time to go. Many of the big cultural events happen. The New Year’s celebration is legendary. Russians don’t just celebrate from the 31st to the 1st. It is more like the 31st to around January 10th. No liver is safe!

So how are you going to stay warm during this period? Russians have come up with two strategies. The first has everything to do with leather clothing. Thick, heavy leather is fashionable and everyone wears it. Women will actually wear full length leather coats that weigh in at about 25 pounds, but keep them so warm that they will wear short skirts underneath. The men tend to stick to heavy coats. Both keep you plenty warm.

Hat and mittens are also mandatory. The prototypical Russian hat definitely works well. You never realize how important it is to keep your brain warm until it is negative 20 degrees outside. The same goes for your fingers. Gloves sound good, but mittens are better. Why? You can bunch your fingers up together to create heat.

The second part of the Russian winter strategy involves vodka. Probably not a surprise, eh? The Russian saying is “warm on the inside, cold on the outside.” Vodka acts like a heat elixir and it is consumed frequently. Oddly, the blinding cold tends to limit the alcoholic effect of the beverage, but it still can really toss you around.

Russia is a great travel destination if you are looking for something new. You will probably fly into St Petersburg or Moscow. Spend a day there and then take off to other parts of the country to see what real Russia is like.