Search by tag «History» 58 results

• Born in USSR: Soviet Slang We Still Use

  Language is an ever-changing thing. It constantly adapts to what’s happening in society. Or does society change because of the language? That’s a topic for philosophers to argue about. What we know for sure is that each era comes with new words, and Soviet times were no exception.

  13.10.2025

• Firsts in Russia: Beauty Pageant, Rock Festival, and More

  Up until the late 1980s, Russian culture was largely – though not entirely – cut off from the international scene. With the downfall of the Soviet Union, however, things had changed. That was the era of firsts. From record-breaking rock concerts to fashion shows, here are some of the major events that shaped modern Russian culture.

  15.09.2025

• Work, Stretch, Repeat: How Did Soviet People Stay Fit?

  Have you ever wondered how people stayed fit before the omnipresent gyms and yoga studios? In the USSR, a workout routine was actually built into every work day. How so? What did it look like? We have the answers.

  18.08.2025

• 5 Cool and Obscure Inventions from Russian History

  Russian history is full of world-famous inventions, be it the Periodic Table, the artificial satellite, or Tetris. But engineering is a science built on experimentation, failure, and ingenuity – so, here are a few of the forgotten, quirky, or prescient projects that continue to impress the imagination even today.

  10.06.2025

• 6 Words With Unexpected Russian Origins

  Balalaika, samovar, matryoshka – ask anyone which Russian words are known around the world and they’ll bring up one of these. But there are many words in English and other languages that we use on an everyday basis without even suspecting that they originated from, or were popularized by, the Russian language. Let’s learn more about them!

  28.04.2025

• 5 More Russian Words With Unexpected Origins

  As you’ve learned from our previous article, Russian, just as any other language, is ripe with fascinating stories of cultural exchange, historical trends, and even comical misunderstandings. What do China and France have to do with Russian oranges – and which pastry might strike horror into language purists' hearts? Find out below.

  17.03.2025

• The Four Lost Letters of the Russian Alphabet

  If you’ve ever seen any text printed or written in Russian over a hundred years ago, you might’ve noticed that the letters are quite different from the ones in use today. And it’s not all about the fonts – the alphabet itself has undergone a number of changes over the decades. So, which letters have we lost along the way?

  03.03.2025

• What’s in a Name: 4 Russian Words With Unexpected Origins

  One of the best parts of learning a language is the opportunity to dig deep into etymology – the study of words and their origins – and discover all sorts of lucky accidents, historic events, and incredible connections between distant cultures. Here are a few Russian words that conceal within themselves some truly fascinating stories.

  20.01.2025

• ITMO’s Yagodnoe Outdoor Camp Turns 65!

  For every member of ITMO.Family, Yagodnoe is more than just a place for sports and leisure. Today, it hosts educational camps, schools, and strategy sessions, as well as city-wide and international environmental projects. Meanwhile, ITMO alumni from all over the world return for a visit even years after graduation. This year, Yagodnoe turned 65, and to honor this date we prepared a little retrospective of the camp’s history, with a view on its future.

  17.07.2024

• Be Your Own Tour Guide: Online Tools for Exploring St. Petersburg

  Have you ever wondered how the historic center of our city looked a century ago? Where did the celebrities of the past live? What is the oldest district? With these four resources from our list, you’ll find answers to these questions and learn even more about the city.

  16.07.2024