Language

Resources for Students of Russian

This extensive list of web resources to assist students learning the Russian language was developed by SRAS and is now hosted on Folkways, part of the SRAS Family of Sites! Disclosure: Some of the links below are affiliate links. This means that, at zero cost to you, we will earn an affiliate commission if you […]

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The Talking Turkish Phrasebook

The Talking Estonian Phrasebook

Recipes

Halva, Halwa, Helva: A Hundred Sweets from Dozens of Cultures

Halva, the rich dessert well-loved across many cultures, is so densely filling it almost manages to feel like a meal – and not an entirely unhealthy one at that. There are more than one hundred varieties of halva, an ancient dish whose base can be flour, ground seeds or nuts, or fruit, depending on where […]

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The SRAS Guide to Fermented Milk

Oromo, Orama, Khanum: A Turkic Pumpkin Delight

National Narratives

Georgia’s Story of Identity: Heroes, Memory, and Meaning

What shapes Georgian national identity? The answer is complex and personal, but one key element is the Georgian national narrative. This includes the heroes and pivotal events taught in schools, the places central to the nation’s collective memory, and the language and beliefs that frame its worldview. A national narrative goes beyond history: it is […]

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Poland’s Story of Identity: Heroes, Memory, and Meaning

Serbia’s Story of Identity: Heroes, Memory, and Meaning

Holidays

Latvia’s Līgo: A Midsummer Tradition That Outlived Empires

Līgo is the most important of Latvia’s national holidays. Marking the summer solstice and rooted in pre-Christian pagan traditions, it began as an ancient ritual to secure a good harvest and help communities endure the long, harsh Lativan winter. Despite centuries of foreign occupation and efforts by both Catholic and Soviet authorities to suppress it, […]

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Kupala: Ancient Slavic Midsummer Mythology and its Modern Celebration

Kulich, Paska, Nazuki: The Easter Breads of Eastern Christianity