There’s something about Russia which cannot be experienced during those hot, sunny months of continental summer. There’s something about Russia which only comes out with the first snowfall, something that can only be seen when those first, fragile white flakes start to fall. As the ground gets covered, more and more, minute by minute, by a layer of glittering frost, that something about Russia becomes a reality. Russia is at its best during the winter. And lucky for Russia winter here is not a brief period that is over before it has even begun, but at least four months long. In some places it is shorter, in the Caucasus for example, in other places it is longer, such as in northern Siberia and northern Far East. Winter is what makes Russia another world.
During the other three seasons of the year Russia and Russians look like most people in most countries; they wear jeans and t-shirts and sneakers. Not until that one sacred season starts, not until those dark and cold months begin, not until then do they go all out fashion wise and not only show but also prove that they are another people, with an utterly different culture. Fur-spotting could and should be considered an official sport for foreigners here. Anything and everything is either entirely made out of fur or has fur trimming or other kinds of fur details. Men and women who respect themselves greatly wear fur hats twice the size of their heads. This can cause a problem when getting in and out of buildings and public transport since removing headwear outside in Russia is considered to get you a cold within five seconds and therefore not an option. Men and women who respect themselves to a lesser degree wear fur hats of smaller size. The same rule also applies when it comes to fur coats – the more respect one has for oneself [or the more money one has in one’s pocket], the bigger and longer and fluffier is the coat. However, all of the above have one thing in common – they are made out of real fur.
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