Since we recently had a post here on how to ride «общественный транспорт» [public transportation] in Russia - or perhaps it was really more about «виды общественного транспорта в Российской федерации» [types of public transportation in the Russian Federation] - let’s take a closer look at «проездной билет» [ticket (on buses, trams, trolleybuses, etc.)] in Russia today. Or more exactly: the interesting phenomena of the «счастливый билет» [the ‘lucky' ticket] in Russia. Maybe not all of my dear readers know what it is that makes a Russian «проездной билет» [a ticket] «счастливый» [lucky]? I thought so! Aren’t you curious now? Well, let me explain.

In Russia there are two ways you can pay for public transportation. Either you can buy «проездной билет» [ticket] that entitles you to ride as much as you like on anything you want to - «на трамваях» [on trams], «на автобусах» [on buses], «на троллейбусах» [on trolleybuses] - for a specific amount of time. Usually the amount of time is a month (when you have to buy a new ticket depends on what Russian city you’re living in, sometimes in the middle of the month, sometimes closer at the end of it for the next month); one can buy a ticket for two weeks at a time also. When buying these kinds of tickets there are all sorts of «скидка» [discount, price reduction; rebate] one can receive if one belongs to a certain group in society. For example, there are «скидка для пенсионеров» [discount for pensioners], «скидка для школьников» [discount for school children], and - my personal favorite - «скидка для студентов» [discount for students]. This is of course the most «экономный способ» [economic; economical; thrifty way] of riding public transportation in Russia. But if you don’t use public transportation on a regular basis you might want to just buy a one-time «проездной билет» [ticket] already when you’re on the bus or the trolleybus. In Russia every bus, tram and trolleybus is still served by a person (usually a woman) selling these - «билеты на одну поездку» [tickets for one ride]. And that’s where the «счастливый билет» [the lucky ticket] enters into the picture.

On every ticket in Russia there are always six numbers. «Счастливый билет» [a lucky ticket] is a ticket where the total of the first three numbers equals the total of the last three numbers. If this is not clear enough, let’s take a look at a «наглядный пример» [demonstrative; illustrative; visual example]:

 This is «несчастливый билет» [an unlucky, unfortunate; unhappy, sad ticket] from «Пермь» [Perm]. Why? Because 9 + 7 + 3 equals 19, while 0 + 3 + 5 equals 8. And 19 and 8 are not equal numbers, not even close!

This, however, is «счастливый билет» [a lucky ticket] from «Екатеринбург» [Yekaterinburg]. How come? Because 3 + 3 + 3 equals 9, and 6 + 2 + 1 also equals 9. Yay!

Russians always make sure to count and add up the numbers on their bus tickets, and if they receive a lucky one, then they’re always eager to inform you of this. One can actually call it a bit of a national game, if not even a kind of national sport! Don’t be surprised if you’re riding the bus with some Russian friends and they ask you: «У тебя билет счастливый?» ["Is your ticket lucky?"]. If you’re not sure how to add up your numbers I’m sure they’ll be more than happy to explain. I do it myself, too. And whenever I receive a ‘lucky’ one I feel like the day is going to be extra good, but when I don’t I just hardly pay any attention at all. Then it’s just a bus ticket and has no influence on my life at all… And I have a hunch that the way I look at this is also the way of most Russians!

Of course the adjective «счастливый» [glad, happy, pleased; fortunate; lucky] is made from the noun «счастье» [happiness, joy, gladness, cheerfulness; fortune, luck]. Other Russian nouns that would be more proper to use in the sense of ‘luck’ would be «удача» [luck; success; fortune; stroke of good luck, good innings] or «везение» [luck, good fortune]. But for some reason the adjective used together with bus ticket is not «удачный» [successful, fortunate, prosperous, lucky]. I guess that Russians like the concept of «счастье» more!

Have you ever received a lucky ticket in Russia? Where? If not, then I hope you’ll be sure to be on the look-out for one in the future!