Let me lead you through the streets of Moscow

by Anni Pelmeni

Each nation has a favourite tree. In Canada it is a maple, in Japan - sakura. In Russia it will be a white birch. The mysterious Russian soul is attached to this tree. Don't believe? Make a little social experiment: find a birch in your city part/forest wherever and take your Russian friend there, the chances that your Russian friend will ask to take his/her photo with those birches are about 100 per cent. Russians seem to be unable to pass on an opportunity to hug a birch whenever they see one.

What are the reasons for this peculiar national behaviour? Most likely birches are the most widely spread tree in Russia. Of course there are also pines, but they are less comfortable to hug and to cry your eyes out. Birches are rather slim, smooth and blonds. Perfect choice for a hug [please, do not read any innuendos between the lines, there are none]. In addition to hugs, birches are also a source of very tasty juice. It is a favourite fun for children to collect the drops of birches' juice in the early spring. The other place where birches come in handy is Russian banya. It is from the birches branches Russian people make that famous besom to beat the shit out of each other in a hot banya. Birches were also Russian type of papyrus, for writing done before the paper was introduced. And on top of that footwear, decorations and tableware were also made from birch.

There are many songs that admire birches. The most traditional of all traditional Russian song "In the field there was a birch" is known by every, I underline every Russian person since kindergarten age. For your enjoyment here are two variations of this song: one a traditional performance, the other in rap remix. Enjoy!

[coolplayer width="480" height="80" autoplay="0" loop="0" charset="utf-8" download="1" mediatype=""]
white birch traditional
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[coolplayer width="480" height="80" autoplay="0" loop="0" charset="utf-8" download="1" mediatype=""]
white birch rap mix
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Of course, there are birches in Moscow. In the city and in the park, along the river side and in the inner yards. Whenever you have doubts that Moscow is no longer a Russian city, but a cosmopolitan conglomerate - have a look at those birches. There will be surely someone taking pictures of his/her family hugging the tree close to the heart.

Stumbe it!