8 Stereotypes About Russians That Drive Them Nuts

Ready to talk about Russia? I know you are! Expanding across two continents, Russia is the largest country in the world (and thanks to guns and fake referendums, its size is only increasing). It is also extremely diverse in terms of its people, landscapes, and climates. As a result, the country is far too complex to fit any particular stereotype. Not sure what to believe? We’re here to serve up a delicious dish of truth! Here are just of the few misconceptions that people have about the country.

1. Every Man is Named Boris, Every Woman Anastasia

When you think about Russian names, you probably blurt out “every guy is Boris and every girl is Anastasia, or Nastya if you’re Nasty.” Of course, this is not true at all. Boris Yeltsen was indeed the first president of Russia, but who is the current fella who rides on the back of horses and bears bare-chested? Furthermore, while Anastasia evokes images of the Tsarist princess who impossibly survived the Romanov family execution thanks to some Disney magic, there are plenty of Russian girls with other names such as Dasha, and Natasha, and Masha, and Lyubasha. Lots of “shas,” as you see.

2. Russians are Grumpy People

The first thing a foreigner notices when they go to most shops, restaurants, or ticket counters is that they aren’t greeted with a smile or the other features of friendly customer service. Instead, more often than not they are treated with indifference at best or a scowl at worst. It speaks less about Russians as a people and more about the legacy of a Communist system where they didn’t have to treat you nicely because what were you going to do about it? Take your business elsewhere and shop/eat at the other government-owned stores and restaurants? Russians do have a rather blunt temperament, but once you get to know them, you find that some of them are actually okay to get a beer with.

3. Everybody Knows How To Do The Squat Dance

You know the dance I’m talking about. It’s the one where the guys crouch down and kick their heels out. The dance is actually called prisyadka (knee-bending) and is commonly seen at traditional folk performances, but the typical Russian does not dance remotely as good as that.