Every summer those who live in suburban areas of big cities experience not very pleasant situation with public transport, when loads of people advance to their country houses or as Russians call them dacha. It is funny that dacha people are ready to go through all inconveniencies (which are crowded and overheated trains and buses, where they spend 2-3 hour, or suffering in their own cars in traffic jams) not to have fun or some rest. No, Russian dachas are not for vacation, they are for hard work (mainly). Even my boss who holds a hotel in the capital city and can afford any vacation she wants (and she does that), she also regularly works at her dacha, growing there cucumbers, potato, berries, etc.


Etymologically the word dacha takes its roots from the word davat’ (to give), because first dachas were given to noble families by Tsar. They were rather big countryside residences of nobility, than usual dachas of current days. Today for an average Russian family dacha is a one- or two-storeyed wooden house that was built usually by their grandparents. A small piece of ground is usually used for vegetables and berries growing, rather than flowers or lawn. Dacha territory often includes banya, kitchen garden and a portable toilet. The dacha season on average starts in May and ends in September (but for different regions of the country the season can differ).

Therefore, crowds of middle-aged Russians instead of spending their vacation somewhere on a beach or travelling the world prefer going to their Russian country houses, where they stand the butts up and work to get some harvest in autumn. Actually, as the modern history of Russia is a consistency of crisis, dacha is a good base for some people. They have in their heads something like that: “If products in stores become unaffordable, I will be able to supply me and my family with cucumbers and potato from my vegetable garden”. But the nonsense of this mindset is that in order to grow something worthy, one should spend a good amount of money, because food doesn’t just grow everywhere.


Taking into account everything that was written above, you might think that Russians are so hard working people, good for them! But the stereotypes say the other thing – everyone knows about how crazy Russians are. So here’s the other thing about Russian dacha people. Yes, they work hard there, but in the end of the day they like play hard, if you know what I mean. It’s nice to have some spirits and eat something delicious, and then may be to play balalaika with a bear – kidding, of course. A category of Russians goes to dacha exclusively to party. They gather a bunch of guests, make shashlik, and drink beer or vodka. Many Russians like celebrating their birthdays in this way, even if they haven’t a dacha – they just do that at somebody else’s dacha or in a park.


May be because of national desire to work with ground (100 years ago peasants were the largest class) dacha became the unique cultural phenomena, and for an average Russian family it is a place, where they spend their physical and emotional potential, as well as entertain themselves.