Show & Tell ~ Russian Heritage

Both of my parents were born in Russia in the 1920’s. They escaped into Iran and then met each other, were married, and immigrated to the U.S. shortly after WWII. I have a collection of Russian lacquer items and other souvenirs my parents brought back from more recent trips to Russia. Some of the items I acquired here in the U.S.

 Samovars

The little silver finish one is a gift from my SIL Christina that she found at an antique mall.

Lacquer Boxes with Fairy Tale Scenes, the larger one on top was an anniversary gift from Dear.

Matroyshka Collection

Chai-kneeks

Wooden Spoons and Cups

Russian Barbie (Katie’s)

Winnie the Pooh in Russian

This was one of the dreaded school books we used. I had to go to Russian School on Saturdays. I thought this was the worst punishment in the world! Sometimes I’d hide when it was time to go and then when they found me I would stomp my feet and declare “I don’t want to go to Russian School.! I’m an American! “

This is the group of close friends and family that immigrated to the U.S. from Iran after WWII. They were close even though they were from different religious backgrounds, Russian Molokans, Russian Baptists and Russian Orthodox.

There are more Show and Tell Friday sites to see at There’s No Place Like Home.

My photos are being held hostage at the Photobucket site as of July 2017.

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About Ellenhttps://happywonderer.com/I am a wife, mother, baba (grandmother) and a loyal friend. Jesus is my King and my hope is in my future with Him.

43 thoughts on “Show & Tell ~ Russian Heritage”

  2. Wow…What an amazing story, amazing collection. These are the stories that we need to get in the media today. To maintain a unique heritage one went on Saturday, the rest of the week one lived as an American. Culture respected, and country respected.

    I wish the immigrants today would stop demanding and learn from our previous immigrants!!

    Excellent Show and Tell!

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  3. Oh, that’s why I LOVE Show & Tell! You always learn so many interesting family stories! Thanks for sharing all the treasures!

    Best wishes, Anita

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  4. These are treasures indeed! So beautiful a collection and I really enjoyed learning of your family heritage. I say a hearty “AMEN” to Jennifer’s comment!

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  9. Fascinating story and artifacts! I’d love to hear some Russian fairytales. Good for your parrents for sending you to Russian school. I’m sure you are grateful now.

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  13. What a fabulous collection of special treasures! My little girls have a Russian Matroyshka(??) that they just love to play with. I didn’t know what it was called until today. 🙂 They’ve always called it their “Mary doll” and have so much fun taking it apart and putting it back together.

    Thanks for sharing!

    Blessings,
    Mrs. C

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  16. What a wonderful collection!! I’ve always loved how colourful Russian items are….I just love those boxes with the fairytale scenes on them!! Beautiful! xo

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  17. Beautiful story. Thank you for sharing.

    My grandmother’s parents left Poland in 1919 and met on the boat on the way here–they married when they got here. We have a similar collection of Polish things around here–and though I never got to go to Polish school, I did spend 3 months in Poland while in college and got to meet our family there. I wish I had learne dmore of the language when I was young.

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  18. I so look forward to meeting you someday and learning more of this amazing heritage. Kathy and I have never have the time to just sit and talk like this (lots going on the few hours I am with her & L.)
    I would love to know the “rest of the story”!
    Blessings Ellen

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  21. What a beautiful collection. We see some of these items in our community quite often. We live near a town (featured in this month’s READERS DIGEST) which has a large Russian community. My girls and I have even given the egg painting a try. WHAT WORK! Yours are gorgeous.

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  23. These are so cool. Your kids are so lucky to have these things passed on to them. But mostly, they are lucky to have your stories — to know where they came from — who the people are that ultimately made them into the people they are.

    I’m an adopted kid, so family history is really important to me.

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  25. A beautiful collection, both for the family heritage aspect and just sheer loveliness of color and pattern. The intricacy and colors of the designs have always fascinated me, not just Russian, but Eastern European also. You can spend a long time just looking at them and not get bored. I have a couple of acquaintances who collect those lacquer boxes and matroyshkas, so have seen many of them in person.

    Your comment about not wanting to go to Russian school because you were American reminded me that back in our elementary school days, there was all that talk about the A-bomb, and I remember being afraid of “the Russians” thinking they were going to bomb us. If you also encountered that kind of thinking, I imagine it must have been a little difficult for you… I often wonder how my German grandfather got along during the first and second world wars. He came through Ellis Island in 1910 from Austria-Hungary. Unfortunately, family stories did not get handed down from his side of the family. My mom never told us, and we never thought to ask when we were younger.

    Sara, when I was in elementary school kids would come up to me and say “Heil Hitler” and put their arm and hand up into my face. This was a really tough time to be a Russian, German, or Japanese kid!

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  26. I love Winnie the Pooh in Russian! Love the tea set and lacquer boxes, too. How neat to have these things from your heritage. I can sympathize with not wanting to go to school on Saturday!

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  29. A lovely sharing. I know a lady from Russia living here. Her youngest child had a total different experience. No Russian school.
    The family decided to only speak English until she stomped her feet and said; we are Russians living in SA, at home we must speak Russia.

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  32. Such a wonderful show and tell, Ellen! I am sitting here with my girls and we are wondering what fairy tales scenes are on the boxes..we love them! We also love your Matroyshka dolls…just beautiful! Thank you for sharing such wonderful treasures with us!
    Kelli

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  33. I am so very glad I stopped by to see your Show and Tell.
    Just a wonderful collection to show your heritage.

    Thanks for sharing,
    Connie

    Mine is up.

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  34. I love the lacquer fairytale boxes-never seen anything quite like them. My mother collected Matroyshka dolls. So much detail and color in every piece-a beautiful collection.

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  36. What wonderful treasures! What are samovars used for? They are all so beautiful! I love the wooden spoons!

    Mighty Mom, Samovars are used to heat water for tea (chai).

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  37. such wondeful treasures. I have a few of the lacquered items as well. The dolls are so beautiful. My parents had a samovar sent to them from Russia and many of the other bits you’ve displayed.
    I’d love for you to be able to translate some of the writing . .perhaps some day.
    Blessings.

    Reply

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