Easter Gifts from Russia

A wooden Matryoshka doll, height 17 cm.

Matryoshka set in a row. One Matryoshka includes a set of

wooden dolls of decreasing size placed one inside the other.

I've been a little bit sick for the past few days. That's why my Easter update is late – but better late than never. I regret that I did not have the opportunity to visit Church this Easter at all. >< Here is no Orthodox Church in my city. The closest church is quite far, in Vaasa. So this was very different Easter to me. In the spiritual sense, my Easter was a poor. I haven't "skipped" the Easter Church for years...

On the other hand, my Easter was a very rich. Before that setback, I had a very pleasant surprise last week. I received two (!) huge parcels from my dear Russian friend Nika!

The parcels included many kinds of beautiful items: Matryoshka doll, two porcelain icons, three Russian T-shirts, a dark Russian chocolate, chocolate fondant, traditional Khokhloma folk art (a painted wooden bowl, scoop, and cutting board), a Matryoshka pencil (crayon), stickers for Easter eggs and decorative stand for Easter eggs, a refrigerator magnets, Moscow postcards, Easter bags, keychain(s), a cute oven mitten... (Please see the pictures on this article.)

Wow – so many lovely gifts that made me happy! Thank you very much, my dear Nikushka! Большое спасибо, ангел мой! （＾—＾）You are too kind to me. I feel that I have not deserved this... You yourself are Heaven's gift to me – a real treasure! ♥

Still a few things about Easter. Finland's Orthodox Christians mark Easter on the Western date, and this year it was April 5. Most of the Orthodox churches base their Easter date on the Julian calendar, which differs from the Gregorian calendar. So, for example Russian people will celebrate Easter on 12 April. Belated Easter greetings to all my friends! And I'm going to celebrate another Easter together with Nika. Праздником Пасхи! ^^

Teisuka

P.S. A Prayer Request. A father of a dear friend of mine is a very seriously ill. It's a horrible disaster and shock to this family! Life is so unexpected, indeed, and that's why it's very valuable, too. I request all my friends to pray for my friend's father. May God ease his suffering, and may God heal him! We all should to remember this: Cherish your loved ones as long as you have them!

Two porcelain Orthodox icons.

Matryoshka pencil (crayon), a refrigerator magnets(Muscovite church, Gagarin, Putin),
cute keychains, e.g. The Olympic Mishka, and wonderful Khokhloma folk art.

Stickers for Easter eggs and decorative stand for Eastereggs (all this has a pattern of
traditional Russian crafts).

Moscow postcards and a cute oven mitten.

A chocolate fondant and a dark chocolate with a specific taste, 72 % cocoa.
 It is very high-quality chocolate called «Победа» (English: "Victory").

These days, Putin T-shirt is trending worldwide. It is very cool
and I am proud to own it. :)

A beautiful Gagarin T-shirt. Gagarin was a Russian Soviet cosmonaut,
and the first human to journey into outer space in 1961.

One more T-shirt with the slogan "I love Russia" – and so I do! ^^