🇷🇺Multi-Russia: the Republic of Mari El

This series of short cartoons is brought to you by the Russian Geographical Society. Each clip introduces one of Russia’s 89 regions.
Today’s issue is about the Republic of Mari El: one of Russia's ethnic republics, established for the indigenous Mari people, a Finnic nation who have traditionally lived along the Volga and Kama Rivers.

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#BeautifulRussia@TCofRus

🩷 May the healthy and wealthy comfort the sick and poor; may those who haven't fallen help those who have stumbled and broken; may the joyful support the downhearted; and may those enjoying happiness reach out to the weary burdened by misfortune. While you’re sailing with a favorable wind, lend a hand to the shipwrecked; while you are healthy and rich, assist those in need.🕊️

🩷Even if you have nothing else, cry with those who suffer: a great healing comes from the kindness flowing from your heart; and sincere compassion can ease sorrow far more than anything else.🩷

📌 Saint Gregory the Theologian.

Welcome to The Colors of Russia❗️

〰 The nicest passengers of the Moscow metro.

🇷🇺Multi-Russia: Yaroslavl Region


This series of short cartoons is brought to you by the Russian Geographical Society. Each clip introduces one of Russia’s 89 regions.
Today’s issue is about the Yaroslavl Region: a constellation of ancient cities and towns.

#Multi_Russia
#BeautifulRussia@TCofRus

🤎 📚Good Luck and Bad Luck (Russian fairytale)

Once, in a small village, there were two brothers. They were the best of friends all through their boyhood and into their young man years. But then they got married, and that's when the trouble started.

The older brother married a poor woman he loved with all his heart. The younger brother married a rich woman who was as proud as a peacock.

The two wives bickered from sunup to sundown.

The older brother's wife would say, "My husband is the head of the family, so what I say goes!"

The younger brother's wife would sneer, "Nonsense! My father is the most important man in the village. My dowry alone wouldn't fit in three chests, while yours wouldn't fill a small box!"

The brothers grew tired of the squabbling. They decided to split their father's inheritance and live apart.

They divided everything equally, but their luck was far from equal.

For the older brother,every year brought a new child, but his farm grew poorer and poorer. He ended up with nothing—an empty house, empty barns, and an empty purse. He loved his children, but his heart was heavy with worry.

The younger brother, with only himself and his wife to feed, grew wildly wealthy. His chests were stuffed with coin, his barns bursting with grain.

Finally, the older brother swallowed his pride and went to the younger.

"Brother,"he said, "I am in need. Can you help me?"

The younger brother scoffed. "Help you? That's not how the world works. The younger doesn't prop up the older. You're on your own."

A while later, the older brother returned. "At least lend me your horses for a day. I have nothing to plough with."

"Fine,"the rich brother said impatiently. "Take them from the field. But don't bother my workers!"

The poor man went to the field and saw strangers ploughing with his brother's horses.

"Hey!"he shouted. "What are you doing with those horses?"

"And who's asking?"one worker replied.

"They belong to my brother!"

An older worker halted his horse."We know. We're the ones who make them his. I am your brother's Good Luck. He spends his days in ease, while we work for him, day and night, holiday or not."

"Well, I'll be," the poor man said. "And where is my Good Luck? I've lived my whole life and never once laid eyes on it!"

"Yours?" the worker laughed and pointed to a shady bush. "There it is, fast asleep. It sleeps all day and all night."

The poor man's blood boiled. He cut a stout stick, crept up on his sleeping Good Luck, and thwacked it good.

His Good Luck woke with a start, rubbing its side. "What was that for?!"
"For being lazy!" the man shouted.

"Everyone else's Good Luck is hard at work, and you're here napping! I'll starve at this rate!"

"Well, did you expect me to plough for you and your big family? Think again!"

"So I'm just supposed to lie down and die?"

"Who said anything about dying?" replied Good Luck. "If you want my help, you have to leave this village. Go to the city. I'm a city Good Luck—clever and suited for trade, not for digging in the dirt."

"Trade? With what? I don't have a penny to my name!"

"Pah! Take your wife's old dress and sell it. That's your start! Use the money to buy a new one and sell that. I'll be right beside you, I promise. You won't take a step without me."

"Alright," the man said. "But don't you dare trick me."

"You just be brave.I'll do the rest."

The next morning,the poor man told his wife, "Wife, pack our things. We're moving to the city."

"Have you lost your mind? We can't even feed the children!"

"Just do it. We're going."

As they were boarding up their old hut,they heard a loud, miserable wailing from inside.

"Who's there?"the man called.

"Who do you think?"a voice wept. "It is your Bad Luck! You're leaving me behind!"

The man smiled."Don't you worry, you wretched thing. I won't leave you. Wife, empty that chest!"

He threw the chest open. "Alright, Bad Luck, get in. It's clean and dry. A first-class ride for you."

📕To be continued...

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