Some great foods to try out while you are in Russia are Beef Stroganov (pieces of sauteed beef in sauce), Bliny (a thin leavened pancake), Caviar (processed, salted roe, mostly a sturgeon), Coulibiac (a fish usually sturgeon or salmon), Dressed Herring (diced salted herring), Kasha (porridge), Kissel (fruit dessert), Kalduny (stuffed dumplings), Kholodets (meat jelly), Kulich (easter bread), Kvass (a non-alcoholic beverage), Lymonnyk (a type of lemon pie), Medovukha (honey based drink), Okroshka (cold soup), and Oladyi (thick pancakes).
Some holidays in Russia are New Years Day (celebrates a new year), Christmas (people try to be better and purer), Defender of the Motherland Day (celebrates all soldiers), Spring and Labor Celebration (workers work less hours), Victory Day (celebrates the victory of WWI), Russia Day (celebrates the adoption of the declaration of Sovereignty), and Civil Unity Day (celebrates the independence of Moscow).