Guests discover the secrets of decorating a New Year table in Russian style at the National Centre RUSSIA
Guests of the National Centre RUSSIA took part in a workshop
on festive table setting in the "a la russe" style. They learned who
is considered the founder of this style, what makes its table setting
distinctive, and received practical recommendations for decorating their own
holiday table.
"I learned that the founder of the 'a la russe'
table-setting style was the Russian diplomat Alexander Kurakin. I was curious
to see how Gzhel works with red. The host explained everything in detail and
demonstrated each step. It was wonderful that there was a practical part — we
could try placing the plates, cutlery and glasses ourselves. A very interesting
event," said workshop participant Tatyana Bogatova, sharing her
impressions.
The guest also received an invitation to take part in a
workshop at the Department Store RUSSIA of the National Centre RUSSIA. She came
there to explore the range of toys and New Year decorations. Some visitors were
attending a table-setting workshop for the first time, while others decided to
take note of several of the host’s tips for future use.
"A wonderful workshop with interesting ideas. The
mentor explained how to arrange plates correctly and where to place the knife.
Among other things, I learned something new — how far from the plates glasses
should be positioned," said workshop participant Diana Tokmakova.
Experienced mentor Svetlana Krivoshey noted that guests
listened attentively to the presentation on the festive 'à la russe'
table-setting style. She spoke about how table-setting approaches have changed
over time and answered participants’ questions.
"Workshop participants paid close attention to the
beautiful tableware and decorative elements used during the session. By the
way, a vase with flowers, fruit or jam, as well as the symbol of 2026 — a horse
— and Gzhel Christmas ornaments are also placed on the table as decorative
elements. Everything we used during the event can be purchased at the
Department Store RUSSIA of the National Centre RUSSIA. This includes Gzhel
items, Dulevo porcelain and crystal — all of excellent quality," Svetlana
Krivoshey said.
Immerse yourself in the richness of Russian traditions, draw
inspiration from history and culture, and come to the workshops with family or
friends to discover the secrets of perfect table setting and prepare your home
for the New Year holidays together.
Registration for New Year workshops is available on the
russia.ru website in the "Events" section.
Participants discussed the contribution of regional authors and small publishing houses to Russian science and shared their experience of engaging with non-fiction literature.
While preparing for their debut, the children did not simply memorise texts, but also learned how to bring them to life and find their own individual style.
A warm and instructive theatrical production based on the legend of the well-known fairy-tale character from the Vologda region continued the programme of the "Winter Wizards" festival.
