Russian ProverbsAs the child of Soviet Union immigrants growing up in Toronto, I inherited more than just another culture. There were the odd traditions, the superstitions, the blunt worldview — and an endless stream of Russian proverbs that, to my North American upbringing, felt otherworldly. For over a decade, I’ve been collecting those sayings, pearls of wisdom and stories. Using AI, I’ve started transforming them into visual artifacts. Part archive. Part cultural translation. Part love letter to the strange wisdom I grew up around.
Suitcase without a handle.
чемодан без ручки
This classic Russian idiom describes something that is a massive burden to carry around or maintain, but is too painful or shameful to throw away or abandon.
The old woman didn’t have any problems. She bought herself a pig.
Не было у бабы хлопот, так купила порося
My mom used this idiom as a warning. It describes someone who creates unnecessary problems for themselves when life was perfectly fine. It’s a way of saying: don’t invite problems you don’t need.
Take the cookie, or take the fist.
Возьми пряник — или получишь кулаком
My dad used this idiom to explain what life was like in the USSR and the role the KGB played in it. On the surface, it sounds funny: “Take the cookie, or take the fist.” But underneath, it speaks to the kind of “choice” people were really given. Accept what’s offered, or deal with the consequences.
Just in case, keep a fig in your pocket.
Держи фигу в кармане.
My mom would say something like, “With people like that, you better keep your fingers crossed behind your back.”
What she meant was: don’t let their energy get too close. Don’t let their envy, judgment, or bad intentions jinx what’s good in your life. The thought comes from the Russian saying, “На всякий случай держи фигу в кармане” — just in case, keep a fig in your pocket.
ни рыба, ни мясо
My mom used this to describe someone with no point of view. The phrase is like saying someone is neither chicken nor fish: not one thing, not the other. They don’t take a stand, don’t have a strong personality, and are hard to pin down. It’s impossible to respect them because there’s nothing solid there.