The unique bathing tradition has been present within society since ancient times. Each nation had its own type of baths where people would go to freshen up, relax and recharge their batteries. However, the temperature of the water and air, the level of humidity and the bathing rituals varied from country to country. Ancient Egyptian […]
A visit to the steam room is a traditional ritual that has been a part of different cultures and national customs since time immemorial. It has long been recognised that this type of bathing ritual strengthens the immune system, improves the cardiovascular system, speeds up the metabolism, removes toxins and rejuvenates the skin. In fact, […]
It’s a Russian Banya week at Pushkin House and I had an amazing opportunity to speak to “Young Pushkin” Madeleine Cuckson about my mission to bring Banya to the world. In this podcast we talk about the history of Russian banya in London – how it was brought by Jewish immigrants from Russia in 19th […]
While Banya No.1 opened as recently as 2012, the story of Russian bath houses in London goes back much further. It all began in Odessa in the 1820s during the Russian Empire. This is when the first anti-Jewish pogroms (targeted anti-Jewish riots) occurred. The reason for these violent attacks was that there had been rumours […]
The original version of this artwork was first published in 1988 on the cover of the widely popular magazine Ogon’ok and it made the artist famous in the Soviet nation, but perhaps not in the best sense. Soviet readers were indignant and demanded punishment for the manifestation of pornography and the disrespect for the braces. […]