Things Russian Brides to Do in New Year

Hello to all and everyone! The whole planet is ready to celebrate the New Year of 2014 tomorrow. And there are some things to know about Russian’s celebration of this holiday. In fact, New Year is considered to be the most favorite holiday in the countries of the former Soviet Union. Russians and Ukrainians believe this holiday the most magical and wonderful in the year. Well, never mind – they ever celebrate it twice! Russian people celebrate New Year’s Eve on both December 31^st and January 13^th (so-called Old New Year), in accordance with the Gregorian and Julian calendars. They prepare for the celebration in advance, buy food, New Year gifts and presents, do up their houses and discuss their outfits very carefully. A popular Russian tradition says that how you celebrate New Year's will dictate the course of the next 12 months. In other words, it means that a successful year’ beginning makes the whole year good. So that is why the Russians and Ukrainians try to dress in fashionable new outfits, to set a good table abundantly spread with tasty things and to make generous presents.

New Year is considered to be mostly a time of family, so many Ukrainian and Russian ladies celebrate this holiday with family and friends. They decorate Christmas trees and their houses with candles, wreaths, lines of colored bulbs. There is a popular belief that the gifts are delivered by Father Frost (Ded Moroz in Russian) and his granddaughter Snow Maiden (Snegurochka) and put under the Christmas tree. So that is why Russian girls used to feast till midnight with their families. People have a great time, drink champagne, eat Salad Olivier (or Russian salad known all over the world and believed New Year must on a feast table) and see old popular New Year movies as The Irony of Fate, or Enjoy Your Bath!, The Carnival Night and The Magicians.

Usually, people spend the New Year’s Eve dinner at home with their extended family. Only after midnight, when the New Year has begun, will young people head out to parties and nightclubs with friends. Late near midnight there is the Presidential speech on TV, and people raise glasses while listening to the chimes and fireworks. While the main country’s clock is counting down, Russians or Ukrainians make their wishes and then drink champagne so their wishes would come true. It is believed that if you make a wish while listening to the chimes it will definitely come true.

Winter in Ukraine. The Most Beautiful Places to See

Ukrainian winter is various and remarkably beautiful. It is quite mild and snowy, especially at the northern and western part of the country. Here are located the most beautiful places of winter Ukraine where you may spend your unforgettable holidays with your lovely Ukrainian lady!

1. One of such magic winter places is Lviv, splendid city in the west of the country. Its miraculous festive ambiance, open and friendly people, a lot of amazing sights with their special mystic history, various excursions (including fascinating costumed night tours) will suit all tastes. If you have never been in Lviv, this winter is the best time to visit it!
2. The other famous and beautiful places of winter Ukraine are ski and SPA resorts of Carpathian Mountains, such as Bukovel, Slavsko, Dragobrat, Tysovets. You will be fond of fabulous landscapes, well-equipped ski tracks and developed service of these places. You may also visit another, smaller and cheaper but not less picturesque than previous resorts, like Yaremche, Kosiv, Beskid, Synevir, Yavoriv. Don't miss a chance to look at Synevir, the greatest and the most beautiful lake of Carpathians. These holiday centers are a incredibly beautiful and romantic.
3. Another beautiful winter place, full of special Ukrainian spirit, is Ivano-Frankivsk, picturesque city that is surrounded with Carpathian Mountains. Cozy ethnic restaurants called “korchma”, delicious national dishes, concerts of ethnic musical ensembles, sincere open-hearted people, wonderful landscapes will be a good reason to come back here!
4. Ukrainian balneological and SPA resorts are quiet and magically beautiful in winter. If you don't like crowd and prefer calm walks along snowy parkways hand in hand with your lady, give preference to such places as Truskavets, Morshin, Svalyava, Myrgorod, Polyana, Kuyalnik.
5. Winter Crimean Mountains and southern coast of Crimea are also worthy of your attention! Deep colors of cold ungovernable stormy sea, picturesque mountain landscapes, rocks with a lot of snow, evergreen trees and plants will present you pleasant memories of winter Crimea!
6. Another wonderful winter Ukrainian place is city Chernivtsi, surrounded by forests of Bukovina. It is famous by its unique culture and arts, by its architecture and museums. Here is located the residence of metropolitans of Bukovyna, present Yuriy Fedkovych Chernivtsi National University, amazing palace that, seems, imitates ethnic embroidery of this region.
7. Ukrainian castles covered with snow are really grand and unforgettable! Castle of Lutsk, Vorontsovsky palace, Akkerman fortress, castle Palanok, Kamyanets-Podilsky fortress, Olessky castle, Kirill Rozumovsky palace, Khotyn fortress, mansion of Kachanovka, Bakhchisaraysky palace, Zolochivsky caslte, Livadiysky palace will share with you their secrets and mysterious history!
Visit Ukraine this winter, spend your holidays with your Ukrainian girlfriend and discover this breath-taking snowy country!

Cheering Up: Important and Useful in Relationship

Ukrainian girls are surely simply the best and the most beautiful in the whole world. They have wonderful and caring character. But no one is protected from being in bad mood. She may be bothered by problems on her work, or by some unpleasant situation which has happened between you, or simply by bad weather. Remember that she always supports You when something happens. So, if something happens to her, You will probably want to cheer up Your Slavic lady!

To begin with, You will have to be attentive. Her changes in mood may be not too noticeable at the beginning, but the sooner You understand that something is wrong – the better. She will surely show You the signals that she needs cheering up. As soon as You see this – show Your interest in her state. Try to be extremely polite while talking to her, as she may be irritated. Ask her about her day and about the reasons of her behavior. Your lady will surely appreciate a good listener by her side, and will probably tell You everything, so You will at least know how to act next. Besides, such conversation will make you both much closer and your love will strengthen.
One of the best ways to cheer someone up is humor. Joking is great, especially if You are good in this, but be careful. If You choose not too correct moment, Your girl may think that You are mocking at her problems. On the other hand, everyone appreciates a person who can make you smile when everything is really bad.
Remember all her favorite things she likes to do. Going for a walk or to some cafe. You surely know such places, or you may try something new. Such step will also pull her out of sadness. Finally, You may make a little present to her. This can be anything she likes – from typical sweets to some really expensive things. Nevertheless, each girl will appreciate a good listener much more than a guy who prefers to shove a bunch of flowers to make her keep silent instead of showing that her inner world is really important to her, and he is ready to take care of her every moment of her life in any situation.

Happy Boxing Day!

Hello and Happy Boxing Day to everyone! We hope Santa was kind to you this year, and you are ready for a long-distance shopping run in honor of Boxing Day. Yes, today is Boxing Day, and we don’t know exactly now why it is called so. Generally, many people have even no idea of the real historical meaning of this name. This day falls on December 26 and has nothing to do with the sport of boxing, in contrast to popular conviction. However, this holiday is a perfect chance to get rid of bad presents you opened under your Christmas tree, lol. Above all – don’t throw off the boxes!

Boxing Day is traditionally associated with the United Kingdom, but today this holiday is observed all around the world, especially it concerns the Commonwealth countries. Have you ever thought about its name? The most common theory concerns on the old tradition when servants were working all the Christmas Day. Landlords and landladies thought it their duty to give the servants “Christmas Boxes”, and so the servants got the free day after Christmas to spend it with their families. As time went by, another “Boxing” tradition appeared – servicing personnel as porters, postmen, doormen were received their gift boxes this day in acknowledgment of their work during the year. There is another theory concerning church boxes. Such boxes placed in churches in order to raise contributions opened the next day after Christmas. This custom is closely associated also with the feast of St. Stephen’s day.
But however that may be, there is no doubt that Boxing Day is one of the most favorite holidays in the year. This day is considered to be after Black Friday the greatest shopping day. They say that Boxing Day is known as a day when “one can splash his Christmas cash”. And, actually, it's a day when almost everywhere there are crowds, traffic jams, and shopping-shopping-shopping! So, if you have not yet chosen the gift for your gorgeous Russian lady, it’s time to buy it – there are great sales. Finally, remember your favorite sports! Football fans wait for the favorite team matches, as this day is very important one in the sporting calendar. So get comfortable and enjoy several reasons together to joy!

The Christmas tree: What Kind of You Have Got?

The best of all gifts around any Christmas tree: 

the presence of a happy family all wrapped up in each other. 

Burton Hillis

Merry Christmas to everyone! Fill up your life with passion, love, peace and happiness! Special words for special people, you see. What does Santa put in your stocking? Hope it were useful things that would bring joy to you. How are you doing today? And though Christmas is a time to share this glorious holiday with family and friends, we hope you’ve got the time between traditional Christmas delicious meals and excellent Christmas pastime to visit out site. Beautiful Russian ladies are just preparing to the winter holidays in the state of great excitement and agitation. Last minute shopping, corporate Christmas and New Year parties, choosing a perfect combination for Christmas outfit – it takes usually a lot of time! And, besides, there’s Christmas tree decoration.
During the whole holiday season, the Christmas tree plays the main role in your home. So it would be properly decorated. But have you ever thought about the real origin of Christmas tree?  In fact, the Christmas tree as one understands it today originated in Germany. But the Germans borrowed it in turn from the Romans, who got this custom from the Egyptians and the Babylonians. Actually, there are no accidents in life and the choice of a tree happens for a reason too. A long time ago, trees that remained green all year had a special meaning for people. Such trees were believed to keep away evil spirits in many countries. Christmas trees were long considered to see as pagan symbols and not accepted by most Christians. This custom became extremely popular after 1846, when Queen Victoria with Her family were sketched standing at royal Christmas tree.
There are different annual fashionable trends on Christmas tree decoration. Handcrafted ornaments from old sheets of music and ancient manuscripts, lace ribbons and vintage ornaments make your Christmas tree traditional and solemn. One and two-colored trends are still popular – “patriotic” trees in red, white and blue; royal trees in shades of gold and bright red; “crystal” trees in silver and navy blue, decorated with bubbles and ribbons only. Shabby chic trees become more and more fashionable, in pale pink and white colors, decorated with hand-made shabby ornaments. Blooming Christmas trees, decorated with traditional poinsettias, garden roses, pale magnolias and hydrangeas, never go out of date. But whatever Christmas tree you have got, all that really matters is love, peace and happiness under it.

Merry Christmas!

Christmas is love in action.

Every time we love, every time we give, it’s Christmas.

Dale Evans Rogers

Hello and Merry Christmas to everyone who has visited us over the last period of time! Thanks so much to those of you who joined us. Christmas is here!

Christmas, this glorious holiday, is a blessed time of year for both adults and kids alike. A joyful, elevated mood is airing everywhere and Christmas cheer keeps every person in high spirit. Christmas is a magical time of love and happiness, joy and miracles. Christmas greetings make people high-spirited all the next year. This holiday means an appropriate opportunity to think about the most valuable things in our life, among them love, family, friends and heart-warming relations. Christmas for the whole world means a time for being grateful for what you’ve get, being thankful about the things that have passed, and being hopeful for looking to the future with more confidence and optimism. We hope this year has been good for you and everyone connected with you – relatives and friends as well as the coming year would certainly be good.
We wish all our members a joyful holiday season filled with romantic spirit and adventurous mood. Christmas is considered to be a time of miracles, so may you meet your special gorgeous Russian lady on Step2Love this particular winter! Let Step2love make it easy and pleasant for you. Christmas is known as a time when spending time together with your beloved person is at the top of everyone’s priority list. Feel closer to your dream of love, family and happiness!
We hope you continue to visit us next year as we have even more amazing events than ever for you.
Don't forget to check our holiday offer – the Exclusive Christmas Gift. It could be your perfect chance to get a GOLD MEMBERSHIP, as it is a matter of common knowledge that Christmas is a time of gifts and presents.
Catch the Christmas spirit and have a wonderful Christmas!

Christmas-Things-To-Do

Hello everyone! Nice to see you again before the holidays! Well, the shopping is all past and done with anyway, the gifts and presents are bought and properly wrapped. It is becoming increasingly hard to ignore smells and sounds from the kitchen. Christmas, the greatest of all the holidays, is just around the corner and you may feel like almost happy now. So, in preparation for this eternal holiday there are some things-to-do in order to celebrate this feast in an appropriate way. Would like to check?

Well, first of all, it’s Christmas mood! It’s impossible to mark the holiday without being happy, invigorating and encouraged. So be inspired! Write down your Christmas movies list and try to keep it. There are so many good-hearted Christmas movies to see – How the Grinch Stole Christmas, Miracle on 34th Street, Santa Claus Conquers the Martians (sci-fi Christmas? Well…why not?), Christmas in Wonderland, Bad Santa… oh, the list of Christmas movies is so huge, that you can find some movies to watch quite easily. Remember the Christmas music playlist! What it could be – relaxing jazz with Duke Ellington & His Orchestra, Western-styled Christmas country music like Johnny Cash or Faith Hill, or classical Christmas hits like Deck the Halls, Hark! The Herald Angels Sing and We Wish You a Merry Christmas. That’s for you to decide!
Hope you remember some sort of traditional Christmas meal or drink. If no, it’s the time now to think about it. There is no smell like eggnog, Christmas punch, mulled wine or hot mint Christmas chocolate, so you feel an immediate Christmas coming. Don’t forget Christmas citrus – oranges, tangerines and mandarins are perfectly associated with this glorious holiday.
And, of course, share the intervening holiday with your gorgeous Russian lady! Christmas and New Year are traditionally considered to be one of the greatest holidays in Ukraine and Russia. It’s a common practice to exchange gifts and Christmas cards, so your lady would be gladly surprised with your sign of attention. It’s the attention not the present that counts, they say, and it is true. So share the Christmas joy with your lady and who knows – you may start the family and spend the next Christmas together!

How to Create a Happy Family?

“Happy families are all alike; every unhappy family is unhappy in its own way”, said Lev Tolstoy in “Anna Karenina”. If it is right, there must be some common basis that will help two close people to create a happy and harmonious family.
So what should you think about at the way to your future marriage with Ukrainian lady? What is important to discuss with your future spouse? What things should you pay attention to?First of all, compare your family values. It is the main basis of happy life together. These values define your behavior in different situations of your future life and can influence to your actions in your future family. Such qualities as mutual respect and support, kindness and assistance, sharing of household, practice of daily routines and fun are gained in the family. Religion and traditions of education, family history can help to form such things.
So the more close are your views to the family and its values, to the religion, family relations, traditions of education, — the more likely is that you can create a harmonious couple. Take into account that family values can also be formed in negative way, like meaningless competition, mutual blame etc., try to avoid such things in your couple.
Discuss with your beloved some rules and norms of your future family. How will you cooperate with the other members of your family – your parents, siblings and cousins of yours and your spouse, your children? What will be permitted in these relations? What behavior and communicative norms are allowed? And what would be better to prohibit in such rules? Note the norms of your two families and make use of the best of them.

In the end talk about your family customs and traditions. These are your special activities that help you to unite your family members and make your family close and amicable. What holidays do you usually celebrate with the whole family? What holidays would you like to celebrate with your friends? What days will be devoted only to yourselves? How would you like to spend such a day? What arrangements should you do before?
So how to create a happy family with one of our Ukrainian beauties from Step2Love? Discuss such things as family values, rules and norms, customs and traditions with your special lady and find your own way to your harmonious wedlock!

Unusual Ways to Spend the First Date

Going for the first date is really thrilling, especially when a gorgeous Slavic girl is expecting something unusual from You. Nevertheless, lots of places to visit with a girl are too trivial and common, she will probably not even remember about such dating. Yet, You may fix the situation and make Your Russian or Ukrainian woman live this day in her head again and again willing to see You again and to repeat experience.

What is the best place to go for a date according to the opinion of the majority? Lots of men will say “cinema.” You should forget about this boring place and take Your woman to the theater! She will manage to feel the whole depth of art sitting behind You and plunging into classics or something modern – according to Your choice.
Another place connected with arts which You may visit is surely a museum. There are lots of various exhibitions available everywhere in any city, so You and Your girlfriend will find something to taste – classical or modern.
If You want to be extravagant, You may offer Your lady... to do some pottery. There are lots of studios which will help You in this question, and you will surely have a good time painting a pot made by you both. After this You may present it to lady – and she will always remember about such   entertainment. But don't forget to warn Your woman that You will have to deal with paint, or she may become really upset being dressed too impractically.
On the other hand, You may spend time much more actively having lots of fun. For example, go to an arcade. Someone may think that this is too childish, but how fun it is! There are lots of games which you may play together trying to beat each others records. After this, You may go karting, which also bring really lots of fun even if You don't know how to drive a real car!
If You are looking for more grown-up games, go to bowling. This type of game is really popular nowadays and almost everyone knows how to play it. If Your Slavic girl is too petite, take her to a billiard. It is much easier to play but not less interesting.
In any case, don't be afraid to be unusual. It is better to seem a little strange than boring and typical as everyone else.

Special Lady this Week

Kristina 
Ukraine, Nikolaev
Age: 24 years old
Star sign: Libra
View Kristina’s Full Profile
1. What are your thoughts about marriage, do you believe in it and have you ever wanted to be married?
I really dream to get married with a right, beloved man. I dream to create the wonderful friendly family and to make my husband the happiest person in the whole world)
2. If you could go on vocation of your dream, where would it be?
Oh! Difficult question) But I will choose Brazilian Carnival!) It will be so wonderful to visit it with my future beloved. Dancing, music, and variety of bright colors! I have no doubts, we will spend unforgettable holiday together)
3. Do you remember your first kiss and your first date?..) How was it?
I was 16 and it happened at the senior prom. It was my classmate, he told me that he was in love with me from the first grade! I even could not think) So, it was my first love...
4. What is your favorite childhood memory?
I remember, how I visited my grandmother in the country. Fresh air, bathing in the river with friends, picking mushrooms in the forest....mmmm, I was so happy to be a child) It was carefree childhood!
5. How would you describe yourself in 5 words?
Faithful, purposeful, loving, caring, athletic)
6. Have you ever engaged in extreme sports or activities?
I adore extreme and adrenaline! And I am the gymnast, I think it is one of the most beautiful kinds of sports and art, and a bit dangerous too) When I took part in competitions and showed my performances, I have always felt both fear and a great pleasure)
7. If you have the opportunity to prepare something special for your beloved, what will it be?
The first thing that comes to my mind, it is the romantic dinner with candles, light music and a lot of romance in every breath...)But, first of all, I will prepare the special dance for my man, I think, he will forget about food)))))
8. Where do you see yourself in 5 years from now?
I really do not know...but I hope I will be in love with my future beloved and, maybe, we will already have our kid or even two of them)
9. What is your favorite way to spend the weekend?
I prefer active rest, go to swimming-pool or walk somewhere with my friends, but, of course, I have some days, when I want to sleep for a long time, lay in my warm bed and to read an interesting book...
10. In your opinion, what makes a great relationship?
To build strong relations is not so easy. It is some kind of job, I think, but if you do everything right, you can create your own wonderful Universe with your beloved man. You need to understand, love, care about each other and to share all glads and problems together.

Happy St. Nicholas Day!

Hello everyone! Today is 19^th of December, and it is St. Nicholas Dai that is considered to be one of the most popular holidays in Ukraine. Most of the countries of East Central and East Europe commemorate this holiday, but the date differ. According to Western calendar, St. Nicholas Day is celebrated on December 6^th, while in accordance to Eastern Orthodox calendar this holiday is marked on December 19^th. Ukraine is among the countries whose traditions are mainly rendered by the Orthodox calendar, so that is why because today the official Christmas season is believed to start.
The tradition of St. Nicholas’ honoring came to Ukraine with Christianity. The saint is usually depicted wearing long white beard, bishop’s hat and cloak, carrying his crook in a hand. St. Nicholas is believed to be the patron saint of students, sailors, soldiers and travelers. In Ukraine, he is considered to be the special guardian of children. St. Nicholas is also known as Nicholas the Wonderworker for the many miracles. Dutch Sinterklaas, American Santa Claus, Spanish San Nicholas, German Sankt Nikolaus – this saint is respected almost everywhere in the whole world.
His name is mostly associated with giving gifts, especially to children. On St. Nicholas Eve the saint is believed to put some presents under the pillows of both very good and obedient children. Bad children would get a rod. Usually, children receive some sweets at this day – there are so-called “mykolaichiks” (a kind of painted biscuit) that mothers put under pillows together with the other gifts. Actually, St. Nicholas day is considered to be the main holiday for children in today’s Ukraine. However, either children or adults look forward to the day of December 19 – children hope to find gifts under their pillows, or adults rejoice high-spirited start of Christmas season as well. It wouldn’t be true to say that children only get their gifts. Sometimes adults also enjoy the presents. It is also believed that one can give and get a purely symbolic gift in order to mark Christmas season’s beginning. It would be a “Happy St. Nicholas Day!” card, a funny key chain, a coffee mug or some souvenirs as well. Your gorgeous Ukrainian lady would be gladly surprised to get such a sign of attention with some warm wishes regarding her native holiday!

Simple Ways to Understand that a Woman Likes You

When You meet an extremely beautiful woman whom You surely liked at a first glance, You face a problem – does she like You the same way as You do? Sometimes the signs are obvious, but not always. Nevertheless, You shouldn't be a psychologist to remember a set of small peculiarities which will almost shout: this woman is interested in You.

A woman may start waiting for Your appearing even when You are not by her side. She will be expecting for the next meeting and trying to keep on communicating to You. That's the great sign that You have all chances to develop what has just started.
Try to look attentively at Your social media pages. You may find evidences that she was looking them through to find more information. You may find likes or comments on Your photos, for example.
A woman which liked You will not give You away to anyone else. Even don't try to talk to another girl – she will interrupt You in all possible ways and will show jealousy. Yet, this will not work with shy women who are not used to showing their feelings.
Showing interest also includes asking questions. She will want to know more about You. Don't try to be dishonest in such situation, or You will spoil all impression. On the other hand, don't overdo and don't start speaking only about yourself, as a woman may think that You are narcissistic.
Look attentively at a russian woman. How is she acting? Is she biting her lips? Maybe she plays with her hair? These are the obvious sexual signs that she wants to see some actions and steps from Your side. Yet, if she suddenly calms down or folds her arms – better leave her in peace, Your attempts will lead to nothing.
Another useful observation is that You may notice that she is copying You. Scientists have proved that when a person likes someone, he or she starts act the similar way. This is also a nice sign that You are “synchronizing” and may become a great couple.
Try to hold an eye contact. If she is attentive and doesn't hide herself, You will see this for sure. Besides, when a person looks at someone pleasant, the pupils become wider as a sign of affection.
Don't avoid being attentive to Your woman, and she will show everything You want to see.