Samovars

A samovar is a heated metal container traditionally used to heat and boil water in Russia. Since Russia had a great influence on the GDR, its politics and products, samovars were also well-known in East Germany. Besides being a household product, it was often used in youth hostels and hotels. Some of the older, antique samo-vars are often prized for their beautiful workmanship. The Russian visitors who gave my parents the samovar were very communicative. They showed my parents how to use it while chuckling and drinking vodka. It was already very close to Christ-mas and snowing outside. Later that evening the adults were sitting in my parents’ living room, drinking tea and vodka, laughing, singing and playing the piano. I felt as though I was sitting in a cozy dreamland.