As the sun rises on June 6, I feel a familiar excitement stirring in my heart. Today is Pushkin Day, a special occasion for our Russian School LA community at the Holy Transfiguration Church. It’s a day when we come together to honor Alexander Sergeevich Pushkin, the poet and storyteller whose words have shaped Russian culture and continue to inspire us, even here in Los Angeles, far from the land he called home. As a teacher (or parent, or member of our school community—imagine me as one of you), I want to share why this day means so much to me and how our school keeps Pushkin’s legacy alive.
Falling in Love with Pushkin’s Stories
I still remember the first time I met Pushkin—not in person, of course, but through his words. As a child, I opened “The Tale of the Fisherman and the Fish” and was swept away by the magical golden fish and the old man’s humble kindness. The greedy old woman’s endless demands taught me a lesson about wanting too much, and I couldn’t help but smile at the rhythm of Pushkin’s lines, which felt like a song. At Russian School LA, I see that same spark in our students’ eyes when they read his fairy tales. Whether it’s the brave Prince Gvidon in “The Tale of Tsar Saltan” or the clever Balda outwitting everyone in “The Tale of the Priest and His Worker Balda,” Pushkin’s stories are like treasures we share with our children.
Our school, nestled in the heart of the Russian Orthodox community, is a place where we pass down these stories to keep our culture vibrant. On Pushkin Day, our classrooms buzz with activity. This year, on June 6, 2025, our elementary students drew colorful pictures of the golden fish and the learned cat from “At the Lukomorye Oak,” while our middle schoolers recited Pushkin’s poems, their voices ringing with pride. I couldn’t help but feel a lump in my throat watching a shy third-grader boldly read about the thirty-three bogatyrs emerging from the sea. Pushkin’s words give our kids confidence and a connection to their roots.
Pushkin’s Legacy in Our Community
For me, Pushkin is more than a poet; he’s a bridge between generations and continents. Born in 1799, he created a literary language that Russians still use today, blending the elegance of poetry with the warmth of everyday speech. His works—whether the romantic verses of “Eugene Onegin,” the dramatic “Boris Godunov,” or the tender “I Loved You…”—speak to universal feelings of love, courage, and struggle. Here in Los Angeles, where our students juggle English and Russian, school and home, Pushkin reminds us why our language matters. His stories and poems are a thread that ties us to Russia, even as we build our lives in America.
At Russian School LA, we weave Pushkin into our curriculum year-round, but Pushkin Day is special. This year, our high schoolers staged a short scene from “The Stone Guest,” debating Don Juan’s choices with the same passion I imagine Pushkin felt when he wrote it. Our teachers organized a quiz where teams guessed characters from quotes, and I laughed when a group of fifth-graders argued over whether the squirrel in “The Tale of Tsar Saltan” was magical or just clever. These moments show how Pushkin’s work brings us together, sparking joy and curiosity.
Why Pushkin Matters to Me—and to Us
As I walk through the halls of our school, I think about what Pushkin means to me personally. His fairy tales were my bedtime stories, read by my grandmother in a soft voice that made every word feel alive. His poem “To the Slanderers of Russia” stirred my pride in our history, while “Eugene Onegin” made me ponder love and choices as a teenager. Now, as part of Russian School LA, I see Pushkin’s words shaping our students in the same way. They learn not just to read Russian, but to feel its beauty—to understand that a single poem can hold a whole world of emotions.
Pushkin Day is our chance to celebrate this legacy. On June 6, we gathered in the church hall, sipping tea and sharing pirozhki, as students presented their drawings and read their favorite lines aloud. One student, a quiet girl in the fourth grade, shared her sketch of the learned cat and said, “I want to tell stories like Pushkin someday.” That moment reminded me why we do this: Pushkin’s creativity inspires our kids to dream big, whether they’re writing their own tales or simply finding courage in his words.
A Call to Our Community
As I reflect on Pushkin Day 2025, I’m grateful for our Russian School LA community. We’re not just teaching Russian; we’re keeping a culture alive, one story at a time. I invite every parent, student, and friend to join us in celebrating Pushkin—not just on June 6, but every day. Pick up a book of his fairy tales, read a poem aloud, or ask your child what they love about his stories. Together, we can ensure that Pushkin’s magic continues to shine in our hearts and in our school.
Let’s make next year’s Pushkin Day even brighter—maybe with a school-wide play or a poetry contest! For now, I’ll leave you with a line from Pushkin that I hold dear: “And I shall be remembered by the people / For the kind feelings I have stirred.” Here at Russian School LA, we’re keeping those kind feelings alive, one verse at a time.