It's the birch tree! This tree is a really important symbol of Russian culture and appears in art, literature and song. The birch tree is seen as a symbol of nature, spring and light, all important parts of traditional Russian culture and folklore.
What plants or animals can you think of that are important to American culture?
Birch trees are tall and slender trees with oval leaves. Their bark is black and white. In the fall, the leaves turn a really beautiful golden color. Have you seen a birch tree before?
Although birch trees are not new to me (they exist in my home state of Minnesota), seeing them in Russia is always really special. Because I have studied Russian language and culture, I know how important this tree is and seeing it in that way has given me a new appreciation for it. Now when I see the trees in a park in Russia, I know that they were put there to symbolize the Russian land and people.
