It's essentially the equivalent of the middle finger, which is why you should keep your thumbs safely tucked away if you aren't sure about the custom.
Thumbs-Up. Avoid using this gesture in: Afghanistan, Iran, parts of Italy, and Greece. The gesture of 'Thumbs-up may look cool on Facebook or USA, but in Afghanistan, Iran, parts of Italy, and Greece, it means "up yours." So, to avoid any awkwardness, next time you must reconsider what you are doing.
Body Language
Russians stand close when talking. Putting your thumb through your index and middle fingers or making the "OK" sign are considered very rude gestures in Russia.
In modern Russian culture flicking a finger on the neck is interpreted as an invitation for a drink. There are a lot of versions of the origin of this gesture. It is believed, that in the 15th century Russian Tsar wanted to reward a talented craftsman and asked him what he had wanted to receive as a reward.
Thumbs Up
All over the world giving a thumbs up is a positive thing. It is considered as a means of expressing your liking towards something. However, if you give thumbs up in Iran means indecent and offensive insult which means “sit on it”. This is similar to raise your middle finger up.
The middle finger is probably the most obscene gesture in the U.S. The most offensive gesture in America is flipping someone off. Shooting the bird. Giving them "the finger." The gesture means screw you.
This full-body gesture is also used as "OK" in Japan where the single-handed gesture connotes monetary transactions instead of meaning "OK". This two-armed OK gesture was added to Unicode in 2010 under the name "Face With OK Gesture" (U+1F646 "?") and became part of Emoji 1.0 in 2015.
You might find that some Russians will loudly exhale after toasting before taking a drink. This is a custom that comes from an old adage that exhaling will prevent a hangover.
If you prefer not to drink, it is best to firmly, but politely, refuse from the start. This can be seen as an unforgivable cultural offense and is best approached from a health perspective. Many visitors choose to state that they suffer from ulcers in order to avoid drinking.
Russian etiquette: greetings
Close male friends hug and pat each other's back. In short, when meeting a Russian for the first time, male or female, good etiquette is shaking hands firmly while retaining eye contact. Looking away is rude and shows indifference. Men should wait for a woman to offer her hand first.
Friends may hug or kiss on the cheek to greet, but Russians are generally limited in their physical contact. Strong physical affection is generally only seen between couples of opposite genders.
Show Some Affection
Traditionally, Russians would kiss three times on the cheek when meeting. Now, one kiss is more common, but a hug will also be expected. This might not be such a strange act for women, but men from other countries sometimes find it odd. Don't fret.
What does ? Thumbs Up emoji mean? The thumbs-up emoji is used to express assent, approval, or encouragement in digital communications, especially in Western cultures.
Though many western countries recognize a "thumbs up" gesture as an affirmative sign or sign of approval, in Australia it is considered a rude gesture having a meaning similar to that of a raised middle finger.
Ukrainian people use gestures often as they talk; for example, 'thumbs up' conveys approval or support. Point with the entire hand; using one finger may be perceived as rude. Making a fist with the thumb between the index and middle fingers is considered offensive.
There's a well-known Russian greeting tradition: the triple cheek-kiss. It's usually common between close relatives. Sometimes, it's shortened to two kisses. One cheek kiss is often used by girls to greet friends, or even close female coworkers.
In Russia, you often drink to your own health and say "Будем здоровы!" [bóo-deem zda-ró-vye"], which can be translated as "To our health!"
Russia: Raw Eggs and Salty Water
Have you ever wondered how Russians are still alive after drinking so much vodka? Apparently, their biggest secret is eating a raw egg before getting their booze on. Eggs contain the amino acid cysteine, which your liver uses to process byproducts once alcohol has been metabolized.
But according to Ward and her friends, the ritual is not merely medicinal, it also serves a social function; by eating or sniffing bread after the shot, you're demonstrating that you're not just knocking back vodka to get drunk.
Normally, in Russia, toasts are pronounced after every shot with Russian words like 'Za Nas! ' or 'Za zdorovie! ' which means ' to us' and 'to health' The toasts could be words like these or could also end up long.
?? — Sexual intercourse. ? — The act of sex (humping) ? — Indicates someone is attractive or sexy.
What does ? Vulcan Salute emoji mean? Live long and prosper, friends! If you ever need to spread the love to your geekier friends, then flash a ?. The Vulcan salute emoji, ?, is perfect for showing your Star Trek cred or sci-fi pride more generally.
This cute symbol is most commonly used to discuss romantic relationships, friendships, or passions when texting, tweeting, or posting. Someone may use a <3 to replace the word “love” in a sentence or to convey warm feelings for someone or something.