Sitting around the stove, warmth arises from the heart

Russia's vast territory is located in high latitude regions, with long and cold winters. In history, the traditional Russian stove was an essential "artifact" for the locals during the winter. This brick and stone stove was once the center of every Russian household. People's daily lives revolve around stoves, and there is even a saying that stoves are a member of the Russian family.
According to records, Russian stoves first appeared in the 15th century. Russian stoves have a large volume, whether in the center or on the side, some large stoves can occupy 1/4 of the entire house area, like a small castle built inside the house. When building a house, the first step is to determine the location and style of the stove, and then build the other parts of the house around the stove. In the early 18th century, wealthy families began to decorate their stoves with beautiful colored tiles. There are many beautiful ceramic tile stoves collected in the Kremlin nowadays.
In ordinary households, practicality is naturally the top priority for stoves. In fact, compared to stoves in other parts of Europe, Russian stoves are the most practical and have the most diverse uses. In addition to being used for heating, it is also people's beds, drying racks, and storage cabinets
The most typical Russian stove is generally square in shape, with a bottom layer several tens of centimeters high, to prevent the cold ground from affecting the combustion efficiency of the stove. Above the bottom layer, the stove is usually divided into two parts: one large and one small. Beside it is a small stove with several burners, mainly used for boiling water and stewing vegetables. A large flat surface that is level with the stove, about 1 meter above the ground, and basically serves as a kitchen preparation room. Across from the 'preparation room', through a large arched door, there is a huge main stove inside. The main stove can not only be used for heating, but also as an oven to make staple foods such as big bread and baked potatoes, as well as some baked dishes. According to records, in the past, there were people who used stoves as bathrooms, and people could take a bath in the hot stove.