March in St. Petersburg brings new meaning to the old saw: "Roars in like a lion and leaves like a lamb." It is the time of year when the ground begins to show awakening signs of spring and the snow begins to leave the ground bare, patch by patch, until by month's end, it is obvious that spring is coming. The frozen Neva begins to show signs of breaking up and the water is visibly moving again.

Gloves, hats, and shapkas are still very much a part of the outdoor uniform, but the sun definitely begins to show promise of things to come.

This transitional month is very exciting. Most of the population of St. Petersburg has tired of the snow and looks forward to the exciting days of sunshine that summer brings. Little by little the dress on the street becomes more fashionable as women begin to show off their new spring wardrobes. It is still a great time of year in that the crowds that flock to the palaces and museums from outside the city are not present and there are still bargains to be had from the street vendors.

In addition, March is a very important month in which momentous events occurred that shaped Russian history and are still impacting today on this fascinating country. Anastasia has prepared a wonderful newsletter, and I hope you like it as much as I do.

Sincerely,
Michael E. Donnelly, Ph.D. President