The group of relatives with whom a Russian woman usually tries to keep connection, is determined not only by the blood ties, but by her family and national traditions, her sociability and the place where she lives. As a rule, before the marriage a Russian girl has close relations with her parents, brothers and sisters, cousins, grandfathers and grandmothers, uncles and aunts (most often, her parents' brothers and sisters). After the wedding she gets new relatives on her husband's side.
There is a strong tendency in modern Russia: while on the whole family relationships become loose, the Russian woman is still close to her mother and sister. The relations with the husband's relatives are more complicated. But it is necessary to know that for the sake of her beloved man, a Russian woman would strive to be on friendly terms with his relatives, she would do anything for them to like her, and if they don't, she would simply keep good relations with them to please her husband.
The Russian woman is more likely to keep her blood ties. She is usually close to her mother and sister; do not try to make this connection loose, as it is something really sacred for her. She will be cruelly offended if you are not able to understand her feelings towards the relatives. And so are your own relatives for her, as they are an integral part of you; and she will try to make friends with them as soon as possible.
