Post #4026

Why did money start to be called 'бабки' [bahp-kee] (grandmothers) in Russia? 🔻This tradition came from the 19th century. It was then that they started printing the portrait of Catherine II the Great on hundred-ruble banknotes and she was also the grandmother of two Russian emperors – Alexander I and Nicholas I. 🔻The large 100 ruble banknote, on which one could buy four cows, started to be called Царская бабка (Tsar's babka). And in slang it was simplified to бабка. 🔻Аt first this money was called Катеринка or Катенька and based on the fact that the empress was depicted at a quite respectable age, the notes started to be called бабки. 🔻The portrait of the “grandmother” had not changed since 1886. Soon banknotes of all denominations started to be called бабки and subsequently all money. 🔻And no matter how new money might look, whether 5000-ruble notes or 100-ruble notes, for many of Russians they all remain бабки (plural). #brief_and_interesting 😎RCRussian | Support | Boost