Meaning of Punctuality in Russian Culture

Time in Russia is not as highly valued as in most of the western world. “Time is money” is alien to Russian thinking. Russians find the importance of punctuality greatly exaggerated (Visson 1998:144). Russians are notoriously late, and people are more tolerant of delays. Punctuality is not considered essential; patience, on the other hand, is a virtue in Russia (Morrison 1994:317). Things are often done at the last minute and without a plan. Russians often don’t comply with agreements for action. Unexpected visits of relatives and friends to one’s house are part of Russian life.