Kostroma’s name origin
The origin of the town's name is not very clear. I like the story which connects the town's name to an old heathen dancing ritual in which a huge straw doll, which was said to impersonate the awakening of forces of nature in the spring, was used in a ceremony of sacrifice.
The straw doll which in fact was called "kostroma" played the role of symbolic sacrifice to the heathen Sun deity Yarila. The doll would be either set on fire or drowned in the river.
There is also a wonderful modern song “Kostroma” by “the Kupala” folk ensemble which you can hear while watching my 8 min 04 sec HD Video Kostroma Around by car out of my Youtube channel.


looking towards the giant market-arcades
The entrancehall of the Trinity Cathedral
The entrancehall of the Trinity Cathedral
The Bogoyavlensky Monastery in Kostroma