The Russian language is full of various proverbs, sayings, phraseologisms and other popular expressions. The meaning of many of them over the years of existence in Russian speech has been practically lost, and not every native speaker can easily "decipher" the meaning of an expression. These include the phrase "admiral's hour", which today is extremely rare to find in written and spoken language. It is all the more interesting to know its original meaning and history.
Origin history
According to the famous researcher and ethnographer Ivan Mikhailovich Snegirev, the origin of phraseology “admiral's hour” is as follows: during the reign of Emperor Peter the Great, there was a peculiar custom. At about noon, most often at about eleven o'clock, the tsar and his subordinates by the admiralty left for lunch.
At this time, they went to the so-called asteria (or austeria), a drinking establishment, founded on the orders of Peter himself on the model of Western counterparts. In these institutions, foreign guests and the Russian nobility often rested. In asteria served Russian and foreign alcoholic drinks. The tsar himself encouraged their existence in every possible way, considering visiting such establishments a guarantee of rapprochement of the estates in Russian society.
The first asteria in the Russian Empire was located near the Trinity Wharf. She was called tsarist, since it was there that Peter the Great entered at lunchtime with his subordinates. According to eyewitnesses, the tsar preferred to drink a glass of anise vodka and eat pretzel at the “admiral’s hour”. Then he smoked a pipe, played checkers and talked with other visitors to the establishment.
It is thanks to this not quite ordinary ritual of the Russian tsar that the stable expression "admiral's hour" arose in the meaning of drinking during lunch or brunch. The expression was often used in a joking manner, so it was possible to make clear to the interlocutor of his intention to drink at lunchtime. Sometimes it was also accompanied by the phrase "gentlemen drink and have a snack."
In addition to Peter and the people who served in the Navy, senators and members of various colleges also had a break of eleven hours. They, following the example of the ruler, on their way home, also visited asteria and drank a glass of vodka there.
Gaining popularity
The expression “Admiral’s hour” was really popular among the people in 1865, when the tradition of firing a cannon in the Admiralty’s yard was introduced at exactly noon, due to which they began to call it Admiral’s.
As a result, phraseologism began to mean more time for lunch or brunch than alcohol in the morning, however, in oral and written speech, you could still find both meanings of expression.
In 1872, the famous cannon was transferred to the Peter and Paul Fortress, and in 1934 it was decided to cancel its tradition altogether. However, in honor of the anniversary of St. Petersburg in 1957, a shot was again fired at exactly noon.
Fleet use
Among the people serving in the Navy, the expression "admiral's hour" in the meaning of afternoon nap is most often found. The break according to tradition begins around 11-12 hours and lasts from an hour to two. The tradition is not official, but relatively widespread among the personnel of the fleet.
The practice of resting personnel in the late morning and afternoon also exists in many other countries, including Great Britain and Finland.
Place in the language today
Today it is extremely rare to find in active use in oral and written language the steady expression "admiral's hour." What phraseologism means, far from all native speakers can answer, regardless of their education and age.
An exception may be the residents of St. Petersburg and Vladivostok, where the tradition of a midday cannon shot is still alive. In addition, in St. Petersburg and the region in stores you can find alcoholic beverages called "Admiral's Hour", which, of course, is a reference to the original meaning of phraseology. Also, the expression is still used by some sailors and naval officers.
Nevertheless, the expression can still be found on the pages of all major dictionaries of the Russian language, including editions edited by Vladimir Ivanovich Dahl, as well as in the Brockhaus and Efron Encyclopedic Dictionary.
Examples of use
One can meet the expression "admiral's hour" these days, first of all, in literary works of the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. For example, phraseologism is found in two works by Mikhail Evgrafovich Saltykov-Shchedrin: "Poshekhonskaya antiquity" and "Pompadour".
Then, since the "admiral's hour" had already arrived, gentlemen, the officials went to the landowner to eat bread and salt.
Also, the expression is found on the pages of the work of Thousand Souls by Alexei Feofilaktovich Pisemsky.
"Your high nobility, the admiral's hour has struck a long time ago - will you command me? Accept!
In general, although this phraseological unit is rarely found in the everyday speech of a modern native speaker of the Russian language, one definitely needs to know its meaning and be able to use it in a conversation.