> In Russia, which relative might be known as "babushka?"And the answer: grandmother.Photo credit: Anatoly Maltsev /EPAIn Russian, "babushka" is an endearing term,meaning an elderly woman. For example, a child might call her grandmother"babushka."Babushkas take on many forms in English and Russian alike. While the term ismost commonly used to refer to one's grandmother, it is also the name of theheadscarf typically worn by older Russian women. Or, if you like, it can referto a set of wooden nesting dolls also known as the Matryoshka or Russian doll. Photo courtesy: Brainy CountyBabushka headscarves offer a longstanding culturaltradition in Russia. Most frequently, they're worn by women while attendingchurch to signify their devotion to God – a tradition that is widely observed inOrthodox Christian practices. Headscarves or head-coverings of this nature arealso used to indicate that the wearer is married, though the style can vary fromthat of the elderly woman's babushka. In fact, the headscarf earned its name inlarge part from its association with elderly women or grandmothers. In the Western world, babushkas have been adopted as a style accessory.Throughout the early to mid 20th century, headscarves were a fashionable andglamorous way for women to keep their hair in check or, for movie stars likeGrace Kelly and Audrey Hepburn, to remain anonymous. Former First Lady JackieKennedy Onassis [https://www.askqotd.com/jacqueline-kennedy-onassis/] often worea head scarf with large sunglasses to avoiding photographers.And now, a joke:What's the worst thing about babushka dolls?Answer: They're so full of themselves!