Article about dacha is correct. In our awful soviet past every family could receive for free 600 square meters of land for lifetime with a right to propagate to childer. That's how bad evil communist tyrans treated us. I have no idea why we are growing fruits and vegetables on that land. May be because of our peasant traditions, may be because idleness was not common in the past - you have land, it should work.

Article about banya is also correct. There was a tradition of visiting public bathhouses (like in Ancient Rome), where unfamiliar people bath together. Nowadays people prefer finnish saunas, hot and dry. In russian banya pool with cold water isn't common - after steam room people jump into lake if there's one near (even in winter, these are very special feelings ), or snow if it's winter. But usually it's just a bowl with cold water nearby, or, nowadays, a cold shower.