"Do not look for a merchant in the shop, a pharmacist in the pharmacy, a German craftsman in the workshop, or a paper dealer in his office during the summer; they are all at the dacha!" wrote Faddey Bulgarin in the newspaper "Northern Bee." This essay dates back to 1837, indicating that dacha culture in Russia has existed for at least 180 years. However, its roots go back to the times of Peter the Great. After the victory over the Swedes, the tsar granted his close associates lands to build country houses in European style. Over time, the word "dacha" came to mean specifically a country house.

Life at the dacha was accessible to many. On average, renting such a house for three months cost 50 rubles, equivalent to the monthly rent of an apartment in St. Petersburg. Therefore, with the arrival of warm days, many sought to escape to the countryside. Often, dachas were chosen at places where carriage drivers offered to take clients to "the most luxurious little house" for a reasonable price. In reality, they often took clients to their own or their acquaintances' places, receiving a reward for it.

People sometimes lived at the dacha until October, but this did not mean they only rested there. They had to manage the household, cook, and clean, while heads of families commuting from the suburbs were called "dacha men." Those who lived in the countryside year-round were referred to as "winterers." Later, specialized publications about dacha life appeared, offering advice on gardening and home arrangement. For example, dacha residents who could not transport furniture were advised to use hay bags instead of chairs. Thus, modern bean bag chairs are not such a new invention.