A joke is not just a quip at the table, but a layer of urban folklore that reflects the era and the moods of society. Jokes are a unique phenomenon in Russian literature that many perceive only as humorous stories for friendly gatherings. But behind a short funny phrase lies a whole world of meanings and hints capable of telling what society lived through in different eras. Participants of the lecture will learn how this genre emerged, how it existed in oral tradition, and what changed with the advent of Soviet censorship. Why can "The Tale of Dracula the Voivode" be considered the progenitor of the joke? What is a falshlor and where can it be found? What is the difference between a joke and a jest? We know what to see in St. Petersburg.