If it has STRADIVARIUS stamped on it, you know it is made in Taiwan.....

Well, in Germany, probably. Around 80 to 100 years ago. Mine was.

If you're a complete beginner, it's a lot less tiring (and less cacophonous!) to get the fingering by playing pizzicato at first, holding the fiddle upright or like a guitar. Then when you pick up the bow, the bowed notes will at least be in tune. I could not agree more about getting pro advice about bow technique. Having been originally classicly trained, this changed me overnight from a bloody awful fiddler to a mediocre one. And online playalong sessions are brilliant before braving a real one.