Russian Santa Protects Russia
During the World War 2 Russian soldiers had their special Christmas and New Year postcards.
On some of such Santa looked not very peaceful in his solidarity attempt to defeat the “malicious attacker”. So probably those are the only ones where Santa can hold a machine gun or be in some other furious acts.
Snow Frenzy
Last several years winter in Russia was more European and temperature seldom fell below -15C (+5F.) But is seems that this winter Mother Winter has rolled round too fast and it’s really overboard. Few weeks ago frost came to Russia and now it looks like it’s on its way westwards, straight to Eastern Europe. All this time temperature on thermometer seldom fell below -20C (-5F.) Because of that any road was clogged up to the brim every singe day. And now, when frost almost dropped Russia off and left just a bunch of two or three feet high snowbanks here and there, it seems that Ukraine and the rest of Eastern Europe countries just began feeling this snow frenzy.
The Santa Monument
In one of Russian cities they have dressed 10-meter tall (33 ft) monument into a Santa dress. It took a lot of fabric worth around $2000 to complete the task. They decided they gonna sell it later after the holidays on the auction for the whole thing to pay off.
The Soviet New Year’s menu with a smell of nostalgia
Many Soviet people used to have one-type New Year’s menu and it was explained by a poor variety of products at stores. That is why they still remember that special “New Year’s smell” – “Olivye” and “Vinegret” salads and tangarines. Eh, what was the time – the 80s… (more…)
Christmas Trees of Moscow, Russia
This one is bit late, but still…
Russian Banya
Russian people are fond of “the banya”. This is a usually wooden structure, somewhere in the village like in the picture below. This is a whole ritual to visit banya and it’s not only about washing but mainly for fun, especially in winter when it’s a must to go bathing in the snow or in the nearest frozen river or lake. Children from early age are getting used to go to the banya and hit each other with special brooms made of leafy branches. Those brooms add more sensory feelings while in the banya process and especially are useful to warm up one quickly after some good snow jumping.
Yesterday it was a New Year Eve - the most widely recognized holiday in Russia. Millions of people wait for it and starting getting ready many months before. Christmas trees as a matter of the fact in Russia are called New Year trees just because the Christmas in Russia is almost ignored by people - during the Soviet Era it was a banned holiday as all other sides of Christian religion so all the holiday trees and decorations were devoted to the secular holiday of New Year Change. So it’s also a widely common tradition right before the New Year comes to visit the banya, and then after this procedure sit all together in a big room at the big table with a lot of traditional Russian dishes and wait for 11.55pm with a TV turned on with the First National Channel - the place where at 11.55pm the president begins his New Year Speech, he is speaking untill 11.59 and 30 seconds before the New Year to arrive the main Kremlin chimes start ringing - and everyone stands up with the goblets full of sparkling wine and when the last sound of the Kremlin chimes is being heard the New Year comes to Russian family.
But banya is a must.
Happy New Year all the readers, thanks for visiting!
(more…)
Old Russian New Year Tree Toys
We had some vintage Russian New Year postcards already.
Now it’s turn for the New Year Tree toys back from early Soviet times.
Sometimes things that could be found on Soviet New Year Trees differ greatly from Western Trees. It was usual to put on Russian Tree something with political ideas: the Kremlin Towers, small copies of outstanding Soviet Sportsmen and different technological gadgets.
Also there were often toys with portraits of comrades Lenin and Stalin.
See yourself:
That’s an elefant studying ABC in cyrillics.
Vintage New Year Postcards
These New Year postcards are back from the Soviet times.
Religion was banned in Soviet Russia so there was not a Christmas celebrated but a New Year was the main winter holiday.
It was always a special holiday, same as Christmas in Europe or USA.
Even 20 years after democratic changes started in Russia people still celebrate New Year more willingly than any other holidays.
Santas Take Over The Moscow
Big group of multi-national Santas took over the Moscow last weekend.
You can see on those pictures the real crowd of them.
The only thing that is not right - there is no snow on the streets.
Loading ...