Reindeer racing in Tyumen region, photo by Anatoly Polyakov (1969)
This blog is about old postcards, book illustration, history and culture of Russia and the Soviet Union. I'm a long time collector, and this blog is 10 years old.
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Vintage ads. ‘Elektron’ television set from the Soviet Union (1960s).
Holiday cartoons from Soviet Union - my top 5
“The Last Year’s Snow Was Falling” (1983)
This one is a legend. Packed with phrases that every Russian person recognizes in a conversation. I watch it religiously every year on December 31. I pretty much know it by heart, but I still enjoy watching it! Voiced by the amazing Stanislav Sadalsky. Great music too!
(«Уж послала так послала!» «А вот это мой размерчик.» «Ох уж эти сказочки! Ох уж эти сказочники…»)
(Watch with English subtitles here)
“Father Frost and Summer” (1969)
It’s sooo cute! And those songs! Love love love it.
(LQ quality but with English subtitles)
“Winter in Prostokvashino” (1984)
Another classic cartoon - the third installment in the story of the little village called Prostokvashino. Check out the Christmas tree decorated in attic-found vintage. :)
(«Фиг вам называется!»)
(with English subtitles)
“The Nutcracker” (1973)
I remember watching this as a child and being mesmerized with the music. It was long before I knew who Tchaikovsky was! And the scene when Nutcracker turns into boy gave me goose bumps.
This one needs no translation.
“Father Frost and Grey Wolf” (1978)
I mostly include this one for the song - «Тревога! Тревога! Волк унёс зайчат!» - which is an old joke between me and my sister. We watched this one a lot back in the day. :)
(with English subtitles)
Making this list has put me into holiday mood! :)
Moscow, February 4, 1990. The most massive protest in the history of the Soviet Union. 300 thousand people marched from the Crimean Bridge along the Garden Ring and Gorky Street (now Tverskaya) to the 50th Anniversary of October Square (Manezhnaya). The main demand of the protesters was to abolish Article 6 of the USSR Constitution that declared the leading role of the Communist Party.
Chukotka (Russia’s Far East). Reindeer herder Nikolai Etuvie.
The first cosmonauts of the Soviet Union (1960s)
“Tea is good for growns ups and children. For those who are healthy and those on a diet.” Soviet matchbox label (1962)
I find it interesting that in 1962 in the Soviet Union being on a diet meant you had health problems.
“I serve the Soviet Union!” Poster by Vladimir Vladimirov (1961)
A hunter in Yakutia, photo by Varfolomei Teterin (USSR, 1960s)
Visit the USSR in Winter. Soviet INTURIST poster (1950s)
(Inturist was an organization that invited and assisted foreign tourists in the USSR.)
A settlement in taiga. Photo by Semyon Fridlyand (USSR, 1960s).