Winter. Photo by Semyon Prosyak. Sednev, Ukraine (1982).
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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Soviet vintage notecard (1984)
It reads “7 October - the Soviet Union Constirution Day”
NEW Listed on Etsy:
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.
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! :)
Winter in Ternopol (Ukraine), 1974
Vintage DIY school help folder (for kids learning to read and count). If you want to play a parent in the Soviet Union and test your cut-and-paste skills, this is your chance. ()
Visit the USSR in Winter. Soviet INTURIST poster (1950s)
(Inturist was an organization that invited and assisted foreign tourists in the USSR.)
Artek, the most famous pioneer summer camp in the Soviet Union. Illustration by E. Gorokhovsky (1985)
Street showering in Chernobyl, Ukraine (1980s)
Tatyana Chyornaya, cook in a factory canteen in Vinnitsa, Ukraine. Photo by N. Kozlovsky (1980s).
“Airfield” by Georgiy Nissky (1961)