Photoshoppers Needed for Inane Project

[stormbind]

Here's another depiction of the Russian Father Frost, with a young girl, and snowman. This is also one of their traditional doll thingies.

Note that Father Frost is often depicted wearing blue, carrying both a sack of presents and a tree

The girl might be The Snowmaid, who helps Father Frost deliver gifts on New Years. She would most likely have appeared on many New Years gift cards.

Like much of Europe, the Soviets may also have been influenced by St. Nicholas (Turkish Saint who delivers presents) - but I cannot find confirmation of this. One thing is for sure, 25th December holds no special significance in Russia and would certainly not have been celebrated in Soviet Russia. In addition to New Years, 7 January is a possible date for some celebration at Russian Orthodox Churches, but I dunno.

Searching for Babouschka might lead to more Soviet traditions.

 

[stormbind]

I didn't want to translate this directly because I know other forum members can do a better job of it

Hier werden de cadeautjes oorspronkelijk gebracht door Baboesjka (van die poppetjes, ja). Het verhaal gaat dat Baboesjka (grootmoeder) drie rijk geklede reizigers onderdak, eten en een warm bed gaf. Achteraf bleken het de drie wijzen te zijn die onderweg waren naar Bethlehem. Baboesjka ging hen achterna met een mand zwart brood en cadeautjes voor het kindje. Toen zij daar aankwam, was iedereen echter al vertrokken. Ze legde haar giften in de kribbe en ging terug naar huis, waar zij al snel door engelen werd gehaald.

Maar in Rusland is de huidige kerstman gekend onder de naam "Father Frost". Gewoonlijk wordt hij getekend vergezeld van zijn kleindochter, het sneeuwmeisje "Snegurochka" met een eeuwig groene boom in een traditionele Russische slee.

There's a 1964 Soviet movie called Father Frost that might be worth checking out.

 

[Pirate]

Congrats on winning!

Your way (blending of American commericalism with Stalin and Lenin) is definitely funnier than if you had accurately represented a Soviet Christmas, but I appreicate hearing the real story nonetheless.

 

[SeleucusNicator]

Stormbind: it's called absurdism.

 

[Souron]

BTW in reality, Christmas was shunned in the SU.

Instead they had Grandfather Winter come with presents on new years day.

Also, those who did selebrate christmas did so after new year, do to the difference in the riligios calander from the regular one. (it's off by about a month to 2 weeks)

 

[stormbind]

Stormbind: it's called absurdism.

A lot of people take absurdism as fact.

 

[cgannon64]

BTW in reality, Christmas was shunned in the SU.

Instead they had Grandfather Winter come with presents on new years day.

Man, those Soviets, always bastardizing what we invented.

 

[toh6wy]

I actually saw a real poster of Lenin giving presents to children during Christmas. I think it was Chinese, though.