Back in the USSR: How People Used to Ring in the New Year

New Year was a special, long-awaited holiday for a Soviet person, as the preparations for the festivities turned into an almost heroic effort, which many people now remember that painstaking work with nostalgia.

The Soviet Union officially celebrated the New Year holiday for the first time in 1935. New Year's traditions also appeared during Soviet times, people bought tangerines, made Olivier salad, and listened to the Kremlin's chimes, during which it was obligatory to make a wish. Later, the tradition of the state leader addressing the country's citizens a few minutes before midnight appeared.

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© Sputnik / Lev Ustinov

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People dance at the New Year's ball in 1974.

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© Sputnik / David Sholomovich

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The lights of the New Year tree lit up in the Hall of Columns of the House of Unions.

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© Sputnik / Miroslav Murazov

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Children stand by the New Year tree, 1966.

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Pilot-cosmonauts from the USSR - German Titov, Yuri Gagarin, Pavel Popovich and Andrian Nikolayev (from left to right) raise glasses in honour of the upcoming new year, 1963.

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© Sputnik / Vladimir Rodionov

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Moscow residents carry New Year's trees on the eve of the New Year, 1978.

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© Sputnik / Anatoliy Garanin

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New Year's Eve in one of Moscow's clubs, 1938.

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© Sputnik / Dmitry Debabov

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Santa Claus (Grandfather Frost, Ded Moroz) walks on a city street, 1973

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© Sputnik / Valery Gende-Rote

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A girl holds a magic ball in her hand at the exhibition of Christmas tree decorations in Moscow, 1973.

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© Sputnik / Vladimir Fedorenko

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Russian dancing (pereplyas) at the New Year's festivities in Moscow, 1987.

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© Sputnik / Boris Kavashkin

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The brother of the engineer of the Moscow design institute Giprotis from the USSR's Gosstroy Alexander Guskov, Yury and his mother Tamara Mikhailovna are preparing a festive meal, 1970.

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© Sputnik / Valery Gende-Rote

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Children look at a stand with holiday decorations at the exhibition of Christmas tree decorations in Moscow, 1973.

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© Sputnik / David Sholomovich

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Students from different countries at the New Year's Eve ball of young people in the Kremlin Palace of Congresses, 1964.

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© Sputnik / V. Shiyanovskiy

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Santa Claus (Grandfather Frost, Ded Moroz) talks to a girl, 1972.

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© Sputnik / David Sholomovich

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New Year's ball in the Grand Kremlin Palace, 1955.

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© Sputnik / Anatoliy Garanin

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New Year's ball for young people in the Kremlin, Moscow, 1954.

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© Sputnik / Vladimir Fedorenko

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Santa Claus (Grandfather Frost, Ded Moroz) and Snow Maiden (Snegurochka) come to visit with gifts, 1987.

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© Sputnik / V. Shiyanovskiy

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Moscow Palace of Pioneers on the Lenin Hills (now Sparrow Hills) to celebrate the New Year tree, 1972.

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© Sputnik / Vladimir Fedorenko

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A Moscow family ringing in the New Year, 1987.

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© Sputnik / David Sholomovich

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Ringing in the New Year. Children with gifts from Santa Claus (Grandfather Frost, Ded Moroz) and Snow Maiden (Snegurochka), 1954.

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© Sputnik / Vladimir Fedorenko

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People walk along the Old Arbat pedestrian street during the New Year holidays, 1987.

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Ringing in the new year with champagne, 1961.