1930-1980s Soviet Christmas tree decorations

1930-1980s Soviet Christmas tree decorations

After the Great October Revolution in 1918, the People’s Commissars issued a ban on the celebration of the New Year, as an attribute of the Old World, and on January 1, it was an ordinary working day. However, Christmas tree was put occasionally in some of the houses, and Christmas tree decorations in the USSR were not easy to find. It was during this period appeared fashion on homemade Christmas decorations made from scrap materials.
Fortunately, in 1935, the Christmas tree ban was lifted by government decree! And already in 1936, the significance of the holiday, as a symbol of a new ideology, has been confirmed by a Christmas tree in the Hall of Columns. In addition, began the production of ornaments, including glass balls with pictures of Lenin and Stalin. Besides, the shops flooded with “the Kremlin stars,” pioneers, dogs, poultry, fruits and vegetables, astronauts, Father Frosts and Snow maidens, and so on. Today, it is fashionable to collect Soviet Christmas toys, but they are becoming rare. Christmas decorations of the Soviet period attract the attention of foreign collectors as well, because in the New Year’s toys reflected the history of several generations of the inhabitants of the Soviet Union.

The main characters of the New Year are of course, Father Frost (Santa Claus) and his beautiful companion – Snegurochka (Snow maiden). Especially prized toys are also characters of fairy tales: Little Red Riding Hood, Puss in Boots, Dr. Aibolit, Crocodile Gena, Ivan Tsarevich, the old man Hottabych and heroes of Russian folk tales. Besides, were popular such Christmas decorations as birds, animals – squirrels, bears, rabbits, dogs, sheep, and etc.

In the 1950-1960s, appeared New Year’s toys with fastenings in the form of clothespins. The main themes of decoration: children sportsmen, Soviet symbols, the pioneers, red stars. In the first years of production of “Pobeda” car, of course, there were toy cars. After the release of the film “Carnival Night” appeared Christmas toys in the form of clocks with the arrow that shows “five minutes to twelve.” Space exploration theme was also incredibly popular.

In accordance with the spirit of the Khrushchev era, to the assortment of toys added various kinds of agricultural products: corns, eggplant, tomatoes, zucchini, carrots, cucumbers, and other vegetables. Most toys were not only vegetables, but also fruits: strawberry, grape, pear, and lemon.

Popular were toys, dressed in national costumes of all the republics of the USSR. In the early fifties in many homes there were Christmas decorations associated with China: wonderful Chinese lanterns, balloons with the words “Moscow – Beijing” big balls with portraits of Mao Zedong.

After flying into space in the Soviet Union released a series of Christmas decorations in the form of satellites, rockets and astronauts.

Later, appeared decorations in the form of icicles. But the most common toys were cones and balls. In addition, the tree will certainly adorned with colorful glass beads, garlands and “rain”. In 1960 produced the first electric Christmas tree garlands. Initially, they looked very simple: the bulb-beads, painted in different colors – blue, yellow, red, and sometimes painted with “frosty” patterns. Later, appeared more advanced Electric garlands with flickering light.

The top of the Christmas tree decorated with red five-pointed star and decoration in the form of a rocket aspiring upwards. Despite the abundance and diversity of today’s Christmas toys, we still have the old charm, which are part of forever bygone era.

1930-1980s Soviet Christmas tree decorations

sources:
kerch-museum.com
livemaster.ru/topic/169435