Comments on: Soviet space-program Christmas cards http://boingboing.net/2012/12/25/soviet-space-program-christmas.html Brain candy for Happy Mutants Mon, 20 May 2013 13:35:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.4.1 By: Dan Hibiki http://boingboing.net/2012/12/25/soviet-space-program-christmas.html#comment-1615629 Dan Hibiki Thu, 27 Dec 2012 00:50:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=202833#comment-1615629  Christmas was never like western Christmas to begin with since Russia is primarily Orthodox and celebrates the birth of Christ on a completely different (more accurate) date and with different traditions. The involvement of the state is somewhat overblown by western propaganda and few native soviets had changed their religious practices, in fact the Orthodox church has profited greatly even under Stalin (provided they didn't question him).  Christmas was never like western Christmas to begin with since Russia is primarily Orthodox and celebrates the birth of Christ on a completely different (more accurate) date and with different traditions.

The involvement of the state is somewhat overblown by western propaganda and few native soviets had changed their religious practices, in fact the Orthodox church has profited greatly even under Stalin (provided they didn’t question him).

]]> By: robcat2075 http://boingboing.net/2012/12/25/soviet-space-program-christmas.html#comment-1615564 robcat2075 Wed, 26 Dec 2012 21:13:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=202833#comment-1615564 I recall a "National Lampoon Radio Hour" sketch on "Christmas in Russia" or something like that that had the line: "Of course, as a Communist country, Russia is officially atheist so Christmas has no more religious significance there than it does in America!" I recall a “National Lampoon Radio Hour” sketch on “Christmas in Russia” or something like that that had the line:

“Of course, as a Communist country, Russia is officially atheist so Christmas has no more religious significance there than it does in America!”

]]> By: RayCornwall http://boingboing.net/2012/12/25/soviet-space-program-christmas.html#comment-1615502 RayCornwall Wed, 26 Dec 2012 18:09:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=202833#comment-1615502 In Soviet Russia, YOU greet cards, not other way around. Alternative joke: In Soviet Russia, the hall marks YOU. (Hey, it's my birthday, and I'm stuck in a cubicle farm. Please laugh.) In Soviet Russia, YOU greet cards, not other way around.

Alternative joke: In Soviet Russia, the hall marks YOU.

(Hey, it’s my birthday, and I’m stuck in a cubicle farm. Please laugh.)

]]> By: Shantara http://boingboing.net/2012/12/25/soviet-space-program-christmas.html#comment-1615459 Shantara Wed, 26 Dec 2012 14:20:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=202833#comment-1615459 Since 1920s Soviet state wanted to suppress celebration of Christmas, as it did with other religious holidays. New Year, on the other hand, was a neutral, officially accepted holiday, so it was a natural replacement. As a result, many of winter holidays' attributes (Ded Moroz (Father Frost), fir trees, presents, postcards, decorations, etc) are primarily associated with New Year instead of Christmas in Russia and other post-Soviet states. It was forced decades ago, but now no one really remembers that and it has since became a tradition.  Since 1920s Soviet state wanted to suppress celebration of Christmas, as it did with other religious holidays. New Year, on the other hand, was a neutral, officially accepted holiday, so it was a natural replacement. As a result, many of winter holidays’ attributes (Ded Moroz (Father Frost), fir trees, presents, postcards, decorations, etc) are primarily associated with New Year instead of Christmas in Russia and other post-Soviet states. It was forced decades ago, but now no one really remembers that and it has since became a tradition. 

]]> By: Hakan Koseoglu http://boingboing.net/2012/12/25/soviet-space-program-christmas.html#comment-1615448 Hakan Koseoglu Wed, 26 Dec 2012 09:29:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=202833#comment-1615448 What I find weird is they got the Vostok drawings right (even with the 3rd stage attached) but the subsequent spaceship drawings are completely fake or they're not manned and I'm not familiar with them. Voskhod is nearly identical to Vostok visually and Soyuz is completely different so I guess there's an interesting amount of misinformation going on. What I find weird is they got the Vostok drawings right (even with the 3rd stage attached) but the subsequent spaceship drawings are completely fake or they’re not manned and I’m not familiar with them. Voskhod is nearly identical to Vostok visually and Soyuz is completely different so I guess there’s an interesting amount of misinformation going on.

]]> By: Chentzilla http://boingboing.net/2012/12/25/soviet-space-program-christmas.html#comment-1615445 Chentzilla Wed, 26 Dec 2012 08:49:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=202833#comment-1615445 Granddaughter. Granddaughter.

]]> By: tw1515tw http://boingboing.net/2012/12/25/soviet-space-program-christmas.html#comment-1615443 tw1515tw Wed, 26 Dec 2012 08:31:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=202833#comment-1615443 (Edited from original reply) С Новым годом is Russian for Happy New Year С Рождеством is Russian for Merry Christmas Looks like you are right. I thought it might be for St Nicholas's Day - a traditional present-giving day on 6th December. (Edited from original reply)
С Новым годом is Russian for Happy New Year
С Рождеством is Russian for Merry Christmas

Looks like you are right.

I thought it might be for St Nicholas’s Day – a traditional present-giving day on 6th December.

]]> By: tw1515tw http://boingboing.net/2012/12/25/soviet-space-program-christmas.html#comment-1615440 tw1515tw Wed, 26 Dec 2012 08:25:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=202833#comment-1615440 Der Sandmann was/is on West German TV too.  The Sandmaenchen in space were featured in the film Goodbye Lenin http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=adCEiF2K7Pk Der Sandmann was/is on West German TV too.  The Sandmaenchen in space were featured in the film Goodbye Lenin
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=adCEiF2K7Pk

]]> By: Nicholas ColeFarrell http://boingboing.net/2012/12/25/soviet-space-program-christmas.html#comment-1615436 Nicholas ColeFarrell Wed, 26 Dec 2012 07:32:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=202833#comment-1615436 It's true! We live in Berlin and watch the Sandmännchen every night before our son goes to bed. It’s true! We live in Berlin and watch the Sandmännchen every night before our son goes to bed.

]]> By: CH http://boingboing.net/2012/12/25/soviet-space-program-christmas.html#comment-1615431 CH Wed, 26 Dec 2012 06:48:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=202833#comment-1615431 Yep, I grew up with him being shown before and after the bedtime story on tv. The sandman arrived each time on a different type of vehicle, like the rocket above, then you had the tv program, and then the shorter animation where he threw the sand and left on whatever vehicle he had arrived with. Yep, I grew up with him being shown before and after the bedtime story on tv. The sandman arrived each time on a different type of vehicle, like the rocket above, then you had the tv program, and then the shorter animation where he threw the sand and left on whatever vehicle he had arrived with.

]]> By: monostatos http://boingboing.net/2012/12/25/soviet-space-program-christmas.html#comment-1615424 monostatos Wed, 26 Dec 2012 05:35:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=202833#comment-1615424 and indeed the DDR Sandman pictured can be seen on TV daily at 7pm across Germany today.   and indeed the DDR Sandman pictured can be seen on TV daily at 7pm across Germany today.  

]]> By: Stefan Jones http://boingboing.net/2012/12/25/soviet-space-program-christmas.html#comment-1615423 Stefan Jones Wed, 26 Dec 2012 05:22:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=202833#comment-1615423  No, that's cool! There's a little frost girl in this card: http://www.click2crop.com/postcard/big/hny0470.jpg Is that her?  No, that’s cool! There’s a little frost girl in this card:

http://www.click2crop.com/postcard/big/hny0470.jpg

Is that her?

]]> By: Dan Hibiki http://boingboing.net/2012/12/25/soviet-space-program-christmas.html#comment-1615422 Dan Hibiki Wed, 26 Dec 2012 05:19:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=202833#comment-1615422  and he's got a hot daughter named Snegurochka. But that's besides the point.  and he’s got a hot daughter named Snegurochka. But that’s besides the point.

]]> By: Stefan Jones http://boingboing.net/2012/12/25/soviet-space-program-christmas.html#comment-1615419 Stefan Jones Wed, 26 Dec 2012 05:03:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=202833#comment-1615419  To be a bit pedantic: That's "Grandfather Frost," not Santa. (When I was maybe ten,  the local Boy's Club had a Christmas party with cartoons and short films. One of them was a Russian New Year's cartoon. It was about a boy trying to get to Antarctica to visit his father, who worked at a scientific station. I don't remember the details, but at one point Grandfather Frost shows up riding a rocket made of stardust.)  To be a bit pedantic: That’s “Grandfather Frost,” not Santa.

(When I was maybe ten,  the local Boy’s Club had a Christmas party with cartoons and short films. One of them was a Russian New Year’s cartoon. It was about a boy trying to get to Antarctica to visit his father, who worked at a scientific station. I don’t remember the details, but at one point Grandfather Frost shows up riding a rocket made of stardust.)

]]> By: Dan Hibiki http://boingboing.net/2012/12/25/soviet-space-program-christmas.html#comment-1615403 Dan Hibiki Wed, 26 Dec 2012 03:28:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=202833#comment-1615403 yup. Orthodox Christmas is on the 7th of January I believe and not much like the other christmases. New Year's though got the tree, Santa and the whole shebang. yup. Orthodox Christmas is on the 7th of January I believe and not much like the other christmases.

New Year’s though got the tree, Santa and the whole shebang.

]]> By: wildemar http://boingboing.net/2012/12/25/soviet-space-program-christmas.html#comment-1615399 wildemar Wed, 26 Dec 2012 03:02:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=202833#comment-1615399 The top image you posted has nothing to do with Christmas or New Year. It's the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sandm%C3%A4nnchen" rel="nofollow">East German Sandman</a>. The top image you posted has nothing to do with Christmas or New Year. It’s the East German Sandman.

]]> By: Shantara http://boingboing.net/2012/12/25/soviet-space-program-christmas.html#comment-1615397 Shantara Wed, 26 Dec 2012 02:39:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=202833#comment-1615397 They were New Year cards, obviously. They were New Year cards, obviously.

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