Holiday Traditions Growing Up an FSU Gal

[jone]

Friends,

We are finally winding down for the holidays.  Today, in Ukraine, is already the 21st.  I was hoping to hear from some of our Russian women about their favorite holiday memories or traditions growing up.  And, having said that, I will share one of my own. 

When I was beginning to learn Russian, the very first thing I did was to go out and purchase Russian movie DVDs.  It seemed a logical step, because if I could understand Russians on the TV, I could begin to understand them in person.  My first video was "На Дерибасовской хорошая погода, или На Брайтон-Бич опять идут ....."  Or "The Weather is nice on Deribasovskaya but it is Raining in Brighton Beach . . . . "  One the typical Soviet style comedies featuring somewhat poorly written comedy coupled with a terrible plot line.  (In Los Angeles, we have a Russian video store and they must have thought that it really didn't make much difference as to what movies I bought.)

For two weeks I struggled through watching the movie, probably 10 - 11 times.  I'm sure all of you have had language experiences like this. 

But then it was getting close to the holidays.  I happened back upon the store near West Hollywood one day and one of the clerks took pity on me.  She said that if I really wanted to learn Russian, I should go with one of the classics.  She pointed out that in the United States we have "The Wizard of Oz" and, for Christmas, we have "White Christmas" or "It's a Wonderful Life".  She said that I should really watch the one movie that most FSU households have on during New Year's Day.  The movie, of course, was "The Irony of Fate". 

My first time watching it, I hardly caught the humor, I was having so much trouble with the language.  I understood that Zhenya and Gayla were finally going to get married, but I had no idea how Zhenya wound up in the wrong flat on 3rd Builder's Street.  Today, the humor is quaint and the story is endearing.  I can easily see how it became a New Year's Day tradition. 

This year, I will sit down with my gal.  I have already told her that I am no neophyte when it comes to  watching the movie.  I also told her that I probably will wind up in her bed, drunk like Zhenya and hopefully have the same favorable outcome, where Nadya follows me to where I live because she loves me.  (And I will not be afraid to 'pull the trigger' when I need to.)

Happy holidays.  I would love to hear stories about the holidays that would teach us more about FSU culture.

[JayH]

Sounds like a happy ending !!
 

[Slumba]

There is also "Karnavalnaya Noch", an older movie but still a classic!

[GQBlues]

Jone-

Good story. I have a couple I can share maybe at a later time as I'm pressed to make my year end closing report so scrambling a bit before the chestnut start to roast and Jack Frost begins nipping at our holiday noses and wife's too darn excited for Christmas to ring in the holiday cheers upon our lot again

For now let me take the time, in case the Mayans are right, to wish all of you to have a very merry Christmas and a wonderful new year!!!

It's been good year and great living for us thus far and may all be blessed in their lives as well....

A special blessing to all of the folks of Newtown and all the others that are mett with challenging time this year.

God bless!

[Lily]

Somehow it used to be a FSU tradition to spend the New Year night before the TV, and to watch The Little Blue Light (Goluboy ogonyok).  The following is an outline from Wikipedia:

Historically, it was a popular musical variety show aired since 1962 during important holidays. The name alludes to the light blue glare of a tv screen, as well as some traditional Russian expressions relating to friendly visits: заглянуть на огонек (zaglyanut na ogonyok) – "to drop in on a light", i. e. to visit someone after seeing a light in their window; посидеть у огонька (posidyet' u ogon'ka) – to have a sit by the fire.

The show featured popular artists and various prominent Soviet people, who sat by the tables in a "TV cafeteria", singing songs, playing sketches, boasting, celebrating the holiday. The idea of the show was that they "dropped in on a light" to every Soviet family to share the festive table beyond the TV glass.

The best-known was the New Year's Little Blue Light ( Novogodniy Goluboy ogonyok), aired on every New Year's Eve as a part of the late Soviet tradition: the Little Blue Light followed the New Year's speech by the General Secretary of the Communist Party with congratulations to the people. 

 Here is one of my favorite clips from 1966 showing a popular singer Larisa Mondrus dancing with the famous Soviet astronauts who incidentally play the cameramen . You can even see Yuri Gagarin, the first man in space, with a filming device.
Later, Larisa immigrated from the USSR to Germany. Am I the only one who thinks that she looks like Honor Blackmann?

[SANDRO43]

Am I the only one who thinks that she looks like Honor Blackmann?

Probably, since Honor Blackmann was a 'sultry green-eyed blonde' Londoner :

a.k.a. Pussy Galore ( ) in the 3rd James Bond film Goldfinger (1964).

[jone]

Great post, Lily.  Thanks. 

[mendeleyev]

Jone, good topic.

Slumba, thanks for that link.

Lily, our new year tradition is to watch The Irony of Fate.

Part 1:

Part 2:

[Lily]

Any source where I can watch the same movie with English subtitles?

[Slumba]

Any source where I can watch the same movie with English subtitles?

This page has links to the Irony of Fate (first one) movie with subtitles.

http://video.kylekeeton.com/2008/12/russian-video-new-year-tradition-movie.html

Happy New Year, Lily!

[ML]

Any source where I can watch the same movie with English subtitles?

Here it is on youtube with English subtitles.  Click on CC at bottom of screen to get subtitles.  Note at bottom right side of youtube screen, you can click on a box to get full screen view.

Part 1  1 hour, 40 minutes  Irony of Fate


 

Part 2  1 hour, 24 minutes  Irony of Fate





Just now, I think I see this is probably same place that Jim posted.

[ML]

Two more classics.

Moscow Doesn't Believe in Tears.

Click on CC at bottom of screen for English subtitles.




Office Romance

Click  on CC at bottom of screen for English subtitles
 
 

[ML]

Now can someone help me with a source to view Russian movie: 
"Station for two"

My Gal thinks this is one of the best ever.

And also the Italian movie:

II bisbetico domato by Adriano Celentano.

She thinks  this is one of best ever also.

[Lily]

Are we discussing here the New Year traditions, or the movies in general?
Many thanks for a reference to the subtitled movie! I used to love it, too. At the same time, now when I live here, the movie appears a bit different to me. I started to perceive it differently. Some things surprise me.
Those who know this movie, what do you guys think of it?
 

[Lily]

Okay, another good tradition that was practised around the New Year holidays was the figure skating. Historically, long winters in Russia, and a relative unexpensveness of obtaining big ice spots made this sport easily accessible and therefore popular.
In absence of big choice in TV entertainment, the figure skating was one of the most popular TV shows in the USSR. The prominent skaters were revered like the pop stars. We watched the TV shows, then put the skates on, and went outside for the nearest rink.
It used to be a number of rinks around many locations. Here are a few pictures from the 60x, 70x plus a last year shot in Toronto:
 

[ML]

Are we discussing here the New Year traditions, or the movies in general?
Many thanks for a reference to the subtitled movie! I used to love it, too. At the same time, now when I live here, the movie appears a bit different to me. I started to perceive it differently. Some things surprise me.
Those who know this movie, what do you guys think of it?

I need to watch it again to refresh; but for now:

1) Despite similarity of the buildings in several cities, and a limited number of key variations; it is pretty far fetched that a person (even a drunk one) would gain access to an apartment in a distant city.

Yes, yes . . . I know movies can take great license with reality, but . . .   

2) I found the movie very hilarious when the man was in the woman's apartment.  Especially when she tried to get him out of bed; and when he complained that she had sold some of his household furniture, etc.

3) However, the funny started to disappear and then left altogether when the boyfriend started leaving and coming back innumerable times.

[jone]

Thanks all,

The thread was targeted to New Year's traditions in general.  And I loved the part about the ice skating.  I grew up in a small town in Wisconsin with a big lake about 200 steps from our front door.  We skated all through winter and someone invariably wound up going through the ice with their car or snowmobile.  We had alot of fun on sleds as there was a big hill near our home.

I loved the tip on the 27th for school parties.  Not on this thread but great to know for aculturization.

As for the Irony of Fate, this movie personalizes, for me, the old Soviet lifestyle.  I can totally empathize with the characters, limited to having a stamped out existence, but with an effort to create some individualism and friendship and ultimatley, love.  It is a period piece.  But then so are the American classics.  How man farms still do Mom and Pop farming like the Wizard of Oz?  Or White Christmas, honoring a general from WWII? 

Life is no longer like it was in the 1970s when this movie came out.  But the human condition remains the same.  People fall in love in usual circumstances - as we can all atest too.  And somehow it all works out.  Or not.

Thanks for all of your thoughts, everyone, as the new year approaches.

-j

[mendeleyev]

Love those old Russian movies...so much can be learned about life then and how that has shaped life today.

Okay, another good tradition that was practised around the New Year holidays was the figure skating.

Lily, I'm sure you know of the outdoor skating rink that is erected alongside GYM (Ghoom) department store on Red Square each year. That is very popular.

For the past several years the All-Russia Exhibition Centre (VDNKh) has smoothed over their roads and sidewalks and opened the area for free skating. It is billed this year as "the world's largest skating rink" but I don't know if that is really the case.

[Gator]

You know at Christmas you are married to a RW.....
 
..... when amid the Christmas decorations amply displayed in the house you find a couple of plastic snakes.

 
........when suggesting a film to watch with her son about a young boy stranded at Christmas, she responds, "Oh, I have seen 'One At Home.' "

 
......when visiting your friends, they serve tea with Christmas cookies, and rather than squeezing the lemon slice into the tea, she sprinkles salt on it and eats it, rind peel and all.
 

[ML]

More "Irony of Fate"

I hadn't thought about it, but when my Gal and I were discussing this movie  during our hour exercise walk in the Mall this morning, she . . .

described that the movie was a jab or even a ridicule of the communist leaders who created these monstrous, identical apartment buildings all across  the SU.

Sort of like the old English song . . . 3 and 20 blackbirds baked in a pie.  i.e.  get a point across in an indirect manner.

[Lily]

Here is what people say about Ïrony of Fate in English:
"The film, however, most probably, wouldn't be understood by the average foreigner. Let me explain..

Zhenya and his friends have a tradition of going to the "banya" (like a public bathing place) as a tradition every 31st of December. The celebration of Zhenya's engagement leads to all four men getting completely drunk. The dilemma, however, is that one of these men has to fly to Leningrad to celebrate New Year's Eve with his wife. By mistake, they send Zhenya to Leningrad. Being completely blacked out, Zhenya does not remember the flight or him getting a taxi when already in Leningrad. Coinsidently, the street on which Zhenya lives in Moscow exists in Leningrad as well. Zhenya, barely able to walk, enters the apartment building and makes his way up onto the 4th floor and opens the door with his key, and, without hesitating, makes himself comfortable and falls asleep on what he thinks is his bed.

A few minutes later, Nadya, a beautiful Russian woman, enters this same apartment - only it is really hers. Naturally, she is shocked to find a drunk stranger asleep on her bed. And her fiancé, who arrives shortly after, isn't thrilled to see drunk Zhenya either. The chemistry between Nadya and Zhenya grows as events begin to unravel...

The average foreigner will probably ask - "How is it possible that the apartment building and the apartment itself is identical to the one in Moscow? How could he even open the door with his key?" In Soviet times, buildings were built almost identically. There was no individuality. Flats looked the same. The furniture was the same. And, by luck, the key matched perfectly as well, although not surprisingly.''

"First of all it's a great story that combines elements of subtle satire, romance, and at times laugh-outloud comedy into a farcical love triangle.

Second is the great acting.  Andrei Myagkov simply delivers a character who undergoes significant, yet somehow believable transformation from a shy, nerdy young doctor to a bold, at times arrogant, yet at the same time romantic man.  A great comic performance by Yuri Yakovlev, as the jealous fiance of the heroine, alone makes the film worth watching, to the last moments.

The 3rd element is the music and poetry.  The songs are an important part of narration, not just there for a backdrop. The song lyrics and the poetry are by some of the most prominent Russian poets of the Silver Age and are just plain beautiful. In short this an amazing film, one of those that can be watched over and over."

"Let me sort out what in this film is Soviet, what is Russian, and what is universal.

Soviet is the background, including the cartoon which precedes the appearance of humans: a man with a tube kills any architect originality, even so innocent as balconies. As a consequence, the same buildings are put up in Artica as well in a southern desert before surprised camels. The Soviet reality is the basis of the plot with identical buildings in different cities. Also the New Year tree rather that the Christmas tree is Soviet. However, as the story unfolds, the Soviet reality recedes into little visible background. An exception is a line in one of the songs: if you do not have a dog, your neighbor cannot poison your dog.

Russian are the beautiful poems which are made into songs. There are also some views of Leningrad, but actually only a few, with the St. Isaac Basilica shown several times from different sides.

The cast and the technical crew are largely Russian, but not only. Obviously Armenian, Georgian and Jewish names are listed. The actress playing Nadya has been imported from Central Europe; Barbara Brylska is a Polish actress, well known also from a number of other movies made in Poland as well as in other countries.

The appeal of the film is truly universal ! This is the reason why viewers from countries so disparate as Latvia, Ukraine and China like this film so much (not to mention Texans). The love-jealousy quadrangle, two mothers, friends of Zhenya and colleagues of Nadya could have lived in many countries around the world. Even the story of the same address could have happened for instance in Germany where practically every city and town has Bahnhofstrasse and Poststrasse.

Finally, the atmosphere of this film is unique - a word which very rarely can be used discussing films. We have seen other films directed by Eldar Ryazanov, all of them good, but none comparable to this one. All that takes place in the film is plausible, it could have happened in reality. At the same time, there is the feeling of poetic, unreal and sublime. These two basically opposed reactions to the film coexist somehow in the viewer; this simply does not happen in movies, films directed by Krzysztof Kieslowski excepted. Irony of the Fate is a truly wonderful film, alive 30 years after being created; it will enchant future generations as well."
Source: imdb

[Faux Pas]

You know at Christmas you are married to a RW.....
 
..... when amid the Christmas decorations amply displayed in the house you find a couple of plastic snakes.

 
........when suggesting a film to watch with her son about a young boy stranded at Christmas, she responds, "Oh, I have seen 'One At Home.' "

 
......when visiting your friends, they serve tea with Christmas cookies, and rather than squeezing the lemon slice into the tea, she sprinkles salt on it and eats it, rind peel and all.

Sounds like a cry for tequila 

[Lily]

Downtown Toronto, there is always a place for a good Russian tradition! Especially on the New Year's Eve!

Stretching my limbs on the border 


 
 
 

[mendeleyev]

Самое лучшее поздравление с Новым Годом 2013!

As you can see below, earlier on New Year's day someone caught photos of Grandfather Frost and his granddaughter the Snow Maiden out delivering candy and small gifts to children.




Grandfather Frost is pulled by his "Troika" of 3 special horses.






There is a tradition that on the morning of the New Year the family goes out to the main city square to walk and greet others. It is a lovely tradition whether on Red Square in Moscow, Independence Square in Kyiv or wherever one lives, even in the villages.

[I/O]

......when visiting your friends, they serve tea with Christmas cookies, and rather than squeezing the lemon slice into the tea, she sprinkles salt on it and eats it, rind peel and all.

.................is there enough room under the table?