In the 21st century, one may think that living without a smartphone or a laptop is boring. But in the Soviet era, two weeks of winter holidays were a real fairy tale for children all across the country. It was a time when they spent long hours outdoors, skating, skiing, having snowball fights or riding sledges.
Check out Sputnik's photo gallery to see how children spent their free time in winter decades ago.
Children play during winter holidays in Cherepovets, 1971
Children have fun on a skating rink in Moscow, 1976
Children climb a snow slide during the 'Farewell to Russian winter' celebrations in 1979
A girl enjoys a dog sleigh ride during winter holidays at her granny's place in Podolsk outside Moscow in 1971
A boy enjoys a sledge ride in 1960
Boys with a puppy during the 'Farewell to Russian winter' celebrations in Kargopol in 1987
Children skiing in a resort camp in 1979
A boy enjoys a sledge ride in 1976
Children play in the snow in Tolyatti in 1973
Boys play hockey in Moscow in 1959
Children have a snowball fight in Moscow in 1969
Boys enjoy sledge riding in Tallinn in 1983
Boys are fighting using wooden swords and shields during a winter day in Yakutsk in 1973
Children enjoy sliding down an ice slide in Perm in 1973
Children play on frozen Lake Baikal in 1988
