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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The lights of the New Year tree lit up in the Hall of Columns of the House of Unions.
© Sputnik / David Sholomovich
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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.
© Sputnik
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Moscow residents carry New Year's trees on the eve of the New Year, 1978.
© Sputnik / Vladimir Rodionov
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New Year's Eve in one of Moscow's clubs, 1938.
© Sputnik / Anatoliy Garanin
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Santa Claus (Grandfather Frost, Ded Moroz) walks on a city street, 1973
© Sputnik / Dmitry Debabov
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A girl holds a magic ball in her hand at the exhibition of Christmas tree decorations in Moscow, 1973.
© Sputnik / Valery Gende-Rote
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Russian dancing (pereplyas) at the New Year's festivities in Moscow, 1987.
© Sputnik / Vladimir Fedorenko
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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.
© Sputnik / Boris Kavashkin
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Children look at a stand with holiday decorations at the exhibition of Christmas tree decorations in Moscow, 1973.
© Sputnik / Valery Gende-Rote
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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.
© Sputnik / David Sholomovich
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Santa Claus (Grandfather Frost, Ded Moroz) talks to a girl, 1972.
© Sputnik / V. Shiyanovskiy
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New Year's ball in the Grand Kremlin Palace, 1955.
© Sputnik / David Sholomovich
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New Year's ball for young people in the Kremlin, Moscow, 1954.
© Sputnik / Anatoliy Garanin
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Santa Claus (Grandfather Frost, Ded Moroz) and Snow Maiden (Snegurochka) come to visit with gifts, 1987.
© Sputnik / Vladimir Fedorenko
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Moscow Palace of Pioneers on the Lenin Hills (now Sparrow Hills) to celebrate the New Year tree, 1972.
© Sputnik / V. Shiyanovskiy
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A Moscow family ringing in the New Year, 1987.
© Sputnik / Vladimir Fedorenko
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Ringing in the New Year. Children with gifts from Santa Claus (Grandfather Frost, Ded Moroz) and Snow Maiden (Snegurochka), 1954.
© Sputnik / David Sholomovich
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People walk along the Old Arbat pedestrian street during the New Year holidays, 1987.
© Sputnik / Vladimir Fedorenko
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Ringing in the new year with champagne, 1961.
© Sputnik / Yakov Berliner
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