Museum of Russian Icons fall 2018 Newsletter MoRI_Fall_2018 2

NEWS
from the
MUSEUM OF RUSSIAN ICONS
Fall 2018
The Museum is pleased to present Corncobs to
Cosmonauts: Redefining the Holidays During the
Soviet Era, an exhibition transforming the Museum’s
West Gallery into a Russian winter wonderland
from November 9, 2018 to January 27, 2019. The
centerpiece of the show will be more than 150 Soviet-era
ornaments displayed alongside “New Year’s Trees,” of various sizes,
together with holiday toys, books, and cards.
Collector Frank Sciacca donated the majority of the ornaments to the museum. They
depict a variety of non-religious objects that were important to both the average Russian
citizen and the Soviet state. These include folk heroes and cartoon characters, funny clowns and
chubby babies, state emblems and objects that celebrate the productivity of farms and factories.
Following the Russian Revolution in 1917, the anti-religion Bolsheviks discouraged Christmas and
New Year celebrations in the U.S.S.R., since the gift giving and extravagance that accompanied
the holidays came to symbolize the greed and excess of the aristocracy and bourgeois classes. The
tradition of celebrating Novy God (New Year) re-appeared in 1935 as a secular holiday that would
symbolize Soviet children’s prosperity and happiness.
The custom of decorating Christmas trees had initially been introduced to Russia by Peter the Great
after he visited Europe during the 1700’s. The New Year’s tree, or yolka, was repurposed as the
primary symbol of the celebration but with all religious references removed. The Red Army’s ruby
star replaced the tree-topping star of Bethlehem, and the tree was decorated with non-religious
ornaments depicting animals, plants, airplanes, and the communist hammer and sickle. After the
Soviets launched Sputnik 1 in 1957, figures of cosmonauts, rockets, satellites, and planets became
popular. Ornaments that celebrated the country’s achievements in agriculture–like peppers,
grapes, and carrots–were sold during Soviet leader Nikita Khrushchev’s time; the most popular
being corncobs because of Khrushchev’s infamous “corn campaign” which he touted as a solution
to livestock shortages.
Russians were allowed to celebrate Christmas once again after the collapse
of the Soviet Union in 1991. However, old habits die hard and the Christmas
festivities, held on January 7 in accordance with the old Julian
calendar, are still overshadowed by big New Year celebrations, which
are more like the Western Christmas.
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Opening Reception:
Thursday, November 8, 6:00-8:00pm
Members Free, Nonmembers $5
Bring the family and celebrate the opening of this fun exhibition
with tours by collector Frank Sciacca, holiday desserts and crafts.
RSVP by November 5. Call 978.598.5000 x121.
Media Sponsor
203 Union Street, Clinton, MA 01510