Postcards for me are one of the memories of childhood. They came often, and during the holidays they usually came in batches, 15-20 each. We also wrote; one of the pre-holiday days was devoted to mail. It took a lot of time to complete all the cards; the geography of sending was almost the entire country.

Today - a small selection of Soviet postcards that I have preserved. Let's see what was depicted on them in the 80s, how Santa Claus and the characters changed closer to the 90s. The cards were printed in huge quantities, so maybe you will find ones that you remember yourself.

Mail, almost the only method of communication at that time, was cheap, which is why it was accessible to many. I’m unlikely to ever become a fan of the USSR, but I will always talk about Soviet postcards with warmth. Many were made with high quality, with beautiful drawings and kind characters. Among the latter is whoever you meet. Here is the traditional Father Frost, who has not yet been supplanted by Santa (I have nothing against the old man from Lapland, but now you can meet him here, perhaps more often than our Grandfather). Here are happy kids on sleds, here are animals, here are cartoon characters.

Unfortunately, I do not have postcards from the 50s and 60s, where rockets, astronauts and other familiar details of that time were solemnly depicted, but something can be shown.

1. In general, I would divide postcards from the past into several groups. One of them is cards with Santa Claus. He was depicted either with funny animal helpers, like here

3. Or already racing in a troika to those who behaved well, while Santa was still preparing the reindeer team

4. Closer to the 90s, Grandfather became more like his European brother and began to use different transport

5. Moroz even acquired some things that he could do without in the earlier Soviet era, and stopped forgetting about technological progress

6. Something also happened to his assistants, and he himself even became younger from this situation)

7. Sometimes Grandfather was depicted in company

8. Another group of New Year's cards did not let us forget about the Kremlin

9. Moreover, the red star always turned out to be drawn more clearly than all other details

10. But snow-covered houses and bells were rarely seen. They probably could have reminded workers of pre-revolutionary Christmas cards with angels and churches, which was unacceptable then

11. Various mythological characters were also rare. Gnomes are much closer to Christmas cards from Europe

12. But we had kids with sleds. There were no computers yet, you had to freeze on the slide) Or alone

13. Or en masse. Depicting pre-revolutionary traditional leisure was no longer considered a crime in the 80s

14. Few people wore folk costumes in the 80s, and postcards did not let you forget what they looked like. This is great

15. By the beginning of the 90s, cards like this began to appear. In my opinion, this was the first step towards the primitiveness of drawings on postcards, which still comes across today

16. But these look good

17. Even cooler are postcards with toys from the 50s - 60s. These jewelry are simply gorgeous. Soon I will decorate the Christmas tree with them

18. As a bonus - a couple of postcards from socialist Bulgaria

19. They were not exotic; many corresponded with countries of the socialist camp

I’m deliberately publishing this post a little earlier than the pre-holiday bustle begins. Maybe some of you will want to congratulate your friends in this way. I have nothing against various more modern congratulations, but you must agree that it will be nice to hold in your hands a postcard with warm congratulations from dear people. And after 10-20 years there will be something to remember. Emails and text messages definitely won’t last that long. In general, given the speed of our mail, there is still a chance that your postcard will arrive before the New Year.

Do you still have similar ones too? Show it in the comments.

And by the way, where can you buy good postcards now? Not pop, but made with taste and love. Most of what is sold in kiosks, I will never send to people dear to me.

And after some time, the industry produced a wide range of postcards, pleasantly pleasing to the eye in the windows of newsstands filled with traditionally discreet printed products.

And even though the quality of printing and the brightness of the colors of Soviet postcards were inferior to imported ones, these shortcomings were made up for by the originality of the subjects and the high professionalism of the artists.

The real heyday of the Soviet New Year's card came in the 60s. The number of subjects has increased: motives such as space exploration and the fight for peace appear. Winter landscapes were crowned with wishes: “May the New Year bring success in sports!”

There was a variegated variety of styles and methods in the creation of postcards. Although, of course, it could not do without interweaving the content of newspaper editorials into the New Year's theme.
As the famous collector Evgeniy Ivanov jokingly notes, on the postcards “the Soviet Father Frost actively participates in the social and industrial life of the Soviet people: he is a railway worker on the BAM, flies into space, melts metal, works on a computer, delivers mail, etc.

His hands are constantly busy with work - perhaps that’s why Santa Claus carries a bag of gifts much less often...” By the way, E. Ivanov’s book “New Year and Christmas in Postcards”, which seriously analyzes the plots of postcards from the point of view of their special symbolism, proves that there is much more meaning hidden in an ordinary postcard than it might seem at first glance...

1966

1968

1970

1971

1972

1973

1977

1979

1980

1981

1984

USSR postcards congratulating the country on the New Year are a special layer of the visual culture of our country. Retro postcards drawn in the USSR are not only a collectible, an art object. For many, this is a childhood memory that stays with us for many years. Looking at Soviet New Year's cards is a special pleasure, they are so beautiful, cute, creating a festive mood and children's happiness.

In 1935, after the October Revolution, the New Year began to be celebrated again and small printing houses began to print greeting cards, reviving the traditions of pre-revolutionary Russia. However, if earlier postcards often contained images of Christmas and religious symbols, in the new country all this was banned, and postcards from the USSR were also banned. They did not congratulate them on the New Year; they were only allowed to congratulate their comrades on the first year of the October Revolution, which did not really inspire people, and such cards were not in demand. It was possible to lull the attention of the censors only with children's stories, and even with propaganda postcards with the inscription: “Down with the bourgeois Christmas tree.” However, very few such cards were printed, so cards issued before 1939 are of great value to collectors.

Around 1940, the Izogiz publishing house began printing editions of New Year's cards with images of the Kremlin and chimes, snow-covered trees, and garlands.

Wartime New Year cards

Wartime, naturally, leaves its mark on the postcards of the USSR. They were congratulated with encouraging messages, such as “New Year's greetings from the front,” Father Frost was depicted with a machine gun and a broom, sweeping out the fascists, and the Snow Maiden bandaged the wounds of soldiers. But their main mission was to support the spirit of the people and show that victory is close, and the military is waiting at home.

In 1941, the Art Publishing House released a series of special postcards that were intended to be sent to the front. To speed up printing, they were painted in two colors - black and red; there were many scenes with portraits of war heroes.

You can often find imported postcards from 1945 in collectors' collections and home archives. Soviet soldiers who reached Berlin sent and brought back beautiful foreign Christmas cards.

Post-war 50-60s.

After the war, there was no money in the country; people could not buy New Year's gifts or spoil their children. People were happy about the simplest things, so an inexpensive but touching card became very popular. In addition, the postcard could be sent by mail to loved ones in any corner of the vast country. The plots use symbols of victory over fascism, as well as portraits of Stalin as the father of the people. There are many images of grandfathers with grandchildren, children with mothers - all because in most families the fathers did not return from the front. The main theme is world peace and victory.

In 1953, mass production was established in the USSR. It was considered obligatory to congratulate friends and relatives on the New Year with a postcard. A lot of cards were sold, they were even used to make crafts - boxes and balls. Bright, thick cardboard was perfect for this, but other arts and crafts materials were hard to come by. Goznak printed postcards with drawings by outstanding Russian artists. This period marks the heyday of the miniature genre. The storylines are expanding - artists have something to draw, even despite censorship. In addition to traditional chimes, they paint airplanes and trains, tall buildings, depict fairy-tale characters, winter landscapes, matinees in kindergartens, children with bags of sweets, and parents carrying home a Christmas tree.

In 1956, the film “Carnival Night” with L. Gurchenko was released on Soviet screens. Scenes from the film and the image of the actress become a symbol of the New Year, they are often printed on postcards.

The sixties open with Gagarin's flight into space and, of course, this story could not help but appear on New Year's cards. They depict astronauts in a spacesuit with gifts in their hands, space rockets and lunar rovers with New Year trees.

During this period, the theme of greeting cards generally expands, they become more vibrant and interesting. They depict not only fairy-tale characters and children, but also the life of Soviet people, for example, a rich and plentiful New Year's table with champagne, tangerines, red caviar and the indispensable Olivier salad.

Postcards V.I. Zarubina

When talking about the Soviet New Year's card, it is impossible not to mention the name of the outstanding artist and animator Vladimir Ivanovich Zarubin. Almost all those cute, touching hand-drawn postcards created in the USSR in the 60s and 70s. created by his hand.

The main theme of the cards were fairy-tale characters - cheerful and kind animals, Father Frost and Snow Maiden, rosy-cheeked happy children. Almost all postcards have the following plot: Santa Claus gives gifts to a boy on skis; the hare reaches out with scissors to cut a New Year's gift from the tree; Santa Claus and a boy play hockey; animals decorate the Christmas tree. Today, these old Happy New Year cards are a collector's item. The USSR produced them in large quantities, so there are many of them in philocarty collections (this

But not only Zarubin was an outstanding Soviet artist creating postcards. Besides him, many names remain in the history of fine art and miniatures.

For example, Ivan Yakovlevich Dergilev, called a classic of modern postcards and the founder of staged postcards. He created hundreds of images printed in millions of copies. Among the New Year's ones, one can highlight a postcard from 1987, depicting a balalaika and Christmas tree decorations. This card was released in a record 55 million copies.

Evgeny Nikolaevich Gundobin, Soviet artist, classic of postcard miniatures. His style is reminiscent of Soviet films of the 50s, kind, touching and a little naive. There are no adults in his New Year's cards, only children - on skis, decorating a Christmas tree, receiving gifts, and also children against the backdrop of thriving Soviet industry, flying into space on a rocket. In addition to images of children, Gundobin painted colorful panoramas of New Year's Moscow, iconic architectural signs - the Kremlin, the MGIMO building, the statue of a Worker and a Kolkhoz Woman with New Year's wishes.

Another artist who worked in a style close to Zarubin is Vladimir Ivanovich Chetverikov. His postcards were popular in the USSR and entered literally every home. He depicted cartoon animals and funny stories. For example, Santa Claus, surrounded by animals, plays the balalaika for a cobra; two Santa Clauses shaking hands when meeting.

Postcards from the 70s and 80s

In the 70s, there was a cult of sports in the country, so many cards depict people celebrating the holiday on the ski track or at the skating rink, and Happy New Year sports cards. The USSR hosted the Olympics in the 1980s, which gave a new impetus to the development of postcard subjects. Olympians, fire, rings - all these symbols are woven into New Year's motifs.

In the 80s, the genre of New Year photo cards also became popular. The USSR will very soon cease to exist, and the arrival of a new life can be felt in the works of artists. The photo is replacing the hand-drawn postcard. They usually depict Christmas tree branches, balls and garlands, and glasses of champagne. Images of traditional crafts appear on postcards - Gzhel, Palekh, Khokhloma, as well as new printing technologies - foil stamping, three-dimensional drawings.

At the end of the Soviet period of our history, people learned about the Chinese calendar, and images of the animal symbol of the year appeared on postcards. So, for example, New Year cards from the USSR in the Year of the Dog were greeted with an image of this animal - photographic and drawn.

I bring to your attention a selection of postcards "HAPPY NEW YEAR!" 50-60s.
My favorite is a postcard by the artist L. Aristov, where belated passers-by are rushing home. I always look at her with such pleasure!

Be careful, there are already 54 scans under the cut!

(“Soviet artist”, artists Yu. Prytkov, T. Sazonova)

("Izogiz", 196o, artist Yu. Prytkov, T. Sazonova)

(“Leningrad Artist”, 1957, artists N. Stroganova, M. Alekseev)

("Soviet Artist", 1958, artist V. Andrievich)

(“Izogiz”, 1959, artist N. Antokolskaya)

V. Arbekov, G. Renkov)

(“Izogiz”, 1961, artists V. Arbekov, G. Renkov)

(Published by the USSR Ministry of Communications, 1966, artist L.Aristov)

BEAR - SANTA CLAUS.
The bears behaved modestly, decently,
They were polite, they studied well,
That's why they have forest Santa Claus
I gladly brought a Christmas tree as a gift
A. Bazhenov, poetry M. Ruttera)

RECEPTION OF NEW YEAR'S TELEGRAMS.
On the edge, under a pine tree,
The forest telegraph is knocking,
Bunnies send telegrams:
"Happy New Year, dads, moms!"
(“Izogiz”, 1957, artist A. Bazhenov, poetry M. Ruttera)

(“Izogiz”, 1957, artist S.Bialkovskaya)

S.Bialkovskaya)

(“Izogiz”, 1957, artist S.Bialkovskaya)

(Map factory "Riga", 1957, artist E.Pikk)

(Published by the USSR Ministry of Communications, 1965, artist E. Pozdnev)

(“Izogiz”, 1955, artist V. Govorkov)

(“Izogiz”, 1960, artist N. Golts)

(“Izogiz”, 1956, artist V. Gorodetsky)

("Leningrad Artist", 1957, artist M. Grigoriev)

("Rosglavkniga. Philately", 1962, artist E. Gundobin)

(Published by the USSR Ministry of Communications, 1954, artist E. Gundobin)

(Published by the USSR Ministry of Communications, 1964, artist D. Denisov)

("Soviet Artist", 1963, artist I. Znamensky)

I. Znamensky

(Published by the USSR Ministry of Communications, 1961, artist I. Znamensky)

(Published by the USSR Ministry of Communications, 1959, artist I. Znamensky)

(“Izogiz”, 1956, artist I. Znamensky)

("Soviet Artist", 1961, artist K.Zotov)

New Year! New Year!
Start a round dance!
It's me, Snowman,
Not new to the skating rink,
I invite everyone to the ice,
Let's have a fun round dance!
(“Izogiz”, 1963, artist K.Zotov, poetry Yu.Postnikova)

V.Ivanov)

(“Izogiz”, 1957, artist I. Kominarets)

(“Izogiz”, 1956, artist K. Lebedev)

("Soviet Artist", 1960, artist K. Lebedev)

("Artist of the RSFSR", 1967, artist V.Lebedev)

("The State's vision of image-creative mysteries and musical literature of the Ukrainian Socialist Republic", 1957, artist V.Melnichenko)

("Soviet Artist", 1962, artist K.Rotov)

S. Rusakov)

(“Izogiz”, 1962, artist S. Rusakov)

(“Izogiz”, 1953, artist L. Rybchenkova)

(“Izogiz”, 1954, artist L. Rybchenkova)

(“Izogiz”, 1958, artist A. Sazonov)

(“Izogiz”, 1956, artists Yu. Severin, V. Chernukha)

1955
"I wish to make a wish for Santa Claus,
Not trying for myself, but for everyone,
So that tears stop flowing in the world,
And so that healthy laughter sounds everywhere,
So that all terrorists without exception
There was no water in the desert
And they would have perished there from exhaustion,
And so that the wind scatters their traces;
So that no children in Africa go hungry,
No adults would have to die
And so that on our solar planet
Happiness, peace and grace reigned!"
New Year's greetings from a snowman

The snowman sends a letter to his friend:
"I wish you a blizzard...
So that the blizzard lasts all year...
Ice, snowdrifts, snow slides,
And the frost is minus forty...
And warmth!"
Author of poems A. Usachev

1958
There was a Christmas tree in the snow -
Green bangs,
Resinous,
healthy,
One and a half meters.
An event occurred
One winter day:
The forester decided to cut it down! -
So it seemed to her.
She was noticed
Was surrounded...
And only late in the evening
She came to her senses.
What a strange feeling!
The fear has disappeared somewhere...
Glass lanterns
They burn in its branches.
Jewelry sparkles -
What an elegant look!
At the same time, without a doubt,
She is standing in the forest.
Not cut down! Whole!
Beautiful and strong!..
Who saved her, who undressed her?
Forester's son!
Sergey Mikhalkov.

1962
The three of us with my friends
Let's sing a merry song,
And then we'll dance together
And we'll pour some champagne.
Let's drink, friends, to
May we be lucky in life,
Even if not immediately - gradually
Happiness has come to us all!
After all, you can’t live without faith,
Happy New Year, friends!!!
Author of poems VasiLina

1976
The last days of the passing year
The minutes are flying by, there is a lot to do!
And somehow the troubles were forgotten
And we think: what to wear for the holiday?

We hurry, fuss and wait impatiently,
To set the festive table as quickly as possible,
And send the Old One away - without regret!
And immediately forget all the troubles!

Let's raise a glass to our health!
Let happiness enter every home on the planet!
And let the world be filled only with love!
And our children will make us all happy!...
Author VasiLina

1954
They say: on New Year's Eve
Whatever you want -
Everything will always happen
Everything always comes true.

Even guys can
All wishes come true
It is only necessary, they say,
Make an effort.

Don't be lazy, don't yawn,
And have patience
And don’t count your studies
For your torment.

They say: on New Year's Eve
Whatever you want -
Everything will always happen
Everything always comes true.

How can we not make a wish?
A modest wish -
Execute "excellently"
School assignments.

So that the students
Began to study
To get a deuce in the diaries
I couldn't get through!
Sergey Mikhalkov



1954
In a white fur coat,
Not in sable - snow,
Walks on the ground on its own
Empress Winter!

Admire, look -
On the hem, on the chest -
Clusters of pearls and gold!
It’s immediately obvious that she’s rich!

It’s immediately obvious that it’s good -
Does not spare silver
Distributes gems
All day and night long!

Doesn't skimp on gifts -
It’s immediately obvious that the queen!
Natalia Karpova

1954
Soon, soon the world will be enveloped in a snow-white blizzard,
Snowflakes will dance in a patterned window with mischief,
And the apartment smells of fluffy resinous spruce,
Caramel, gingerbread and magic!

Serpentine curls will rustle, scattering all around,
The tinsel made of thin silver foil will sparkle,
The branches will accommodate: malvinas, pierrots, pinocchio,
Goldfish, nuts, balls, moths!

At night the oak cabinet door will creak mysteriously,
Footsteps on the parquet, someone's quiet, exciting laughter.
And in the morning there are gifts under the pine needles: skates, a bonbonniere,
And toys - what else do you need for children's fun?!

Soon, soon, confetti will flutter from a smoking firecracker,
The garlands will blink and your heart will feel warm...
And the mysterious angel from the high spruce top,
With a serene smile, he will spread his wing for happiness!
Osya Belenky


1957
What is the name of Santa Claus in different countries?
Austria – Nikolaus
Bulgaria – Uncle Mraz,
Germany - Knecht Ruprecht
Holland - Sinte Klaas
Vietnam – Thao Quen
Italy - Babbo Natale
Spain - Olentzero
Kampuchea - Santa Heat
Colombia – Papa Pascual (Pasquale)
China - Sheng Dan Laoren
Cyprus - Saint Basil
Mongolia - Uvlin Uvgun, Otkhan
Norway – Nisse
Netherlands - Sunderklass
Ossetia – Arthuron
Panama – Popeye Noel
Romania - Mos Jerile
Slovakia - Jerzyszek
Western Slavic countries - Saints Mikalaus
USA, English-speaking countries - Santa Claus
Czech Republic - Ded Mikulas
Uzbekistan - Ker Bobo (Korbobo)
France - Per (Pere) Noel
Finland - Jolupukki
Sweden – Yultomten (Yultomtennen)
Estonia - Jouluvana
Japan - Oji-san, Toshigami, Shogatsu-san

It's almost midnight! Fu-you, well-you!
The gait is taken at full speed.
That's when one minute
Saves for a whole year!

Poems by B. Timofeev.
Artist M. Mazruho. 1957 "Leningrad artist".

1977
Run out quickly
Look at bullfinches.
They arrived, they arrived,
The flock was greeted by snowstorms!

And Frost is the Red Nose
He brought them rowan trees.
Sweetened well.
Late winter evening
Bright scarlet grapes!

1981
In the middle of a snowy clearing
The tree sleeps serenely.
Like a sleeping princess
Queen of the Wonder Forest.

The old elk calls the animals:
- Hey, here! Hurry, hurry!
You forgot? After all, today
There will be a New Year's holiday!

We need to decorate the Christmas tree,
Run for gifts:
Otherwise it's New Year
There's no way he'll come to us!

The gray wolf carries firecrackers,
Hedgehog - garland and toys.
And the eared bunnies
The cones on the Christmas tree are silver.

The squirrel carries pies
Woodpecker - foil stars.
The month flew from the sky,
Sat on top of the Christmas tree!

Smiling New Year
It's coming towards them through the snowdrifts!
Irina Gurina.

1989
The world becomes kinder in winter
And more fun from holiday worries

And know that New Year is coming soon!

Decorated Christmas tree and lights,
Gifts, wall newspaper by the window.
And I, like in childhood, speed up the days,
So that there is only one night left.

I want a noisy New Year's table,
I want a salad, "The Irony of Fate"
And so that Santa Claus comes again,
I want fabulous surprises, any...

And let the fallen leaves fly,
But if the holiday time has come,
We really want a little magic
And we learn to give warmth to others!

Will appear again under the Christmas tree
Gifts, unnoticed, as always...
And it will shine over the toys
A living, real star!

And the candles on the table will burn,
As a sign of love, as a code for the future...
It's nice to wake up in December
And know for sure that New Year is coming soon!
Poetry author Peter Davydov

You still have a rush, a blockage, a park,
But when you finally give away
Everything, literally until the last gift -

Come to me. If you want, then walk
Come as a trusted and old friend,
With my empty bag -
Delightfully spacious container.

That's when I use it!
I'll immediately throw the empty one into the bag
All unnecessary and superfluous rubbish,
Strained my soul, mind and back.
Take the bag to the dense dark forest,
Yes, away so that THIS doesn’t come back.
Don't complain, dear, about the terrible weight:
I carried it and didn’t even seem to bend...
Author of poems Shizel (Lyubov Sirota)

1951
Come on, girls! Come on, beauties!
Let the country sing about us!
And let them be famous with a ringing song
Our names are among the heroes!

All paths in the world are open for us,
And the earth brings us its bow.
It’s not for nothing that flowers and children grow here
And the rich fields are making ears!

And cities, and factories, and arable lands -
All this is our dear and sweet home.
Let the new day overtake yesterday
With your cheerful, joyful work!

Grow, a country where by the will of one
The peoples have all merged into one people!
Blossom, the country where a woman and a man
In the same rows, free, he walks!

1950