Representation of Christmas items and decorations in Soviet illustration and painting

Irina V. Kornilova and Nikolay G. Panfilov
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Irina V. Kornilova: Institute of Tatar Encyclopedia and Regional Studies named after M. Khasanov, Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Tatarstan; Naberezhnye Chelny State Pedagogical University
Nikolay G. Panfilov: Institute of Tatar Encyclopedia and Regional Studies named after M. Khasanov, Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Tatarstan

Russian Social and Humanitarian Studies, 2026, vol. 18, issue 1, 10–30

Abstract: Background. The article is devoted to the study of the artistic representation of Christmas tree toys and decorations in Soviet visual culture — from illustrations in children’s books and magazines to paintings. The authors analyze how these images reflected the evolution of New Year’s paraphernalia, participated in the formation of ideological, social and cultural narratives of the Soviet era. Soviet New Year’s toys are not just jewelry, but a reflection of the era, ideology and cultural transformations. Their images in painting and illustration allow you to trace how holiday traditions changed, how propaganda and art influenced the perception of the New Year. Purpose. The article shows how Christmas tree ornaments and decorations were represented in Soviet visual arts, what symbols prevailed, and how they fit into the context of the time. Materials and methods. The primary research method is comparative historical, allowing us to trace the evolution of Christmas tree decoration images across different periods of the Soviet era and identify the connections between changing themes and the socio‑political context. Published sources, including legislative acts, administrative documents, personal sources, catalogs of collectible Christmas tree decorations, and periodicals, were used. Results. The Christmas tree toy was a kind of marker of historical changes, the plots and style of which made it possible to trace the key stages of Soviet history — industrialization, World War II, space achievements, successes in the development of agriculture, etc. Book illustrations and New Year’s cards created recognizable visual codes that became part of children’s memories and family traditions, formed a collective memory.

Keywords: New Year; Christmas tree; New Year’s paraphernalia; traditions; Soviet symbol; representation; illustrations; painting (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2026
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:cxm:russhs:18:1:2026:10-30

DOI: 10.12731/3033-5981-2026-18-1-529

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