Communist Christmas
December 13, 2008 9:00 AM Subscribe
I spent a Christmas in Havana a few years ago.
Since the USSR collapsed, Christianity is fine again, but the current generation is sort of endearingly clueless: I saw more than one nativity diorama, complete with three wise men, reindeer, shepherds, and a Santa Claus in the manger.
posted by rokusan at 10:12 AM on December 13, 2008 [5 favorites]
Since the USSR collapsed, Christianity is fine again, but the current generation is sort of endearingly clueless: I saw more than one nativity diorama, complete with three wise men, reindeer, shepherds, and a Santa Claus in the manger.
posted by rokusan at 10:12 AM on December 13, 2008 [5 favorites]
This would do great in the White Nights thread.
Oh wait, it wouldn't...
posted by DreamerFi at 10:17 AM on December 13, 2008
Oh wait, it wouldn't...
posted by DreamerFi at 10:17 AM on December 13, 2008
This is too fucking awesome!
Thanks, homunculus.
posted by jason's_planet at 11:47 AM on December 13, 2008
Thanks, homunculus.
posted by jason's_planet at 11:47 AM on December 13, 2008
Those who do not toil shall not get lumps of coal in their stockings.
posted by steef at 1:36 PM on December 13, 2008
posted by steef at 1:36 PM on December 13, 2008
Yeah, PETA got on us for that reindeer business. We've had to change our methods.
No regard for tradition, those guys.
(Thanks, madamjujujive!)
posted by eritain at 2:49 PM on December 13, 2008
No regard for tradition, those guys.
(Thanks, madamjujujive!)
posted by eritain at 2:49 PM on December 13, 2008
rokusan, I once read about a Japanese mall who put a crucified Santa in its lobby, but I'm not sure if it's an urban legend.
posted by qvantamon at 6:16 PM on December 13, 2008 [1 favorite]
posted by qvantamon at 6:16 PM on December 13, 2008 [1 favorite]
Well, no chocolate Trotskies or candy Stalins around, but hey, chocolate Lenins...!
posted by Kronos_to_Earth at 6:43 PM on December 13, 2008
posted by Kronos_to_Earth at 6:43 PM on December 13, 2008
Worthy of Monty Python.
posted by Kraftmatic Adjustable Cheese at 6:51 PM on December 13, 2008
posted by Kraftmatic Adjustable Cheese at 6:51 PM on December 13, 2008
Thanks, homunculus.
My pleasure. Thanks should also go to comrade Coppe for posting it at MoFi.
But dagnabit, now I can't get that song out of my head. I'm being brainwashed by communist kittens!
posted by homunculus at 7:18 PM on December 13, 2008
My pleasure. Thanks should also go to comrade Coppe for posting it at MoFi.
But dagnabit, now I can't get that song out of my head. I'm being brainwashed by communist kittens!
posted by homunculus at 7:18 PM on December 13, 2008
Oh, homunculus; I am disappointed to see a comrade of such standing as your good self still bandying about bourgeois notions of individual merit (that's a purgin') when I am happy merely to serve as a never-rusting screw in Chairman Miao's Great Proletarian Chrimble Revolution.
posted by Abiezer at 8:15 PM on December 13, 2008
posted by Abiezer at 8:15 PM on December 13, 2008
Reminded me of a friend who's mom was big in the communist party in the 60s. They had a hammer and sickle at the top of their tree.
posted by batou_ at 10:34 PM on December 13, 2008
posted by batou_ at 10:34 PM on December 13, 2008
It's the ultimate irony - 'Siberia' rhymes with 'cheerier.'
My new favourite Xmas song, thanks for posting
posted by marmaduke_yaverland at 12:53 AM on December 14, 2008
My new favourite Xmas song, thanks for posting
posted by marmaduke_yaverland at 12:53 AM on December 14, 2008
I am disappointed to see a comrade of such standing as your good self still bandying about bourgeois notions of individual merit (that's a purgin')
But comrade, I just didn't want to seem like I was taking credit for myself! Oh crap, Chairman Miao is going to send me to Siberia. Well, at least it's not as cold as it used to be.
posted by homunculus at 8:57 AM on December 14, 2008
But comrade, I just didn't want to seem like I was taking credit for myself! Oh crap, Chairman Miao is going to send me to Siberia. Well, at least it's not as cold as it used to be.
posted by homunculus at 8:57 AM on December 14, 2008
I believe madamjjj's Soviet cards actually wish the recipient "Happy New Year", even though they feature Christmas imagery. (Love the totally American-looking Santa Clauses in the pictures, rather than a more European-style Father Christmas or St. Nicholas. I guess if you're trying to get as far away from religion as possible, you turn to American-style consumerism.)
posted by Quietgal at 2:27 PM on December 14, 2008
posted by Quietgal at 2:27 PM on December 14, 2008
Santa is just another victim of capitalist exploitation (NSFW).
posted by homunculus at 4:40 PM on December 14, 2008
posted by homunculus at 4:40 PM on December 14, 2008
Quietgal is correct about the New Year thing.
The "totally American-looking Santa Clauses" are most likely Ded Moroz (Grandfather Frost). Ded Moroz is more likely than Santa Claus to be shown actually bringing a tree, instead of just presents; he's more likely to have an ankle-length robe, instead of a jacket and trousers; he's more likely to be carrying a staff; he's more likely to be dressed in blue; and he's much more likely to travel with his granddaughter Snegurochka (Snow Maiden), and not in a sleigh with mutant glowing reindeer (not that the USSR didn't produce a few of those). Because while one wouldn't want to get too religious, one wouldn't want to get too American either.
Post-USSR, holiday season got truly wild in places with both Catholics and Orthodox. The Catholics celebrate St. Nicholas's day, then they and the indifferent celebrate Christmas, then everybody celebrates New Year's, then the Catholics celebrate Epiphany, then the Orthodox celebrate Christmas and Old New Year's (i.e., Julian calendar New Year's) and Epiphany ... all of these in one month's time and many of them involving incapacitation through cooking or drinking or both.
posted by eritain at 11:33 AM on December 16, 2008
The "totally American-looking Santa Clauses" are most likely Ded Moroz (Grandfather Frost). Ded Moroz is more likely than Santa Claus to be shown actually bringing a tree, instead of just presents; he's more likely to have an ankle-length robe, instead of a jacket and trousers; he's more likely to be carrying a staff; he's more likely to be dressed in blue; and he's much more likely to travel with his granddaughter Snegurochka (Snow Maiden), and not in a sleigh with mutant glowing reindeer (not that the USSR didn't produce a few of those). Because while one wouldn't want to get too religious, one wouldn't want to get too American either.
Post-USSR, holiday season got truly wild in places with both Catholics and Orthodox. The Catholics celebrate St. Nicholas's day, then they and the indifferent celebrate Christmas, then everybody celebrates New Year's, then the Catholics celebrate Epiphany, then the Orthodox celebrate Christmas and Old New Year's (i.e., Julian calendar New Year's) and Epiphany ... all of these in one month's time and many of them involving incapacitation through cooking or drinking or both.
posted by eritain at 11:33 AM on December 16, 2008
Kiki and Bubu like Christmas. But they hate the System. What can they do? They need some music!
posted by homunculus at 12:22 PM on December 18, 2008
posted by homunculus at 12:22 PM on December 18, 2008
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posted by madamjujujive at 9:17 AM on December 13, 2008 [4 favorites]