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Communist Holiday Greetings as the Soviet Press Ritual in the 1960s – 1980s (On the Example of “Nauka v Sibiri” Newspaper)

https://doi.org/10.25205/1818-7919-2023-22-6-60-69

Abstract

The article examines the late-Soviet phenomenon of the official Communist holiday greetings on the pages of the newspaper “Nauka v Sibiri” (‘Science in Siberia’). In the 1960s – 1980s, the main public holidays in the Soviet Union were November 7th, May Day, and the day of the Soviet Constitution. Victory Day was a memorial day for a long time in this span of time. Printed congratulations on the anniversary of the Great October Socialist Revolution and May Day were heavily ritualized, while a text of the printed address contained the realities of the current socio-economic policy of the CPSU. Constitution Day, until the mid-1980s, was holiday number three according to newspaper editorial policy. The greetings dedicated to this public holiday usually emphasized the importance of socio-economic goods and social benefits for the Soviet people guaranteed by the Constitution. Perestroika in the USSR drastically changed the editorial policy of “Nauka v Sibiri”. The well-established tradition of holiday greetings was revisited in 1986– 1988. In 1988–1989 “Nauka v Sibiri” ceased to print ritual congratulations on Soviet holidays, following the general political sentiments in the USSR at the age of Gorbachev.

About the Authors

D. M. Nechiporuk
Tyumen State University
Russian Federation

Dmitry M. Nechiporuk, Candidate of Sciences (History), Senior Researcher, Anthroposchool

Scopus Author ID 56113184300

RSCI Author ID 1063424

Tyumen



A. V. Gorelko
Tyumen State University
Russian Federation

Anastasia V. Gorelko, Researcher, Anthroposchool

Tyumen



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For citations:


Nechiporuk D.M., Gorelko A.V. Communist Holiday Greetings as the Soviet Press Ritual in the 1960s – 1980s (On the Example of “Nauka v Sibiri” Newspaper). Vestnik NSU. Series: History and Philology. 2023;22(6):60-69. (In Russ.) https://doi.org/10.25205/1818-7919-2023-22-6-60-69

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ISSN 1818-7919 (Print)