Russia Recants

Manawatu Times, Volume 62, Issue 26, 1 February 1937, Page 10

Russia Recants

RETURN OF SANTA CLAUS MOSCOW. To the astonishment and undoubted satisfaction of many Russians, Santa Claus has been brought to life again. Two Government daily newspapers, which set the code of behaviour for millions of Russia’s youth and rarely carry any advertisements, devoted a huge portion of their space to popularising Santa Claus commercially. lie is featured in traditional bourgois ga/b—fur-trimmed coat, high boots, Russian fur-trimmed winter headgear, and large moustache and overflowing beard, with joyful youngsters milling around him to inspect the numerous Christmas gifts which he carries. It is Moscow’s mail order house advetising children’s toys and Christmas tree decorations.

It is now quite clear that Santa Claus, after the lapse of more than 19 years has come back to Russia. Last year the “Yolka,” or Christmas tree, first received official approval as a •‘New Year’s decoration.”

This seeming retreat from the “antireligious front,” moreover, was given greater significance when t>ho Kremlin came out as a defender of Christianity.

On the ground that it mocks the Christianising of medieval Russia, an elaborate musical spectacle, “Bogatyr, ” a play which cost hundreds of pouudb, was peremptorily banned. The action is all the more drastic in that the lyries wero written by none other than the Soviet Poet Laureate, Dcrnyau Biednv. Biedny is the only poet living within the ancient Kremliu walls. Nevcftheiess, ho could not save his play from tho consor’s axe, which this time appear as the defender of historic truth. Tho Christianisation of pagan Russia, it is argued, is not to be turned int<» a mockery.