Clashmaker.com

(See the first part of this topic)

So, Halloween had come on Russian soil. And we learned more about it though.. school, one of the first privately owned and run outfits of this kind in Krasnodar, Russia. The school had an unusually simple name: ‘Julia‘, or ‘Private School ‘Julia’.

It was unusual in many respects, though. But that was the time when many ‘unheard before’ things became possible, all of a sudden: imagine, in a part of the country (Kuban, or Krasnodarski Krai) that was always regarded as a ’stronghold of conservatism’, - of any kind - let it be ‘Soviet, communists’ conservatism’ , or ‘traditional conservatism’ that is innate to the life styles and ways local people have (it is a historic, native land of ‘Cossacks’) - there’d been created a school where children were taught English, - so that they would be able to effectively communicate in it during ALL CLASSES, or, they would celebrate Thanksgiving Day, or Halloween along with the Soviet ‘Proletarian May Day‘ (May, the 1st, or ‘Great October Revolution Day‘.

Yes, that was a near PERFECT CULTURAL CLASH!

Or, sure, I should say, - children liked to be in this school. It was ‘fun school’, first of all

In this school they encouraged the whole families to come and be involved in activities, and it was great.

My wife Victoria embraced new ways. She was involved in most of the activities at school, and, being a very creative person, she always participated in any kind of ‘craftsmanship contests’, like this one where Halloween was the main theme.

Here there are pictures showing ‘pieces of art’ she was winning those contests with.

Notice, there’s a certain ‘influence of local folk-culture’ that caused such a ‘deviation from a familiar look of classic Western Halloween curved pumpkin’

Besides, she was making Halloween costumes for children

Victoria still does it, not too often though, and for different occasions, but she’s still very good at it. I’ll show you some stuff she’s made with her own hands, and you’ll like it.

So, that’s been a bit of reflection on Halloween, and how it first appeared in Russia in ‘noticeable significance’. Oh, there’s quite a bit of controversy associated with recognition of Halloween too. Russian Orthodox Church was at the stern opposition to it. I’m not sure if they have a lot of festivities respecting Halloween now.

Times have changed..