In this episode of The Soviet Life, host Kate Saba shares a deeply personal look at winter holidays in the Soviet Union. She explores what it meant to celebrate during a time when Christmas was not officially allowed, and how New Year quietly became the most important and magical holiday of the year.

Kate reflects on family gatherings, familiar foods, and the figure many Soviet children grew up believing in—Grandpa Frost, who arrived not on Christmas, but on New Year’s Eve. Through memories and cultural context, she highlights how people found warmth, joy, and connection even within a system filled with restrictions, and how these traditions helped preserve family bonds and cultural identity.

The episode also looks at how holiday traditions began to evolve after the collapse of the Soviet Union, as Christmas slowly returned to public life. This reflection-filled episode reminds listeners that holidays, no matter the political system, reveal the universal human need for meaning, hope, and togetherness.

Key Takeaways

1. The Soviet Union officially discouraged religious celebrations, including Christmas.
2. New Year became the main winter holiday, taking on many Christmas traditions.
3. Grandpa Frost served as the Soviet version of Santa Claus and visited on New Year’s Eve.
4. Families gathered late into the night to celebrate, exchange gifts, and welcome the New Year together.
5. Traditional foods like caviar and herring under a fur coat played a central role at the holiday table.
6. Children truly believed in Grandpa Frost and looked forward to his visit.
7. Despite restrictions, some families continued to celebrate Christmas quietly at home.
8. After the fall of the Soviet Union, Christmas gradually returned to public and religious life.
9. Holidays reflect a society’s values and the universal human need for celebration.
10. Winter holidays in the Soviet Union were both joyful and constrained.

Sound Bites

1. “The Soviet Union was officially atheist.”
2. “Christmas disappeared, but celebration didn’t.”
3. “Grandpa Frost came on New Year’s Eve.”
4. “New Year’s Eve was absolutely magical.”

Chapters

00:00 – Welcome to The Soviet Life

01:09 – What winter holidays looked like in the Soviet Union

02:33 – Why Christmas wasn’t celebrated

06:15 – How New Year became the main holiday

07:09 – Grandpa Frost: the Soviet Santa Claus

10:19 – New Year’s Eve traditions and family memories

14:15 – Questions Americans often ask

16:02 – The return of Christmas after the Soviet Union

17:16 – Reflections on holidays, freedom, and meaning

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In this heartfelt episode of The Soviet Life, host Kate Saba sits down with Elizabeth Milner — an American who has absolutely no personal ties to the Soviet Union — to explore what Soviet life looks like through fresh, unfiltered eyes.

What happens when someone raised in a completely different culture hears about childhood, family life, holidays, and day-to-day realities behind the Iron Curtain?

The result is a deeply honest and often surprising conversation that reveals how much of our worldview is shaped by the stories we’ve been told… and how much we miss when we don’t look deeper.

Kate walks Elizabeth through the realities of Soviet job security, the structure of education, the rhythm of family life, and the cultural norms that shaped an entire generation. With curiosity and compassion, Elizabeth reflects on everything — from scarcity and communal values to sauna traditions and why New Year celebration replaced Christmas.

Together, they explore what it truly felt like to grow up in a system that promised stability but offered little room for personal expression. They uncover the humor, the hardships, the nostalgia, and the resilience that defined everyday Soviet life.

This episode isn’t just about history — it’s about identity, perception, and the stories that shape how we understand one another. Whether you have memories of the USSR or you're hearing these experiences for the first time, this conversation is a reminder of how important it is to listen, to question, and to bridge cultures with empathy.

You'll hear about:

• The Soviet Union offered job stability — but often at the cost of personal choice.
• Education was rigid, structured, and deeply tied to national purpose.
• Sports in the USSR weren’t just activities — they were a system of early specialization.
• American perceptions of the USSR focus heavily on control, scarcity, and fear.
• Soviet cultural values emphasized community, togetherness, and collective responsibility.
• Money was not celebrated — and sometimes viewed with suspicion.
• Holidays were reshaped to reflect socialist ideology, making New Year’s the biggest celebration.
• Family life was shaped by economic limits and shared social expectations.
• Sauna culture wasn’t just relaxation — it was tradition, community, and health.
• Understanding history requires listening to perspectives from both inside and outside the experience.

Sound Bites:

• “There was no understanding of money.”
• “There were not a lot of choices.”
• “It was a privilege to get soap.”

Chapters:

00:00 – Introduction to Soviet Life and Perspectives

02:38 – Job Stability in the Soviet Union vs. Today

05:34 – Education Systems: A Comparative Analysis

10:45 – Sports and Extracurricular Activities in the USSR

13:35 – Cultural Perceptions of the Soviet Union

19:58 – Scarcity and Resilience in Soviet Life

25:28 – The Role of Music and Arts in Soviet Society

27:31 – Money, Control, and Social Values in the USSR

34:08 – Cultural Perceptions of the Soviet Union

35:55 – Weather and Climate in Russia

37:19 – Celebrating New Year's in the Soviet Union

40:13 – Holidays and Traditions Under Soviet Rule

44:35 – Marriage and Family Dynamics

50:35 – Sauna Culture and Hygiene Practices

58:23 – Reflections on the Conversation

Connect with us:

Please share your thoughts and stories, reach out at kate@thesovietlife.com. Follow us and leave a review to support the podcast!

In this deeply inspiring episode of The Soviet Life, host Kate Saba sits down with Alex Matusevich, an entrepreneur who journeyed from his Soviet childhood in Belarus to building a thriving tech company in the United States.

Alex shares a heartfelt reflection on how his Soviet upbringing shaped his values — discipline, hard work, and a sense of community — and how those lessons guided him through the challenges of starting over in a new country. Together, Kate and Alex explore what success truly means, how cultural differences can both divide and connect us, and why community and human connection remain at the heart of happiness.

The conversation also delves into how the collapse of the Soviet Union changed everyday life, what the American Dream looks like through a post-Soviet lens, and the growing challenges around health and nutrition in modern society. Through humor, honesty, and insight, Alex reminds us that resilience is universal — and that beneath politics and borders, people everywhere share the same hopes for meaning, belonging, and a better future.

You’ll hear about:

• How Soviet education built discipline and drive
• The immigrant experience and redefining success
• The balance between money, purpose, and happiness
• The importance of community and social connection
• Health, nutrition, and the modern lifestyle divide
• Lessons on bridging cultures and finding common ground

Whether you grew up behind the Iron Curtain or you’re just curious about the human stories that connect us all, this episode is a moving reminder of what it means to persevere, adapt, and stay true to your roots.

Sound Bites

• "Failing is just not an option."
• "People are involved in their communities."
• "We still have that core."

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Alex's Journey

02:49 Growing Up in Belarus: Education and Family

05:55 The American Dream: Transitioning to the U.S.

08:43 Building a Successful Tech Company

11:45 The Role of Money in Success

14:47 Challenges of Immigrating to the U.S.

17:38 Cultural Perceptions: The Soviet Union vs. the U.S.

20:41 Health and Nutrition: Insights on American Diet

23:35 Reflections on the Fall of the Soviet Union

26:36 Education and Its Impact on Decision Making

34:16 The Value of Education and Discipline

38:13 Nostalgia for Soviet Community and Cohesion

39:34 The Impact of Social Interaction on Well-being

41:38 Contrasting Lifestyles: Soviet vs. American

45:46 Detachment from Money and Investment Mindset

49:19 Post-Soviet World: Challenges and Opportunities

51:09 Reflections on Crime and Safety

52:44 Cultural Connections Beyond Politics

54:52 Misconceptions About Soviet Life

58:36 Closing Thoughts on Community and Values

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Please share your thoughts and stories, reach out at kate@thesovietlife.com. Follow us and leave a review to support the podcast!