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What a Soviet kid’s New Year’s morning looked like

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From the 1930s, all the kindergartens of the USSR started celebrating New Year’s Eve in earnest. They would arrange morning performances where kids were dressed up in a variety of themed costumes.

The Soviet Union didn’t have a tradition of celebrating holidays with costumes (like Halloween, for instance), but, for the New Year’s Eve celebrations, every parent spent nights sewing and DIY-ing costumes for their kids. Snowflakes, golden fish, fairy tale heroes, fluffy hares and foxes – these were the most popular characters Soviet kids were dressed up into.

Below is one of the first New Year’s Eve parties with a decorated tree pictured in an Uzbek school, circa 1936. The kids are dressed as ‘Scheherazade’, ‘Ded Moroz’ (aka ‘Father Frost’, Russia’s ‘Santa Claus’), a funny old man and in national costumes. Kids are holding up two banners that say: “Thanks to Stalin for our happy childhood”

Unknown author/russiainphoto.ru

New Year’s Eve celebrations were, first of all, considered for kids, not for adults. And the main New Year’s Tree party was arranged at the House of the Unions that housed lots of the Communist Party’s events.

Sergei Vasin/MAMM/MDF/russiainphoto.ru

The main part of the show were the scenes with ‘Ded Moroz’. Kids would tell him how good they behaved in the passing year and get a present from the ‘Russian Santa Claus’.

K.Muzyk/Cherepovets Museum Association/russiainphoto.ru

One of the most popular and easy-to-make costumes was a snowflake. It was enough just to cut it from paper and stick it on your head!

Semyon Mishin-Morgenstern/MAMM/MDF/russiainphoto.ru

Another widespread costume was a fluffy, white hare…

Marina Voronina archive/russiainphoto.ru

…and birds!

Galina Gabnis archive/russiainphoto.ru

Kids also dressed up as Russian peasants and would make ‘khorovods’ (a Russian folk dance) around the New Year’s tree.

Sergei Vasin/MAMM/MDF/russiainphoto.ru

Can you guess which animals the kids are dressed up as below?

Cherepovets Museum Association/russiainphoto.ru

And what about these?

Vladimir Druzhinin archive/russiainphoto.ru

After the cult Soviet movie ‘D’Artagnan and Three Musketeers’ was released in the late 1970s, many Soviet boys picked dressing like Musketeers for New Year’s Eve.

Ksenia Kharkovskaya archive/russiainphoto.ru

The more glittery tinsel (which was very affordable), the better!

Olga Zhokina archive/russiainphoto.ru

And, of course, dressing like a cosmonaut was always popular, as many Soviet kids dreamed of becoming one.

Unknown author/russiainphoto.ru

While the West’s ‘Santa Claus’ had elfs and deer as assistants, the ‘Russian Santa Claus’, aka ‘Ded Moroz’, had his ‘granddaughter’ named Snegurochka (literally ‘Snow Maiden’) for help. And girls were keen on dressing up as her.

Pavel Sukharev archive/russiainphoto.ru

Even small kids took part in the morning festivities, reading little poems aloud, dancing or acting out scenes from fairy tales. Pictured below is a Little Red Riding Hood!

MAMM/MDF/russiainphoto.ru

Dressing in the national costumes of ethnic peoples from Soviet republics was also a popular thing, proving the ‘Friendship of Nations’ motto.

Nikolai Kozlovsky/MAMM/MDF/russiainphoto.ru

Some school kids would also make up their own versions of costumes – be it national costumes with a kokoshnik or dress of a favorite literary character.

Sergei Vasin/MAMM/MDF/russiainphoto.ru

In modern Russia, the tradition has continued and, despite there now being a huge variety of different costumes to choose from, hares and little red riding hoods are still the most popular!

Konstantin Chalabov/Sputnik

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Entertainment

Canada Super 60 set to dazzle with star-studded concert line-up at Vancouver’s BC Place

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The Canada Super 60 isn’t just changing the game; it’s creating North America’s newest entertainment spectacle. From October 8 to 13, Vancouver’s iconic BC Place will transform into a full-fledged cultural carnival, blending high-octane cricket with back-to-back music concerts.

Get ready for six nights of non-stop entertainment, headlined by some of the biggest names in Punjabi, Desi, and global fusion music. From the infectious beats of Harrdy Sandhu and Jassie Gill to the international flair of Mickey Singh, each night promises a festival atmosphere both on and off the pitch.

Concert Line-Up Highlights

  • Oct 8 – Harrdy Sandhu (9pm)
  • Oct 9 – Jassie Gill (9pm)
  • Oct 10 – Mickey Singh (9pm)
  • Oct 11 – Parmish Verma (9pm)
  • Oct 12 – Raf-Saperra (9pm)
  • Oct 13 – GirlsLikeYou x Indo Warehouse (6:15pm)

The entertainment bonanza runs alongside thrilling cricket matches featuring international stars and fan favourites. With Yuvraj Singh backing the league and legends like Shikhar Dhawan and Suresh Raina on the field, Canada Super 60 is shaping up to be the ultimate blend of glamour, game, and groove.

“This is not just cricket; this is a lifestyle experience,” said a spokesperson for Canada Super 60. “Our entertainment line-up reflects the league’s ambition to unite cultures through music, sport, and community.”

Fans can expect full-scale stadium productions, food and cultural showcases, and plenty of Instagram-worthy moments, turning BC Place into Canada’s most happening venue this October.

About Canada Super 60

Canada Super 60 is the newest format in global cricket, a 60-ball showdown that delivers fast-paced action and festival-style entertainment. Backed by international icons and powered by music, sport, and cultural unity, it’s redefining how fans experience cricket in North America.

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Entertainment

UAE students risk repeating a year if absences exceed 15 days, new rules state

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Public school students in the UAE could be required to repeat an academic year if their unexcused absences exceed 15 days, under new rules announced by the Ministry of Education.

The updated guidelines exclude absences related to illness, medical travel, official event participation, emergencies, or family bereavements. Students will now be allowed up to five unexcused absences per term, capped at 15 across the year. Any excess will trigger a review, with the student’s file referred to the relevant authorities and child protection services.

The ministry also clarified that absences on Fridays, or on days immediately before or after official holidays, will count as two days. A warning system has been introduced to notify parents on the first day of absence.

Special exemptions will apply to students of determination and those with chronic illnesses. Parents may also appeal within five working days of being notified, ensuring fairness in implementation.

The initiative is aimed at tackling absenteeism, which the ministry said has a direct impact on academic performance. Citing studies, it noted that missing 10 per cent of school days equates to a loss of half an academic year, while absences beyond 20 per cent amount to a full year’s loss in achievement.

Schools have been instructed to create individual support plans for students at risk of frequent absences, including counselling sessions, parent engagement, and incentive programmes.

The ministry added that it will be up to educational boards to decide whether these rules will also extend to private schools.

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Tickets now live for Dubai’s first homegrown musical spectacle

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A cultural revolution is about to begin. Tickets are now available for Once Upon A Time in Dubai, the most ambitious, emotional, and spectacular musical ever produced in the region. Opening this December at The Agenda in Dubai Media City, the show is already being called a once-in-a-generation phenomenon — and for good reason.

More than just a stage production, Once Upon A Time in Dubai is the first original large-scale musical entirely created in the UAE, blending Broadway-worthy storytelling with the energy and dreams of one of the world’s most iconic cities. Behind this bold vision is Stéphane Boukris, entrepreneur and cultural trailblazer, who has brought together an international creative dream team — including Universal Music Group MENA as co-producer — to craft a deeply emotional journey of love, ambition, and transformation, set in today’s Dubai.

“This show is a tribute to everything Dubai represents: ambition, diversity, and the power to build your own destiny,” says Boukris. “We are creating something people will never forget.”

A World-Class Team Behind the Curtain

The production brings together talents who have previously worked on global shows such as Céline Dion, Disney shows, and Arabs Got Talent (MBC). From lighting to choreography and technical design, every detail is crafted by artists and technicians at the highest international standards.

A Story That Speaks to a Generation

At the heart of the show is Will, a young English dancer who arrives in Dubai to search for Sophia, the woman he loves. Along the way, he meets artists, entrepreneurs, and dreamers from all walks of life, culminating in a celebration of courage, community, and reinvention.

The cast features rising stars Amanda Maalouf (X Factor) and Joe Woolford (The Voice UK) — with many of the lead vocalists and performers previously featured on international talent platforms, bringing an exceptional level of stage presence and vocal power. The musical includes over 20 original songs composed by Nazim Khaled, including already-viral hits like “Habibi”, “Stranger in the World”, and “Think Big”.

A City-Wide Movement

With over 150,000 spectators expected across 55 performances, the show is much more than an event — it’s becoming a movement. Once Upon A Time in Dubai is already making waves across the city with:

Strategic brand partnerships: McDonald’s, Carrefour MAF, Careem, Accor, Mall of the

Emirates, Tilal Al Ghaf, GEMS Education, and more

Immersive activations: Soundtracks in Hala taxis, QR codes in malls, music in retail

stores, and dedicated social media campaigns

Youth engagement: Auditions and showcases for students across GEMS schools,

opening the stage to the next generation of performers

The show will be performed in English, and supported by a multicultural creative team led by stage director Johan Nus.

Exclusive Ticket Sale

Tickets are available exclusively via Fever, the global ticketing platform. Pre-sale access has already launched with selected partners such as GEMS, Muse by Chalhoub, and Accor’s ALL loyalty members — with thousands of tickets snapped up in just days.

🎤 Behind the scenes videos, interviews with the cast, and a full media kit are available upon request. 📸 Press passes for opening week are now being issued — be among the first to witness the birth of a new cultural landmark.

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