New Year Russia in Primorye: roly-poly dolls, the Firebird, and festive spirit

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The project "New Year Russia" has been launched in Primorye. Its symbol – the Firebird’s feather – has appeared on the region’s streets and in the Primorye branch of the National Centre RUSSIA. Another symbol of the campaign, the roly-poly doll, can also be found throughout the venue.

The campaign, initiated by the National Centre RUSSIA, has brought together more than 70 regions of the country. Special visual materials have been placed in cities across many constituent entities of the Russian Federation: in streets, on public transport, in public spaces, at multifunctional centres, on websites and across social media. The mission of the project is to promote folk culture and preserve Russia’s folkloric traditions.

The campaign’s symbol – the Firebird’s feather – is inspired by the famous image from Pyotr Yershov’s fairy tale "The Little Humpbacked Horse". The feather has become a sign of light, hope and anticipation of a miracle. It connects regions with a shared cultural thread and fosters a sense of unity ahead of the New Year.

Since early December, banners featuring the project’s symbols have appeared across Primorye, and four buses decorated with elements of the festive design – the Firebird’s feather and images of the New Year campaign – are already running along routes in Vladivostok.

"A few hours ago, the first buses went out on their routes with the inscription ‘New Year Russia’. What is ‘New Year Russia’? It is all of us! A vast country which unites us from Kaliningrad to Vladivostok, not only on 31 December but throughout the whole of December," said Vitaly Stanislavchuk, Head of the Primorye branch of the National Centre RUSSIA.

Another symbol of "New Year Russia" is the roly-poly doll. It embodies resilience and inner balance. This toy reminds us that, no matter what challenges the road may bring, it is important to maintain our inner grounding. One of its features is that its smile is always turned towards each person, wherever they may be standing.

Roly-poly dolls of various sizes can be seen in the New Year decorations of the Primorye branch of the National Centre RUSSIA. At Department Store RUSSIA, visitors can purchase T-shirts featuring the toy. The dolls complement the festive atmosphere of the branch: decorated Christmas trees are placed throughout the space, including one adorned with baubles laid out in the colours of the tricolour.

"The roly-poly doll is a symbol of Russia – of its steadfastness and independence from any circumstances. Our country, just like the toy itself, will always stand firm. This is the central idea of the coming New Year and of the National Centre RUSSIA," noted Vitaly Stanislavchuk. He added that large roly-poly dolls would soon appear on the area outside the building of the branch.

Another part of the "New Year Russia" project is the opportunity to send a postcard featuring Primorye landscapes to friends and family. A postbox and postcards are available at the administrator’s desk in the lobby of the Primorye branch of the National Centre RUSSIA. Postcards will be sent to recipients every week.

"I would like each visitor to send a postcard to their family or friends. It does not matter whether they live in Vladivostok, Kaliningrad or Moscow. Anyone can sign and place into our postbox a ‘New Year Russia’ postcard with the symbols and nature of Primorye. The sun rises here in the East, so a postcard arriving in the western regions will be like a little piece of sunshine," said the Head of the National Centre RUSSIA in Primorye.

Visitors can send a postcard from the National Centre RUSSIA in the Primorye region right up until the New Year.