Browsing Радянське "я" і радянське "ми" між ідеологією і реальністю / Soviet ‘I’ and Soviet ‘We’ between Ideology and Reality by Subject "Soviet Rituality"
This chapter is devoted to the phenomenon of Soviet secular rituals prescribed by the Commission on Soviet traditions, holidays and rites operating in the Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic from 1964. As the Commission was at its most active during the second half of 1970s and in the early 1980s at that time special instructions for the rituals of marriage, childbirth and funerals were published. My aim was to present a detailed description of the ceremonial procedures as recommended by the commission as well as analyzing their significance as a propaganda tool. According to my findings they were supposed to perform at least three roles. Firstly, they served as a substitute for religious rites. Secondly, they were to structure the life cycle of the Soviet man. Finally, the Soviet rituality of the period of late socialism was strongly associated with the need to create opportunities for mass consumption.