The Old New Year Museum is dedicated to traditions of celebrating the New Year in the past. It is situated in the Apraksin Yard (28-30, Sadovaya Street) and receives visitors daily from 10 am to 7 pm - but only after preliminary appointment on the phone +7(812) 925 58 56.
The permanent exposition of the museum was provided by three St. Petersburg collectors, who conceived to create the New Year museum seven years back.
"By that time each of us already had collections of the festive and other attributes related to the New Year's celebrations, and each of us had a desire to show people the objects that are interesting and dear to us personally, the little things that evoke wonderful memories of the festive fir-tree, childhood, grandmothers, grandfathers, and all that makes us a little happier" — the museum founders said.
The museum presents Christmas tree decorations hand-made before the 1960s, carnival false faces, tickets to children's New Year parties, gift boxes, and greeting cards.
"The central place is given to the main character of the New Year – Father Frost. There are unique and rare samples of Father Frost displayed here. Thus, for example, there is Father Frost carrying a large birch bark fodder basket instead of a gift sack – he was found by St. Petersburg restorer in one of the villages of its native Arkhangelsk Region" — the curators pointed out.
The visitors will also see a selection of New Year's newspapers, magazines, records of the Soviet New Year's TV show "Blue Light", as well as movies and animated films about the holiday. Moreover, there is an interactive program also: in the Studio of Father Frost visitors will learn to create DIY New Year gifts.
It should be noted that entrance to the museum and observing the exhibition is free for all. However, the museum excursions are to be paid for.