1967. Pioneer with an Artek banner. Image courtesy of the author. I never imagined that this invitation would leave me so emotional! Once I was a happy pioneer, then a very involved pioneer leader, then a journalist at a wondrous and unique children’s newspaper that was published in St. Petersburg with a print circulation of 100,000. So, by rights I should be overjoyed to attend a festival commemorating the 95th anniversary of the Soviet pioneer organisation. I’ve seen countless pioneer-related holidays, parades, meetings, and summits. I always went, and I was happy do it. But no longer. Are the pioneers to blame, or is the new Russian reality, where celebrations themselves have become much more important than actual reasons to celebrate?
I’d drop everything and go hang out with my old friends – to reminisce, sing, chat about life. But the invitation before me says: “On 19 May, the cannon at the Peter and Paul Fortress will be shot at midday” – no more, no less. There’ll be a parade of the generations, an exhibition at the biggest exhibition hall, a flashmob, and so forth. All of this in St Petersburg.
What will go down in Moscow is anybody’s guess, but either way, television will show cute pictures featuring girls with traditional white bows in their hair and boys in equally traditional Red Army broadcloth helmets. All of this because the pioneer organisation turns 95. I daren’t imagine what will happen when it turns 100.
