How Russian polar explorers celebrate the New Year (PHOTOS)
In the harsh conditions of the Arctic and Antarctic, scientists also celebrate their favorite holiday. Even on a drifting ice floe!
‘North Pole-1’, 1938.
Hundreds of Russian polar explorers annually celebrate the New Year at Arctic and Antarctic research stations, far away from civilization. They do not forget about the atmosphere of the winter holiday.
New Year at the SP-23 base, 1977
“Preparing for New Year's Eve, I opened a jar of sea bass caviar, took out sausages, smoked brisket, cheese, nuts, chocolate, distributed 35 ‘Mishka’ candies to everyone,” recalled Ivan Papanin, the head of the world's first drifting station, the ‘North Pole-1’.
New Year at the SP-23 base, 1977
The expedition members landed on an ice floe near the North Pole in May 1937 and, in nine months of drifting, traveled 2,000 km, reaching Greenland. On the ice floe, the four polar explorers celebrated the year 1938, having established radio communication with the “mainland”.
Antarctica. Members of the 23rd Soviet Antarctic expedition working at the Molodezhnaya station are preparing to welcome the New Year, 1978.
“Exactly at midnight, I congratulated everyone on the New Year, we sang ‘The Internationale’, kissed each other and wished that 1938 would be as happy as the previous year,” wrote Papanin.
On average, polar explorers spend about a year on drifting stations in the northern latitudes, and, over the years, expedition members have developed their own traditions of celebrating the New Year.
Meteorologist Vello Park (left) and Soviet polar explorer, radiophysicist, leader of the 27th Soviet Antarctic Expedition Pyotr Astakhov (right) during the New Year celebration, 1983.
Polar explorers put up a small artificial Christmas tree and, on New Year's Eve, all expedition members gather at the festive table. For obvious reasons, there are no culinary delights, but ‘Olivier’ salad (aka ‘Russian salad’) is prepared every year. Modern polar stations, on the other hand, often receive fresh fruits, seafood and gifts from relatives and loved ones for the New Year.
Ded Moroz visiting polar explorers, 1987.
But, polar explorers who work in Antarctica celebrate the New Year twice: according to Moscow time and local time. The New Year at the South Pole is the warmest time (it can be above 0°C), because the seasons there are opposite to the northern latitudes.
The crew of AN-72 airplane drops New Year's gifts for the members of the drifting station North Pole-28, 1987.
In addition, the long polar day begins on the continent, the sun shines round the clock and polar explorers can celebrate the holiday not only at the base, but also outside.
At midnight, scientists raise their glasses of champagne, but they do not drink a lot, because there are no days off at the station and, in the morning, they will have to get back to work. Radio operators and meteorologists, meanwhile, have to transmit reports on the holiday itself.
In addition, polar explorers still try to call their relatives and loved ones on New Year's Eve, which is not easy because of overloaded lines.
Omega Polar Base
Nowadays, the northernmost New Year's Eve is celebrated by polar explorers on Alexandra Island of the Franz Josef Land archipelago. The ‘Omega’ polar base is located there, where the employees of the ‘Russian Arctic’ National Park spend winter – at latitude 80.
According to their stories, on New Year's Eve, they listen to the Kremlin chimes and the President's address and put ‘Olivier’ salad and champagne on the table. And, instead of festive fireworks, they watch the Northern Lights through the window.
