Subbotnik

Subbotnik is a typical soviet tradition. Allegedly introduced by Lenin this is a volutray public work deployment on Saturday (saturday in russian is subbota).

Orlando Figges in his "A People's Tragedy" has following comment on subbotniki:
"Equally ineffective were the subbotniki, Saturday's labour campanigs, when workers and students were dragooned as "volunteers" into such noble socialist duties as cleaning rubbish from the streets and squares. During May day week of 1920 over a million Moscow residents were involved in this "festival of labour". From then on it became a permanent feature of the Soviet way of life. But economically it achieved very little."

In theory subbotnik is volutary. But this volutary public work deployment was strictly observed. Its attendance carefully recorded. Not participating in it might be suspicious and even considered contra-revolutionary.

Today the term Subbotnik refers to annual spring cleaning in the cities to collect garbage and make streets, parks and other public spaces - cleaner.
Last Saturday I was on such a subbotnik organized by Bjorn - a German gentelman. Bjorn is in Ukraine since 1995. Bjorn also managed to merry the tradition of subbotnik with impecable German organization, generosity and excellent party spirit. Apparently his subbotnik is an annual tradition.
We collected a garbage in his neighbourhood. There was a lot of it but about 50 people - of which six my colleagues - diligently collected it all. There was a garbage truck into which bags were immediately deposited. A fire truck was always close by in case some one decides to burn the garbage instead of collecting it (have not happened).

After more than two hours of grabage collectine we started to party. There was a army field kitchen which provided a pea soup and sausages. Shashlik and cutlets were on the menu too. With a lot of beer and vodtka. There was a fire to keep us warm. In short - a lot of fun.