Museum of New Year and Christmas toys

In the heart of the snowy north, where ancient legends come to life, lies the Museum of New Year and Christmas Toys. This wonderful place is located in Veliky Ustyug, a city rightfully considered the birthplace of Father Frost. The museum, opened in 1998, occupies the building of the majestic 18th-century Church of the Myrrh-bearing Women, which gives its exhibition a special, solemn atmosphere.

It houses an impressive collection of about 3,000 Christmas ornaments. Walking through the museum halls, guests take a journey through time: from fragile porcelain figurines of the early 20th century and Soviet astronauts to modern designer pieces. The exhibition, created on the basis of the Veliky Ustyug Museum-Reserve, clearly shows how fashion for celebrating the New Year changed in a country like Russia.

In the museum's three spacious halls, decorated Christmas trees are set up, each dedicated to a specific era or theme. You can see not only glass and wooden toys but also rare items made of cotton wool, papier-mâché, and even cardboard. The exhibition is given a special flavor by the works of folk craftsmen, including the famous Khokhloma and Gzhel, as well as antique greeting cards dating back to 1902.

For current information on events or to book group tours, you can use the official contact details of the institution.

The main pleasure here is the detailed study of the themed Christmas trees. Each one tells a whole story. You will see how pre-revolutionary angels were replaced by Soviet blimps, figures of polar explorers, hockey players, and miniature metro stations. For adults, this visit will bring a warm wave of nostalgia, and for children, it is a chance to see how their grandparents decorated for the holidays.

The interactive part of the museum deserves special attention. Visitors can feel like students of an Old Russian school: here you will be invited to master ancient writing methods and even jokingly experience a harsh punishment from the past—kneeling on peas in the corner. In addition, the museum often hosts workshops where the tools and materials used to create true masterpieces of decorative art are demonstrated.

Don't forget to stop by the souvenir hall, which features unique items by northern craftsmen. Here you can see the famous "frost on tin," exquisite birch bark carving, as well as traditional Dymkovo toys and Pavlovsky Posad shawls. A collection of Father Frosts and Snow Maidens, made in a wide variety of styles, will be a wonderful conclusion to your tour.

Finding the Museum of New Year and Christmas Toys is easy, as it is located in the very heart of the historical part of the city at 7 Communy Square. The museum occupies the building of the former Church of the Myrrh-bearing Women, which is an architectural landmark in its own right.

If you arrive in Veliky Ustyug by train or bus, the walk to the museum takes about 15–20 minutes (a distance of approximately 1–2 km). For a more comfortable journey, you can use a local taxi, which will take you to the museum doors in a matter of minutes from anywhere in the center.

For those traveling by car, parking is available near the museum complex. Its convenient location makes it easy to combine a visit to this magical place with a stroll along the embankment or a visit to other iconic sites in the city.

The Museum of New Year and Christmas Toys opened its doors to its first visitors in 1998. This event coincided with the launch of a large-scale project to turn Veliky Ustyug into the official residence of Father Frost, making the museum an integral part of Russia's winter fairy tale.

The museum's exhibition allows visitors to trace how attitudes toward winter holidays have changed over a century. In the early 20th century, Christmas was the main celebration, and tree decorations were quite modest—often edible surprises in elegant bonbonnières. The museum carefully preserves these rare traces of a bygone era, recreating the atmosphere of pre-revolutionary festivities.

During the Soviet period, Christmas ornaments became a true mirror of the country's history. Polar explorers, astronauts, and athletes "settled" on the branches of the forest beauties, and instead of angels, figures celebrating achievements in science and technology appeared—airships, metro stations, and tiny satellites. The museum houses both unique handmade pieces and mass-produced series familiar to everyone who grew up in the USSR.

Today, the museum's collection includes nearly 3,000 exhibits. Here you can see not only domestic toys but also Christmas attributes from various European and Asian countries, highlighting the diversity of festive traditions around the world.

To leisurely explore all three halls, examine the details on the numerous themed trees, and read the information stands, visitors usually need about 1–1.5 hours. If you decide to use the services of a guide who can share fascinating stories about each period, your stay may be longer.

If you plan to participate in workshops or browse the gift shop, it is better to set aside 2 hours for your visit. This is enough time to immerse yourself in the nostalgic atmosphere and choose memorable gifts for loved ones.

The museum welcomes guests from Tuesday to Saturday. The doors to the fairy tale are open from 10:00 to 17:00. Please note that the museum is closed on Sundays and Mondays.

The operating schedule may change during the New Year holidays and school vacations due to the large influx of tourists, so it is recommended to check the museum's official website or call the contact number before your trip.

Veliky Ustyug is a small town, but it is incredibly rich in monuments and interesting details. Exploring the surroundings after visiting the museum will help you feel the spirit of the northern merchant city and get to know its heroes.