1958 Soviet Socialist Etiquette, Pt 2

From Part 1: People should not be forced to drink at the table. Forcing a person to drink more than he wishes is a sign of bad taste. When a lot of toasts are made, you must not always drink to the bottom. The glass should be held at the stem and not raised too high.

Russians Briefed on Socialist Social Conduct, Part 2

If Emily Post were to visit the Soviet Union she would probably be both amused and horrified by the state of etiquette here. Officially, etiquette does not exist in comradely, friendly Soviet society, for it implies the cold superficiality of bourgeois and Court life. As with both things here, etiquette is politics. 

For 40 years no effort at all was made to “inculcate” manners. But now, four decades, dozens of steel mills and thousands of collective farms after the revolution — with the advent of pink kapron (nylon) stockings, washing machines and frozen green peas — etiquette is being re-emphasized in Russian life.

The most important exposition of the new etiquette line has appeared in a volume called “For a Healthy Way of Life.” Among other things, this book treats of the material and moral foundations of Soviet life, the preparation of healthy food, hair hygiene, care of the teeth, how to dress tastefully, and how to have good manners.

Here are a few excerpts from the chapter on good manners, written by N. Gordienko:

Personal Hygiene and Dress

• Everyone knows how necessary it is for good health and vigor to wash several times a day, clean the teeth morning and evening, go to the bath house or take a bath weekly (and in summer oftener), and so on. Yet, not all have developed in themselves a habit of doing these things constantly and under all conditions.
• Any person who adheres to the rule of hygiene will not eat or drink from poorly washed dishes or will not wipe his face with a dirty towel.
• He will not permit children to wipe their eyes with their hands but will teach them to use their handkerchief. 
• Being neat himself, he will manifest concern for cleanliness around him. 
• He will not extinguish a cigarette on a chair or drop ashes on the floor.

Women

• The same general concern as shown to elderly people is merited by the Soviet woman — our mother, wife and child. This is natural. The Soviet woman selflessly labors side by side with the man. She manifests a tender, maternal concern for children, creates family welfare and comfort and has an ennobling influence on everybody. Finally, she is physically weaker than a man and this must be taken into consideration.
• On the street, the woman walks to the right of the man (except with the military, and then to the left). 
• It is not tactful to leave your woman partner on meeting someone in the street. 
• If you have to talk to this person, introduce your partner and conduct the conversation.

Behavior in Clubs and Theatres

• At the theatre, movie, circus or stadium the woman is always offered the better seat.
• In many rural (and not rural) clubs, you can often see boys and girls eating sunflower seeds and when they leave there's a big pile of shells. There is no need to prove that such practices (eating nuts in public places) should not be done.
• If you are with a woman at the theatre, it is indecent to read a book during the intermission. 
• You should not make remarks during the performance.

Living in a Communal Apartment

• A well-bred person will not turn the radio set on full force, will not sing loudly and on leaving will not forget to turn off the radio. 
• He has the habit of knocking on the door before entering a neighbor's apartment.— T. Frankel for The NY Times, 1958

Etiquette Enthusiast, Maura J Graber, is the Site Editor for the Etiquipedia© Etiquette Encyclopedia