21 January
TANGERINES AND CHAMPAGNE: HOW MUCH THEY COST BEFORE THE REVOLUTION
Tangerines and champagne were not always the main symbols of the New Year: not everyone could afford them. For example, at the end of the 19th century tangerines cost 1 ruble 45 kopes a dozen. For this money, you could buy two chickens (70 kopeks apiece) or 2.5 kg of pork (55 kopeks per kg). For a bottle of French champagne at the beginning of the 20th century you had to pay 5 rubles 50 kopeks.
21 January
TANGERINES AND CHAMPAGNE: HOW MUCH THEY COST IN THE USSR
In Soviet times, people prepared for the main feast of the year in advance: they stood in huge lines, "got" scarce tangerines, and bought expensive champagne. In 1938, for example, Soviet champagne semi-dry, dry and sweet cost 18, 17 and 20 rubles accordingly (the salary of a Soviet worker in those years was about 200 rubles).