A Gift That's a Mix of Nostalgia and Disappointment

Hello there, reader!

I recently picked up a gift for my family's Christmas tree, and I have to say it's a real conversation starter.

We're not big on expensive presents, so we stick to little trinkets and useful knick-knacks that bring back memories.

I stumbled upon a review for 'Gifts Now. Mosfilm' and thought it was a great idea to spoil the kids and grandmas with some sweet treats that remind us of the good old days.

Where I bought it: Wildberries

Price: 420 ₽

The box is sturdy and made of good cardboard, with scenes from beloved Soviet movies that'll transport you back in time.

I thought it would be a bit bigger, but the compact size didn't bother me. This little box would actually be great for storing small mementos, like old Soviet postcards, figurines, or CDs. Inside, there's a sealed bag of candies (320g) with a label listing the ingredients, production date, and expiration date. The candies are a mix of chocolate and caramels, and they're all pretty standard – you can find similar ones at any regular supermarket. However, they do look and taste like the old Soviet candies I used to know: 'Maska', 'Belochka', 'Red Riding Hood', and so on. Although the wrappers are modern, the flavor might be slightly different. For the price, I could've gotten a whole kilogram of candy and some way better stuff. But I guess you gotta pay for the packaging too. Although, to be honest, I think there could've been more candy – everything else is just a bunch of paper with info from the internet. The only exception is this tiny little confetti, which is kinda like the old Soviet stuff. The New Year's ticket is a happy surprise – it's '025025'. I was thinking maybe it's from last year, and I'm considering pulling it out of the gift. Especially since there are plenty of paper inserts without the ticket. Like, there's a to-do list for the holidays, a quiz with questions about Soviet movies, and some old-fashioned party favors that used to be popular at get-togethers. I liked the 'What Soviet kids dreamed of' leaflet, but overall, not all the inserts impressed me as interesting or necessary. The recipe leaflet actually reminded me of the newspaper and magazine cutouts my mom used to have. That's pretty much it for the contents. I've got to say, the original design is a real winner. It's sure to appeal to anyone who's nostalgic for the Soviet era. But, at the same time, something's missing... Not everyone will appreciate all the little extras, and let's be honest, the value for money is a bit of a letdown. What's missing in my opinion:

A Soviet-style New Year's card. I mean, it's a greeting, right? Why not add a nice card with some adorable illustrations by V.I. Zarubin? I'm sure many people will remember those.

A Soviet-style Christmas ornament. I'm planning to pick those up separately, as there's plenty of room in the box for them. You could even come up with something else if you want to. I, for one, remembered that thick calendar with detachable sheets...

For 420 ₽, it's a pretty decent gift that just needs a couple of small investments. But now the price of this box is 650 ₽, and that's just too much in my opinion! _____________________________________

Check out my reviews for other unique gifts:

The 'Back to the 90s' sweet set

The 'Pofig FM' chewing gum