Figure 1.--Here a little Russian boy in a family snapshot plays a computer game at home wearing tights. Available images suggest that this was common in many Russian homes. |
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German sources report that some younger boys at home might wear tights without pants. Our Russian sources vary on this subject. Russian sources indicate that this was not the case in the Soviet Union, except for very young todler-age children. Some available images, however, suggest that it was the case. We suspect this may be somewhat similar to American children wearing pajamas after waking up in the morning or before going to bed at night. We assume in the evening that the boys are wearing tights they wore during the day. It seems unlikely that boys would put on tights when they came home.
We are not sure if tights were worn like pajamas by Russian boys. Available images suggest that this may have been the case. There may be some social class connotations.
German sources report that some younger boys at home might wear tights without pants. Our Russian sources vary on this subject. One Russian source indicate that this was not the case in the Soviet Union, except for very young todler-age children. Some available images, however, suggest that it was the case at least in modern Russia. We suspect this may be somewhat similar to American children wearing pajamas after waking up in the morning or before going to bed at night. We assume in the evening that the boys are wearing tights they wore during the day. It seems unlikely that boys would put on tights when they came home. We see boys in many informal situations at home. Many look like the boys are playing before bed.
A Russian reader tells us, "Yes, that's absolutely right. It is common for Russian boys to wear tights in such a way at home, and not only by younger boys. But being in such outfit is considered informal. For example, when I visited one woman, with who I'm familiar with, her son (near 9) was in only dark brown tights, and she told him to "put on shorts, because we have guests". In a book for kindergarten teachers I've found such a note: 'It is not appropriate to dress children in a shirt and tights only. Boys must wear tights with shorts, and girls with dresses.'"
We are not sure if tights were worn like pajamas by Russian boys. Available images suggest that this may have been the case. Tights in someway are similar to footed pajamas. A Russian reader writes, "Boys under 12-13 wear tights at home much more often than pajamas. Here in Russia children pajamas are expensive, about US$20 in 2010. Common children's tights can be purchased for about US$2. And t-shirts cost only slightly more. So tights with a t-shirt an economical way to keep a child warm when he or she plays at home or sleeps."
An American reader writes, "The above image of the Russian boy with tights using a computer with a flat screen (LCD) seems to me to be a middle class child (or wealthier) because those screens were not available and very expensive until just recently in Russia. Are tights more likely to be worn by boys from affluent families?" HBC is unsure about the social class connotations. Our Russian reader explains, "LCD displays are not common in Russia. But tights are really worn by boys from "middle class" families more often and openly, especially when parents are high-educated people, like doctors, teachers, scientific workers and so on."
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