NAOTMAA - Their Contributions to Russia

[grandduchess_sofia]

Yes, and olga was shorter so wouldn't that make hers smaller? I love the photos of the girls when their palying games with the soldiers they look so at home and relaxed.

[grandduchess_42]

i have only seen 2 pics of the flower fesitival. i'm shure that there were more! does any one have any pictures of it?

[divine_grace]

 Granduchess_42, I do but alas, I don't have a scanner yet. As far as I know there are 4 shots from April 1912. I have the book called Nicholas and Alexandra the family albums by Prince Michael of Greece. There's a picture there as well as in the book Sunset of the Romanov Dynasty. They're standing in front of a window (if memory serves right ) And I remember there's a picture of Alexei selling the flowers with the Tsarina in a carriage. And there was another group picture of the imperial children during the white flower festival on another year. Try to go to livadia.org because I think that's where as I saw it. Good Luck!

[clockworkgirl21]

You've probably seen these, but these are the only three I could find.

[hikaru]

The flower festival in Yalta was the event for the sonsumption fight.

[hikaru]

see above - consuption fight.

[divine_grace]

You're welcome but clockworkgirl21 posted the pictures. Hikaru, I thought the White Flower Festival was for the tuberculosis sufferers? Please correct me if I'm wrong. Some books say it was for tuberculosis, some say it was for consumption. Thank you.

[Arianwen]

You're welcome but clockworkgirl21 posted the pictures. Hikaru, I thought the White Flower Festival was for the tuberculosis sufferers? Please correct me if I'm wrong. Some books say it was for tuberculosis, some say it was for consumption. Thank you.

Consumption was an earlier name given to tuberculosis. We assume today that the two diseases are the same.

Regards,
Arianwen

[hikaru]

I have read somewhere that the idea and form of this festival came from the Denmark or Germany.
It was not Russian festival.

[grandduchess_42]

yes wen i lived in germany i kind of heard of somthing like that.

[Ortino]

In the catalogue Toys of the Tsar's Children there is a picture of the flower festival of 1914 where Anastasia, Alexei, and Olga are sitting on a bench with Tatiana and Marie behind them.

[hikaru]

Yes, Dear Ortino
This festival came to Russia from Sweden where it was founded in 1911. But almost at the same time it became popular in Russia. In Sweden this festival , dedicated to the fight with consuption, was called " White Flower" Festival. Its russian name is" Romashka" festival.
This festival took place in Livadia in 1912 and 1914 ( I do
not know about 1913).
This festival was some kind of the charity bazaar.
AF and Alexey sold hand -made things, postcards, albums , perfumes, photos in one pavillion and OTMA in another pavillion. Ladies in Waiting and officers from "Standarts" helped them.
The money they raised were sent to the consumpion bearers.
There are several photos from this festival.
But on each photos OTMAA are very serious and angry.
Maybe children were just very tired.'

[DanielB]

The 1912 Flower Festival, which was indeed a charity bazaar,  took place on May 14 (Old style), on Yalta’s mole where the Standart was anchored. This allowed the Empress to get some rest on board from time to time as she wasn’t feeling well.

The Imperial Family didn’t go to the Crimea in spring 1913 due to the Tercentenary celebrations.

The 1914 Festival was held on May 11, again on the mole. This time, the grand-duchesses had their own table at the bazaar. The tsarevich had a very good time thay day. Someone had a barrel filled with oats with a lot of hidden prizes, which included a bottle of champagne. For 50 kopecks, one could give it a try. Naturally, Alexis wanted to have a shot at it. He was overjoyed when he found the bottle which, unknown to him, had been placed so he could reach it. He was so happy he paraded on the mole with his prize, wanting to open it! It seems he and Derevenko had an arguement about it which lasted all day...Unfortunately I don't know how it ended!!

There are a number of other photos taken at these events; I'll try to post some later. I have also seen some charming newsreels and movie footage too!

[hikaru]

According to the Russian Sources, the
White Flower Festival took place on 20th April of 1912 and 19th April of 1914 (Old style).   ( In Romashka festival Tsar's family participated together with the Yalta citizens)
But 11th May of 1912 and in the May of 1914 Empresse did one more Charity Bazaar on the mole of her own.
( The photos of 1914 with flowers, have  the date - 19th April of 1914)

[DanielB]

Hikaru : Thank you for setting the record straight regarding the dates of the Flower Festival . I got my information from General Spiridovich’s memoirs. Obviously his memory failed him as he must have taken the Charity Bazaars on the mole for the White Flower Festivals :-/. I should have checked my books with photos as some are indeed dated April 20,1912. I don’t know to which 1914 photo you are referring to, as all photos posted by Clockworkgirl21 were taken in 1912. Indeed the children look quite serious. I don’t know why they would be angry though (maybe tired as you wrote). On the movie I have, they seem to have fun, parading in the Livadia Palace courtyard, bowing to the camera and smiling.

For those who wanted more photos: here’s one from Greg King’s book "The last Empress”.



There is a movie clip that can be seen on Discovery Chanel tapes “Last of the Czars” where the same lady with a white hat can be seen (Anna V.?), girls that look like Maria & Anastasia (from behind) and Alexis receiving donations. The lady then hands the donors a flower.

The following two photos seem to have been taken in 1914. Alexis looks taller, the girls (Olga & Tatiana?) dresses are different from the 1912 photos.