It's hard to imagine the most anticipated holiday of the year, loved by children and adults, without such a classic attribute as a Christmas tree. The history of the tradition that commands to decorate this tree for the holiday goes back centuries. When did people start decorating evergreen trees in Russia and other countries, what made them do it?
What the tree symbolizes
The inhabitants of the ancient world sincerely believed in the magical powers possessed by trees. It was believed that spirits, evil and good, were hiding in their branches, which should be appeased. Not surprisingly, trees became objects of various cults. Ancient people worshiped them, turned prayers to them, asked for mercy and protection. So that the spirits would not remain indifferent, treats (fruits, sweets) were brought to them, which were hung on branches or laid out nearby.
Why was it not the pines, eucalyptus, oaks and other species that were decorated, but the Christmas tree? New Year's story contains many beautiful legends on this topic. The most truthful version - the coniferous beauty was chosen due to the ability to remain green, whichif the season had not come. This made the inhabitants of the ancient world consider it a symbol of immortality.
Christmas Tree Story: Europe
The custom, as the inhabitants of the modern world know it, developed in medieval Europe. Various assumptions are made about when exactly the history of the New Year tree began. Initially, people were limited to small branches of pine or spruce, which were hung in the house. Gradually, however, branches were replaced by entire trees.
According to legend, the history of the Christmas tree is closely connected with Martin Luther, the famous reformer from Germany. Walking in the evening on Christmas Eve, the theologian admired the beauty of the stars shining in the sky. Arriving home, he set a small Christmas tree on the table, dressed it up using candles. To decorate the top of the tree, Martin chose a star that symbolized the one that helped the Magi find the Baby Jesus.
Of course, this is just a legend. However, there are also official references to the Christmas tree, which fall on approximately the same time period. For example, it is written about her in the French chronicles for the 1600th year. The first New Year's trees were miniature in size, they were placed on tables or hung from walls and ceilings. However, in the 17th century, large Christmas trees already stood in the houses. Deciduous trees, which were previously also used to decorate dwellings before the holidays, were completely forgotten.
Christmas trees in Russia: ancient times
It is believed that the first who tried to make this tree a symbol of the change of the year was Peter the Great. ATIn reality, even the ancient Slavic tribes treated coniferous vegetation with special trepidation, they already had a kind of “Christmas tree”. The story goes that our ancestors danced and sang songs near this tree in the dead of winter. The goal, for the sake of which all this was done, was the awakening of the spring goddess Zhiva. She was required to interrupt the reign of Santa Claus and rid the land of ice.
Christmas trees in Russia: Middle Ages
Peter the Great really tried to consolidate in our country such a wonderful custom as the New Year tree. The story tells that the emperor first saw a decorated tree in the house of German friends with whom he celebrated Christmas. The idea made a huge impression on him: a spruce tree decorated with sweets and fruits instead of ordinary cones. Peter the Great ordered to celebrate the New Year in accordance with German traditions. However, his successors forgot about this decree for many years.
In this case, the question arises: where did the Christmas tree come from in Russia? This would not have happened for a long time if Catherine II had not ordered to put trees on holidays. Nevertheless, conifers were not decorated until the middle of the 19th century. It was then that the Germans, who missed this cheerful tradition in Russia, installed the first decorated Christmas tree in St. Petersburg.
Christmas trees in Russia: Soviet Union
Unfortunately, the coming to power of the Bolsheviks made the sweet family tradition illegal for almost two decades. The Soviet government announced the decorationconiferous trees "bourgeois whim". In addition, at that time there was an active struggle with the church, and the spruce was considered one of the Christmas symbols. However, many inhabitants of Russia of those times did not abandon the beautiful custom. It got to the point that the tree began to be installed secretly by rebels.
From what events the history of the New Year tree in Russia does not develop! In short, already in 1935 the tradition became legal again. This happened thanks to Pavel Postyshev, who "allowed" the holiday. However, people were categorically forbidden to call trees "Christmas", only "New Year's". But the status of the day off was returned to the first day of January.
First Christmas trees for children
A year after the return of the forest beauty to the homes of people celebrating the main holiday of the year, a large-scale celebration was organized in the House of Unions. This officially began the history of the New Year tree in Russia for children, for whom this festival was arranged. Since then, similar events have traditionally been held in children's institutions with the obligatory distribution of gifts, calling Santa Claus and the Snow Maiden.
Kremlin tree
Kremlevskaya Square has been one of the favorite places to celebrate the New Year for the inhabitants of Moscow for many years. All other Russians do not forget to turn on the TV to admire the majestic Christmas tree, decorated in honor of the arrival of the New Year. For the first time, the installation of a coniferous tree, symbolizing eternal life, on Kremlin Square took place back in 1954year.
Where did the tinsel come from
Having de alt with the history of the appearance of the main New Year's symbol, one cannot help but be interested in its decorations. For example, such a wonderful tradition as the use of tinsel also came to us from Germany, where it appeared in the 17th century. In those days, it was made from real silver, which was thinly sliced, becoming a silvery “rain”, thanks to which the Christmas tree shone. The history of the emergence of modern foil and PVC products in Russia is not exactly known.
It is interesting that a beautiful legend is associated with Christmas tree tinsel. In ancient times, there lived a woman who was a mother of many children. The family was chronically short of money, so the woman did not really manage to dress up the New Year's symbol, the Christmas tree was left practically without decorations. When the family fell asleep, the spiders created a web on the tree. The gods, in order to reward the mother for her kindness to others, allowed the web to become shining silver.
Even in the middle of the last century, tinsel was only silver. At the moment, you can buy this jewelry in almost any color. Features of the materials used for manufacturing make the products extremely durable.
A few words about lighting
As already mentioned, coniferous trees brought into the house for the New Year, it was customary not only to decorate, but also to illuminate. For a long time, only candles were used for this purpose, which were securely fixed on the branches. Disputes about who exactly inventeduse garlands, still not completed. What does history say, how did the modern-day Christmas tree come about?
The most common theory says that for the first time the idea of illuminating an evergreen beauty with the help of electricity was expressed by the American Johnson. This proposal was successfully implemented by his compatriot Maurice, an engineer by profession. It was he who first created the garland, assembling this convenient design from a large number of small light bulbs. Mankind first saw a festive tree lit in this way in Washington.
Evolution of Christmas decorations
It's hard to imagine a modern Christmas tree without garlands and tinsel. However, it is even more difficult to refuse elegant toys that easily create a festive atmosphere. Interestingly, the first Christmas decorations in Russia were edible. To decorate the symbol of the New Year, dough figures wrapped in foil were created. The foil could be golden, silver, painted in bright colors. Fruits and nuts were also hung on the branches. Gradually, other improvised materials began to be used to create the decor.
Some time later, glass products, mainly produced in Germany, began to be imported into the country. But local glassblowers quickly mastered the manufacturing technology, as a result of which bright toys began to be created in Russia as well. In addition to glass, materials such as cotton wool and cardboard were actively used. The first glass balls were distinguished by their considerable weight; by the beginning of the 20th century, craftsmen began to make thinglass.
Roughly since the beginning of the 70s, people had to forget about the unique design of jewelry. "Balls", "icicles", "bells" were stamped by conveyors by factories using the same technologies. Interesting specimens came across less and less, the same toys hung in different houses. Luckily, finding a truly original Christmas tree decoration is no longer a difficult task these days.
A few words about the star
Decorating a tree for the holiday is fun with a child who will love the story of where the Christmas tree came from. The history of the appearance in Russia for children will become even more interesting if you do not forget to tell them about the star. In the USSR, it was decided to abandon the classic Star of Bethlehem, which showed the way to the baby Jesus. Its alternative was a red ruby product, reminiscent of those that were placed on the Kremlin towers. Sometimes these stars were produced together with light bulbs.
It is interesting that there is no analogue of the Soviet star in the whole world. Of course, modern products for decorating the Christmas tree crown look much more attractive and interesting.
This is how the life of the Christmas tree looks in brief, the history of its appearance in Russia as a classic attribute of the holiday.
