The tradition of putting up and decorating a Christmas tree in the USSR has its roots in pre-revolutionary Russia, but acquired a special form during the Soviet period. History and dates: 1. The emergence of the tradition in Russia: Christmas trees began to be decorated in Russia in the 18th century due to the influence of German culture. The first Christmas tree appeared in St. Petersburg under Peter I in 1700, when he adopted European customs. Later, this tradition spread among the nobility and the bourgeoisie. 2. The ban on the tree after the revolution: After the October Revolution of 1917, the tree was banned as a “bourgeois” and religious symbol. Since the 1920s, the celebration of Christmas in the USSR has practically ceased. 3. The return of the tree as a New Year's symbol: In 1935, the tradition was restored thanks to the initiative of party activist Pavel Postyshev. He suggested bringing back the tree, but not as a Christmas tree, but as a “New Year tree” — a secular symbol of the holiday for children. He wrote an article in the newspaper “Pravda” where he suggested decorating the tree to make the New Year joyful for Soviet children. 4. Consolidation of the tradition: Since 1937, the tree has become part of the New Year celebrations. The first official New Year's holiday with a decorated tree was held in the Kremlin. From that moment on, the tradition spread throughout the country. 5. Soviet interpretation: The tree lost its religious meaning and became a symbol of the New Year. Toys depicting pioneers, stars, astronauts and other attributes of Soviet ideology were hung on it. Thus, the tradition of decorating the tree in the USSR appeared due to its rethinking from a religious symbol to a secular attribute corresponding to the ideals of the Soviet state. https://t.me/DecentraM/13479

Traditions and rituals Over the long history of the holiday, Soviet, European, American and other traditions have managed to mix. Sometimes it is difficult to remember and figure out which rituals of the New Year celebration are native Russian, and which were borrowed. But this is not so important, because the main thing is that these familiar things and actions create the most magical New Year's atmosphere! Christmas tree Decorating a Christmas tree is a good tradition that is loved in every home. Toys and other decorations are chosen in advance, often red and green colors prevail in the New Year's decor. Father Christmas A kind grandfather with a long beard, who brings gifts to the house, is the main symbol of the New Year. Santa Claus has his own residence, it is located in Veliky Ustyug, where adults and children come every year who want to celebrate the holiday in a truly fabulous way! A rich festive table It is customary to set a generous table for the New Year, it is at him that friends and family gather on the night of December 31 to January 1. It is generally believed that the more diverse and richer the dishes will be, the more successful and satisfying the next year will be. New Year's Wish People believe that if you make your innermost wish under the chimes at midnight, it will definitely come true in the coming year. After that, it is necessary to raise glasses of champagne and drink to a happy new year! Christmas decorations How to celebrate the New Year in Russia Traditional Christmas decorations include, first of all, Christmas tree toys. Usually people decorate their beautiful Christmas tree with balloons, cones, animal figures, beads and garlands. Handmade toys are becoming increasingly popular, many craftsmen make truly unique jewelry that has its own charm and charm. Toys are often placed under the Christmas tree, the most popular, of course, are Santa Claus and his granddaughter Snow Maiden. It is customary to decorate the house with garlands, lanterns, candles, fir branches (both live and artificial), and the tradition of hanging a beautiful wreath with balloons and bows at the entrance to the house is becoming increasingly popular in Russia. There is no single concept to adhere to when decorating your home on the eve of the holiday. People choose what they like, and this makes every New Year's interior unique! Festive table How to celebrate the New Year in Russia The New Year's table must be special and luxurious! People are very responsible about its preparation: they make up lists of products in advance, think over the menu to the smallest detail, try to cook as many different dishes as possible and surprise their guests with this! Why is so much attention paid to the festive New Year's table? It is generally believed that the key to success in the New Year is a richly decorated table, and it should be not only delicious, but also beautiful! That is why people put festive dishes on the table, take out beautiful appliances, tablecloths, candles and so on. When choosing dishes, preference is usually given to traditional snacks (such as Olivier salad and jelly), poultry meat, fish, baked suckling pig is a frequent guest on the New Year's table. Potatoes and vegetables are often served as a side dish with meat. The main drink of the New Year is champagne.