The history of the New Year's Christmas tree

August 10, 2020

New Year's Eve is always associated with the Christmas tree, but few people know the history of the New Year's tree.

The Christmas tree has become a symbol of the holiday, and this fabulous tradition of decorating a Christmas tree for the New Year has been passed down from generation to generation for more than a century.

Why is a decorated Christmas tree necessary on New Year's Eve ? Where did this custom come from?

The history of the New Year's Christmas tree

History of the tree - In ancient times, there was a tradition that you just had to put together different types of trees. People believed that all trees were endowed with good energy and that almighty spirits lived in them. Therefore, they also decorated this possible mood with decorations. In ancient times, Christmas trees were mainly decorated with apples, eggs and nuts.

Among the trees, the fir tree has always been in the first place. It was considered a paradise of immortality, a symbol of life itself. It was previously believed that the fir tree especially benefited from the energy of the sun, because it is always green.

In ancient Greece, fir was considered a sacred symbol of hope - eternal life for all living things. It is believed that the Trojan Horse was built from fir.

The history of the New Year's tree does not end here and continues in Europe. The first decorated Christmas trees appeared in 1605 in France, in Alsace. This idea was quickly adopted by the Germans, and then by the whole of Europe. At first, Christmas trees could only be seen in the homes of wealthy nobles, but over time, artificial New Year trees began to spread massively.

New Year's Day has been celebrated in Russia since 1700, the foundation of which was laid by Peter I. It was he who introduced a new chronology from the Nativity of Christ, as in all of Europe, and not from the creation of the world.

Unfortunately, this tradition did not catch on, and after Peter's death, the celebration of the New Year was quickly forgotten. This wonderful tradition was revived only during the reign of Catherine II.

The decoration of decorative coniferous Christmas trees only began in the second half of the 19th century, and the first Christmas tree, decorated with candles, toys, and cones, was erected in St. Petersburg in 1852.

Where is the best place to plant a tree?
There is always a place for a beautiful tree in our house. If the tree is large, it is advisable to place it on the floor. If the tree is placed on a table, then consider that it celebrates the holiday with you. : )

Modern Christmas trees

Nowadays, artificial Christmas trees are installed in the main squares of cities around the world.

In Italy, the fluffy beauty is placed in Rome, in St. Peter's Square. In London, Trafalgar Square is the most important center of the city. In New York, in Rockefeller Center. In Rio de Janeiro, the Christmas tree is installed on Lake Lago.

The world's tallest Christmas tree, 112 meters high, was installed in Mexico City in 2009 on one of the central avenues. In 2010, in the capital of the United Arab Emirates, the tree was decorated with solid gold balls, which cost 12 million dollars.

The interest in Christmas trees and decorations has gained such momentum that famous designers are even releasing entire collections of New Year decorations. Each family tries to decorate their Christmas tree with the most sophisticated and original toys , which change every year.

Popular models