Where did the tradition of decorating a Christmas tree come from: legends and facts. Where did the tradition of decorating a Christmas tree for the New Year come from? & Nbsp

New Year's holidays are strongly associated with a decorated Christmas tree, on which multi-colored lights shine, glass balls mysteriously sparkle, beads and garland threads twinkle. It seems to us that it has always been this way. But is it really so?

Ancient origins of custom

The tradition of decorating a Christmas tree came to us from Germany. And it appeared long before the emergence of Christianity. The ancient Germanic tribes endowed nature with divine powers. They believed in the existence of forest spirits. It was also believed that supernatural beings live on conifers that can send blizzards, cause frosts, and confuse hunters. And these spirits become especially strong on long and dark winter nights. Therefore, in order to appease the forest creatures and ask them for help, people tried to appease them. Ate, on which the spirits allegedly lived, were decorated with fruits and various delicacies, the priests uttered special conspiracies and performed rituals. For some tribes, the spruce was a symbol of life, the beneficial forces of nature, so these customs were designed to provide people with health and prosperity.

Christmas tree and Martin Luther

Many years have passed; Christianity has long been accepted everywhere in Europe. But people, as in pagan times, still went into the forest on Christmas night to decorate the spruce with colored shreds and fruits. All this worried the priest and reformer Martin Luther. There is a legend that one day on Christmas Eve he walked through a snow-covered forest, grieving at this behavior of his flock. And then he saw a tall fluffy spruce, on the branches of which frost sparkled like stars in the night sky. And the brightest frosty star adorned the top, like the Star of Bethlehem, which led the Magi to the baby Jesus. Luther liked this analogy - he found a solution to the problem. The tree was taken to the priest's house, and he decorated it with candles so that their lights resemble the twinkling of stars. This is how this tradition came about.

Christmas trees in Europe and Russia

In fact, it is impossible to say for sure where the tradition of decorating the Christmas tree came from. Although legend attributes it to Martin Luther, the first written records of Christmas trees date back to 1605. In those days, they were decorated with colored paper roses, apples, nuts and other similar things. And only at the beginning of the 19th century, this custom spread throughout all European countries. And in America, decorated fir trees became a ubiquitous attribute of Christmas by the middle of the 19th century.

Where did this tradition come from in Russia?

Although Peter I commanded to celebrate the New Year and put decorations of spruce, pine and juniper branches in front of the gates as early as 1700, the real custom of decorating homemade spruce became widespread only in the late 1830s. The first to decorate the Christmas tree was Tsar Nicholas I, and then all the nobility followed his example. In those days, German romantic literature came into vogue, and this contributed to the spread of the tradition. It is curious that at the same time Swiss and German confectioners in St. Petersburg began to offer their customers ready-made trees decorated with sweets.

Christmas tree in the Soviet Union

However, it should be noted that a decorated Christmas tree was an attribute of Christmas, that is, a religious holiday. And naturally, the October Revolution abolished everything - and Christmas, and the celebration of the New Year, and the Christmas tree. In the late 1920s, all of this was banned. However, in a country devastated by the revolution and the Civil War, there were no opportunities for all this. But time passed, life was getting better, and people always need holidays. And in 1936 the tree returned exactly as an attribute of the New Year holidays. It was decorated with garlands of colored paper, flags with Soviet symbols, bright balls. Fortunately, ideological motives were soon forgotten, and today we still have the opportunity to decorate the New Year tree.

Can you imagine now the New Year without a tree at all, without one forest beauty? The outfit of the Christmas tree is also symbolic. We hang garlands, balls, toys in the form of various animals, sweets, we will interfere with a star on the top of our head, but why we decorate the Christmas tree this way, and not otherwise, do not think. But it all makes sense.

The custom of decorating a Christmas tree and celebrating the New Year around it has pagan roots. Even in ancient Greece and Rome, houses were decorated with green branches, and this was necessary, since it was believed that the needles would bring health and happiness in the coming year. Conifers are evergreen, so they have become a symbol of eternal youth, courage, longevity, dignity, loyalty, fire of life and restoration of health.

The custom of decorating trees existed even before the new era. In those days, it was believed that powerful spirits (good and evil) lived in their branches, and in order to find a common language with them and get help, they were offered gifts.

And the tradition of decorating a Christmas tree has Celtic roots, because it is among the Celts World Tree - the most important element of the picture of the world. It was believed that Iggra-sil supports the firmament, connects heaven, earth and hell.

The coniferous tree first appeared on the squares of European cities in the 16th century. The custom of decorating a Christmas tree came to England in the middle of the 19th century, and he came to Russia under Peter the Great, who commanded “after thanksgiving to God and singing prayers in the church along the big streets, noble people and near the houses of deliberate (eminent) spiritual and secular rites , in front of the gate to make some decoration from the trees and branches of pine, spruce and juniper. And to poor people (that is, the poor), though on a tree or branches over the gate or over their horomins, put them. And so that the future General May be ripe by the 1st of 1700 of this year. And to stand for that decoration of January on the 7th of the same year. Yes, January 1, on the 1st day, as a sign of joy, congratulate each other on the New Year and the centenary, and do this when the fiery fun begins on Big Red Square, and there will be shooting, and on the noble houses of the boyar U dear, and Duma noble people, ward, military and merchant rank, famous people need something in their yard from small cannons, whoever has, or from a small gun, fire three times and release several missiles, as many as happens. And on large streets, where it is decent, from January 1 to 7, at night, light fires from wood, or from brushwood, or from straw. And where small courtyards, having gathered in five or six courtyards, put the same fire, or, if you like, on the posts one or two or three resin and thin barrels, piled with straw or brush * st, light it, and in front of the Burgomaster town hall shooting and such ornaments at their discretion to be the same. The tsar himself was the first to launch a rocket, which, flying like a fiery snake in the air, announced the New Year to the people, and after that, according to the tsar's decree, fun began throughout Belokamennaya ... True, this custom on Russian soil could not take root for a long time, apparently , because the spruce in Slavic mythology is closely related to the world of the dead. It can be considered that he was a stranger until the revolution. And then for some time (until 1935) the tree, as an accessory to a religious celebration, was banned.

At the top of the tree is burning star, denoting the top of the World Tree, it is the point of contact of the worlds: earthly and heavenly. And, in principle, it does not matter what kind of star it is: the eight-pointed silver Christmas or the red Kremlin one, with which until recently we decorated our Christmas trees (after all, it symbolized the power of power, and power was a different world). Balloons- This is a modern version of apples and tangerines, fruits that symbolized fertility, eternal youth, or at least health and longevity. One has only to remember the tales of apples, about rejuvenating apples or myths about the apples of the Hesperides or about the apple of discord. Eggs symbolized harmony and complete well-being, developing life, nuts - the incomprehensibility of divine providence. Figures of various kinds, like Christmas tree decorations, appeared not so long ago, but they are of great importance. These are mainly images of angels, fairy-tale characters or cartoon characters, but they are all images of another world. And this allows us to say that it is these toys that correspond to the ancient figures of good spirits, from which they expected help next year.

Now not a single tree is complete without garlandsbulbs and sparkles, that is, without flickering lights. This is how the presence of a soyma of spirits is represented in mythology. Another piece of jewelry is silver " rain”, Descending from top to bottom, symbolizing rain streaming from the top of the World Tree to its foot. There must be a figurine under the tree Santa Claus (it is possible with the Snow Maiden), gifts are also put there.

Now it is difficult to imagine meeting the New Year without its symbol - a fluffy evergreen beauty spruce. On the eve of this wonderful holiday, it is installed in every home, decorated with toys, tinsel and garlands. The fragrant smell of fresh pine needles, the taste of tangerines - this is what most Russian children associate with the New Year holiday. Children find their gifts under the tree. At matinees, round dances are performed around her, songs are sung. But this has not been the case at all times. Where did the New Year tree come from in Russia? The history of the tradition of decorating it for the New Year is described in this material.

Pagan Totem Tree

Our ancestors believed that all trees are alive, that spirits live in them. In pre-Christian times, the Druidic calendar of the Celts has a day of the worship of spruce. For them, she was a symbol of courage, strength, and the pyramidal shape of the tree resembled heavenly fire. Spruce cones also symbolized health and fortitude. The ancient Germans considered this tree sacred and worshiped it. They identified it with the World Tree - the source of eternal life, immortality. There was such a custom: at the end of December, people went to the forest, chose the fluffiest and tallest tree, decorated it with colorful ribbons and made various offerings. Then they danced around the spruce and sang ritual songs. All this symbolized the cyclical nature of life, its rebirth, the beginning of a new one, the arrival of spring. On the other hand, among the pagan Slavs, spruce was associated with the world of the dead and was often used in funeral rites. Although it was believed that if you spread spruce paws in the corners of a house or a barn, this would protect the home from storms and thunderstorms, and its inhabitants from ailments and evil spirits.

New Year tree: the history of its appearance in Europe after the birth of Christ

The Germans were the first to decorate the spruce in the house for Christmas in the Middle Ages. It is no coincidence that this tradition appeared in medieval Germany. There is a legend that the holy Apostle Boniface, an ardent missionary and preacher of the word of God, cut down an oak dedicated to Thor, the god of thunder. He did this in order to show the pagans the impotence of their gods. The felled tree knocked down several more trees, and the spruce survived. St. Boniface declared the spruce to be a sacred tree, Christbaum (the tree of Christ).

There is also a legend about a poor lumberjack who, on the pre-Christmas night, sheltered a little boy lost in the forest. He warmed, fed and left the lost child to spend the night. The next morning the boy disappeared, and instead of himself left a small coniferous tree at the door. In fact, under the guise of an unfortunate child, Christ himself came to the lumberjack and thus thanked him for the warm welcome. Since then, spruce has become the main Christmas attribute not only in Germany, but also in other European countries.

The story of the appearance of a star on the top of a Christmas tree

At first, people decorated their houses only with twigs and large spruce paws, later they began to bring whole trees. But much later there was a custom to decorate the New Year tree.

The story of the appearance of a star on the tree is associated with the name of the founder of Protestantism - the German Martin Luther, the head of the burgher Reformation. One night, walking down the street on Christmas Eve, Luther gazed at the bright stars of the night sky. There were so many of them in the night sky that it seemed as if they, like little lights, were stuck in the treetops. Arriving home, he decorated a small fir tree with apples and burning candles. And on the top of the tree he hoisted an asterisk as a symbol of the Star of Bethlehem, which announced to the Magi the birth of the infant Christ. Subsequently, this tradition spread among the followers of the ideas of Protestantism, and later throughout the country. Since the 17th century, this aromatic coniferous tree has become the main symbol of Christmas Eve in medieval Germany. In the German language even appeared such a definition as Weihnachtsbaum - Christmas tree, pine.

The appearance of the Christmas tree in Russia

The history of the appearance of the New Year tree in Russia began in 1699. The custom of setting a Christmas tree appeared in the country during the reign of Peter I, at the beginning of the 18th century. The Russian tsar issued a decree on the transition to a new time account, the chronology report began from the date of the Nativity of Christ.

January 1, and not September 1, as it was before, began to be considered the date of the beginning of next year. The decree also mentioned that the nobility before Christmas needed to decorate their homes with pine and juniper trees and branches in the European manner. January 1 was also ordered to launch rockets, arrange fireworks and decorate the buildings of the capital with coniferous branches. After the death of Peter the Great, this tradition was forgotten, except that drinking establishments on Christmas Eve were decorated with fir branches. By these branches (tied to a stake, stuck at the entrance), visitors could easily recognize the taverns inside the buildings.

Revival of Peter's customs in the first half of the 19th century

The history of the New Year tree and the tradition of decorating it for the holy holiday did not end there. The custom of putting lighted candles on the Christmas tree and giving each other gifts for Christmas became widespread in Russia during the reign of Nicholas I. This fashion among the courtiers was introduced by his wife, Tsarina Alexandra Feodorovna, a German by birth. Later, her example was followed by all the noble families of St. Petersburg, and then the rest of society. At the beginning of the 1940s, the newspaper "Northern Bee" noted that "it has become a habit for us to celebrate Christmas Eve" by decorating the cherished Christmas tree with sweets and toys. In the capital, on the square near Gostiny Dvor, grandiose Christmas tree bazaars are arranged. If the poor people could not buy even a small tree, then noble persons competed among themselves in this: whose spruce is taller, more luxuriant, more elegant. Sometimes precious stones, expensive fabrics, beads, gimp (thin silver or gold thread) were used to decorate the green beauty. The celebration itself, arranged in honor of the main Christian event - the Birth of Christ, began to be called a Christmas tree.

The history of the Christmas tree in the USSR

With the coming to power of the Bolsheviks, all religious holidays, including Christmas, were canceled. The Christmas tree was considered to be a bourgeois attribute, a relic of the imperial past. For several years this wonderful family tradition became illegal. But in some families, it still persisted, despite the ban of the authorities. Only in 1935, thanks to a note by the party leader Pavel Postyshev in the main communist publication of those years, the newspaper Pravda, this evergreen tree regained its undeservedly forgotten recognition as a symbol of the coming year.

The wheel of history turned back, and Christmas trees for children began to be arranged again. Instead of the Star of Bethlehem, its top is decorated with a red five-pointed star - the official symbol of Soviet Russia. Since then, the trees have been called “New Year's” rather than “Christmas”, and the trees and holidays themselves are not Christmas, but New Year's. For the first time in the history of Russia, an official document on non-working holidays appears: January 1 officially becomes a day off.

Kremlin trees

But the story of the New Year tree in Russia does not end there. For children in 1938 in Moscow, in the Column Hall of the House of Unions, a huge multi-meter Christmas tree with tens of thousands of glass balls and toys was installed. Since then, every year in this hall there is a giant Christmas tree and children's parties are organized. Every Soviet child dreams of getting to the New Year tree in the Kremlin. And until now, the favorite meeting place for the next year among Muscovites is the Kremlin Square with a huge, elegantly decorated forest beauty installed on it.

Christmas decorations: then and now

In tsarist times, Christmas tree decorations could be eaten. These were curly gingerbread cookies wrapped in multi-colored metal paper. Candied candied fruits, apples, marmalade, gilded nuts, paper flowers, ribbons, cardboard figurines of angels were also hung on the branches. But the main element of the Christmas tree decor was lit candles. Glass balloons were brought mainly from Germany, they were quite expensive. Figures with porcelain heads were highly prized. In Russia, only at the end of the 19th century, artels for the production of New Year's products appeared. They also make cotton, cardboard toys and papier-mâché figurines. In Soviet times, starting in the 60s, mass production of factory Christmas tree decorations began. These products did not differ in variety: the same "cones", "icicles", "pyramids". Fortunately, now on store shelves you can find many interesting items of Christmas tree decor, including those with hand-painted ones.

Where did the tinsel and garlands come from?

No less interesting is the story of the appearance of other New Year's paraphernalia: tinsel and garlands. Previously, tinsel was made from real silver. They were thin threads, like "silver rain". There is a beautiful myth about the origin of silver tinsel. One very poor woman, who had many children, decided to decorate the Christmas tree before Christmas, but since there was no money for rich decorations, the decoration of the tree turned out to be very nondescript. During the night, the spiders have entwined their cobwebs on the spruce branches. Knowing about the woman's kindness, God decided to reward her and turned the web into silver.

Nowadays, tinsel is made from colored foil or PVC. Garlands were originally long strips intertwined with flowers or branches. In the 19th century, the first electric garland with many light bulbs appeared. The idea for its creation was put forward by the American inventor Johnson, and brought to life by the Englishman Ralph Morris.

Stories about a little Christmas tree for children and their parents

Many fairy tales, stories, funny stories about the New Year tree have been written for small and large children. Here is some of them:

1. "The Tale of a Little Christmas Tree", M. Aromshtam. A touching and kind story for kids about a small tree, which was awarded for the desire to bring joy to others.
2. Comics from the Snegirevs couple "Keshka in pursuit of a Christmas tree." Short, funny stories about the cat Keshka and his owner.
3. Collection of poems "New Year tree". Author - Ag Yatkovska.
4. A. Smirnov “Christmas tree. Old fun "- a modern edition of the old edition of the Christmas lotto of 1911.

Older children would be interested in reading "The Story of the New Year Tree" in the book by Alexander Tkachenko.

It is impossible to imagine the New Year without a beautiful fluffy tree. For the New Year's holiday, the forest beauty is dressed up by children and adults. Several decades ago, there was no tradition of decorating a Christmas tree in our country. So where did she come from? This is what will be discussed in our article.

Where did the tradition of decorating a Christmas tree come from?

The Germans claim that the origins of the tradition of decorating a Christmas tree came from Germany. Originally, the trees were decorated for Christmas. Traditions arose during the Middle Ages.

Residents believed that decorated trees at Christmas bring a rich harvest. The ancient Germanic tribes had a belief that local forest spirits live in the crowns of conifers. The tribesmen treated the environment with great respect and respect. They believed that if the spirits were well cajoled, they would be protected.

People in the forests were regularly decorating conifers. Needle twigs were decorated with nuts, fruits, sweets and fresh homemade bread. The Celts believed that trees are endowed with a magical meaning and do not succumb to destructive power. Over time, local residents began to dig up spruce roots and replant them near their homes. It was believed that the old spruce would be a good amulet.

In European countries, most residents refuse standard Christmas tree decorations. They are happy to decorate the Christmas tree with sweets, sweets, dried fruits. It looks beautiful and original. At any time, the sweet tooth can remove the sweets.

The legend of Luther King: what has the tree to do with it

At the time of the birth of Christianity in Europe, the ancient inhabitants retained the tradition of decorating a Christmas tree in the forest. Decorated with sweets, sweets, gingerbread cookies, fruits, berries. The ritual of decorating conifers was more reminiscent of pagan rites than traditions in Christianity. This worried a local priest named Martin Luther King.

One winter evening, he went to the nearest forest to understand why people come here to dress up handsome conifers. Walking along the snow-covered forest paths, his gaze fell on a tall beautiful spruce. It was dusted with silvery snow and was illuminated by the heavenly moonlight. The picture he saw reminded him of his biblical story about the Star of Bartholomew.

The priest had the idea to bring home a Christmas tree and decorate it with stars in the form of lights. And so he did. Since then, Christians all over the world began to decorate the Christmas tree with toys, bright lights, serpentine, rain and tinsel for the New Year.

In the annals, you can find entries dating back to the 17th century, which mention Christmas trees. Starting from the 19th century, the tradition from Germany to decorate a Christmas tree before Christmas passed to other European countries: England, Finland, France, Hungary, Slovenia and others. At the beginning of the 20th century, the tradition passed from Europe to America.

The great tsar and commander of All Russia Peter I in the 17th century issued a law on the celebration of the New Year. For the holiday, the house was decorated with spruce branches and various treats were served on the table. The first tree, as an attribute of celebrating a new one, came to Russia with the ascension to the throne of Tsar Nicholas I.

It was he who ordered to decorate the coniferous spruce in the palace for the New Year, according to European traditions. The subjects followed the example of Nicholas I and in their homes, estates dressed up ate for the upcoming Christmas and New Year. From that time on, the tradition of decorating the tree for the New Year began. In the 19th century, German culture, poetry and literature were popular in Russia. Therefore, the tradition of decorating a Christmas tree in homes quickly took root in all strata of society.

Since childhood, we all love to decorate the New Year tree. This tradition has a long history and originates from biblical legends. Why is it customary to decorate coniferous trees and where did this tradition come from?

There are several parables and legends on this score.

According to Christian tradition, on the night when the Son of God was born, a bright star lit up in the sky. Seeing the divine sign, not only people, but also plants went to Bethlehem. Everyone wanted to show great joy and give the baby a gift: flowers, fruits and berries.

A spruce was in a hurry from the northern lands to the great event. She was the last to arrive, and shyly stood aside. In a hurry, the spruce forgot about the gift for the newborn Savior. Then the plants, one by one, began to give their gifts to ate: fruits, petals, bright flowers. The tree was transformed, became beautiful and joyfully approached Jesus. The kid smiled and a bright star shone on the top of the fir.

According to another legend, a coniferous tree did not let a palm tree enter the cave to the Savior, reproaching it with sharp thorns and sticky resin. The modest Christmas tree did not make excuses and sadly watched everything on the sidelines. Then one of the angels had mercy and enriched her branches with shining stars.


Seeing such beauty, the baby smiled and handed the handle to the beautiful tree. Since then, the Spruce has become a sign of the great feast of the Nativity of Christ.

New Year's Eve Tradition in Northern Europe

From time immemorial, Europeans believed in the existence of forest spirits living in dense thickets, especially on pines, spruces and firs. They believed that blizzards and blizzards were the tricks of the spirits. To appease the mysterious creatures, people tried in every way to please them: they decorated conifers, brought offerings, and performed mysterious rituals.

The tradition of installing an evergreen tree in the house is associated with the name of Saint Boniface. The parable says that the preacher, delivering the Word of God to the pagans, cut down the mighty tree of the god Thor in order to show his powerlessness. As it fell, it knocked down all the trees around, leaving the spruce untouched.

It is believed that at the very beginning of the existence of the tradition, the Christmas tree was not decorated, but simply placed in the house. It was first decorated by Martin Luther in 1513. In memory of the Savior, he installed a Christmas star on the top of the tree. Many followed Luther's example.


The tradition became widespread only in the middle of the 19th century. Residents of England, France and America began to bring home branches of conifers, decorating them with apples, colored paper and other items.

The spread of the custom in the Russian Empire

The tradition of decorating spruce was introduced by Peter I. At first, frankly, the custom did not take root. Most likely, this is due to the fact that in Russia since ancient times the path of the deceased was covered with pine needles. So it was not associated with the holiday and fun.

The revival of the tradition took place thanks to Princess Alexandra Feodorovna, who had German roots. On the eve of 1819, at the Tsar's residence in Moscow, she ordered to put up a Christmas tree and decorate it with various decorations. Ordinary people followed the tsar's example.

With the advent of Soviet power, the mention of Orthodoxy and religion in general was suppressed in every possible way. All Christmas trappings were persecuted, including the tradition of decorating the New Year tree. This continued until 1935, when an article appeared in the communist newspaper with the headline "Let's arrange a holiday for the children - we'll decorate the New Year's tree."


The country's leadership supported the initiative and after a while toys and jewelry began to appear in stores. Nevertheless, the revival of tradition could not pass by the Soviet apparatus, and instead of the Star of Bethlehem, a symbol of communism was installed at the top - a red star.

Today the tree is associated with the New Year, Santa Claus, holiday and fun. With special joy, children begin to decorate the coniferous beauty.