The tradition of decorating trees for the new year is very ancient. However, the Christmas tree did not always decorate the New Year celebration. The Slavs celebrated the New Year in ancient times on March 1; the year began during the spring awakening of nature, and the symbol of the holiday was a blossoming cherry, which was customarily introduced into the houses. Cherry was specially grown in tubs, a certain period of time was kept in a cool room, and the room was brought in long before the holiday.
The tree has deserved attention due to the fact that it remains green all year round. Approximately nine centuries ago the Christmas tree became a symbol of eternal life, and it was used as an element of festive ornaments. In ancient Rome, coniferous branches were the most important attribute of the celebration of "Saturnalia" in the period from December 19 to 25. The Germanic tribes who fought against the Roman Empire adopted from the Romans this tradition, and the Christmas tree in them became an attribute of the New Year. "Barbarians" venerated the fir tree as a sacred tree, the branches of which are a receptacle of the good spirit of forests - the defender of the truth. To cajole him, the tree had to be decorated with apples - a symbol of fertility, eggs - a symbol of life, and nuts - a symbol of the incomprehensible divine providence. It was the Germans who were the first to grow ornamental spruce and invented Christmas tree decorations.
Over time, the tradition of decorating Christmas trees for the New Year conquered the whole world. The herringbone was brought to America by the Protestants. It quickly and easily became an integral part of the New Year's Christmas tradition of a young nation. In Russia, after the promulgation of the Decree of Peter I "On the celebration of the New Year", the homes of residents of St. Petersburg (mostly Germans) were first decorated with coniferous branches on samples exhibited for demonstration in Gostiny Dvor. Tradition gradually spread to all of Russia. Fir-trees became the main and indispensable ornament of houses for the New Year and Christmas in the cities and the most remote villages of the Russian Empire.
Originally, the Christmas tree, adorned with the eight-pointed star of Bethlehem, was a symbol of the Nativity of Christ. Returning home from a night service in the church, people lit candles. This was the beginning of the tradition of decorating a Christmas tree and a festive table with candles. After the October Revolution, being the subject of a "religious cult", the Christmas tree fell into disgrace with the authorities. However, the tradition survived. After a while, the fir officially became the New Year's symbol, replacing the eight-pointed Bethlehem star with the five-pointed Soviet star. Elka again became the queen of New Year's holidays.
So, it's time to decorate New Year's spruce. If you decide to put a live Christmas tree at home, you need to create comfortable conditions for it in the room. Do not need to bring the Christmas tree to the warm house early, let it "be kept" in the cold. Two days before installation, it is necessary to update the trunk section, shortening it by 10 cm. The trunk near the trunk cut must be cleaned of the bark and placed in a special solution. Here are three possible recipes for the preparation of such a solution:
- 3-4 tablespoons of glycerin per 10 liters of water;
- 6 g of gelatin, 5 g of citric acid, 16. crushed chalk - 3 liters of water;
- a spoonful of sugar, a pinch of salt, one aspirin tablet - for 10 liters of water.
As the solution level decreases, it is necessary to add water. The Christmas tree, standing for a couple of days in such a solution, will not crumble during all New Year and Christmas holidays.
Instead of one big tree, or in addition to it, you can decorate your house with various compositions from coniferous twigs, make bouquets, garlands, wreaths from them. All this in combination with traditional Christmas decorations is conveniently placed on the wall, on the table, on the window, on the door, in every room of the house, filling the holiday with the entire space of your home.
Decorate the house with "snow-covered" coniferous branches. It is necessary to lower the spruce branch for several hours into a hot, strong solution of salt. Dry the branch, and from the protruding crystals of salt it will look as if covered with sparkling snow. You can also make a bouquet of "snow-covered" branches of deciduous trees. The branches are covered with a thin layer of glue, and then they are sprinkled with finely crumbled foam. Finally, you can use artificial snow in spray cans.
If the holiday itself is more important for you than the "impeccable style" of the New Year's Beauty, let me decorate the tree for your children. It will be great if they hang their own lanterns, garlands on the tree. It's nothing that a Christmas tree can become a bit old-fashioned at the same time. It will please everyone, will create a warm and joyful atmosphere of the holiday of incessant renewal and eternity of life.