With what impatience adults and especially children wait for the approaching New Year's holidays. One of the traditions of these days is decorating a holiday tree. We are all accustomed to the fact that the tree is considered the main symbol of the New Year and Christmas. But few people know why people chose this particular coniferous beauty.
Traditions of peoples
The tradition of dressing up trees and dancing around them came to us even before the advent of Christianity in our area, during the times of paganism. Then it was believed that spirits lived in these gifts of nature, which people tried to appease. Coniferous plants were especially revered, because they were gifted by the gods to be evergreen, and therefore were associated with eternity. 
In ancient times, Germans used spruce branches to decorate their homes on the winter solstice.
Legends and traditions
There are several versions of why the Christmas tree was given the honor of becoming a holiday tree. 
According to legend, all the trees went to honor the born Christ the Savior. Among the poplars, oaks and cypresses, a small spruce stood in line at the very end, and therefore only the snow fell on it, then it became elegant and sparkling. The tradition of decorating plants is also connected with this belief, because at Christmas all over the world fruits appeared on different trees. Therefore, the Slavs decorated the first Christmas trees with apples, nuts, and pears.
Another legend says that Saint Boniface, who preached Christianity in Germany in the 7th-8th centuries, cut down an oak tree that was dedicated to Thor. As evidence of the powerlessness of the pagan gods, this oak collapsed, managing to knock down the nearby trees, except spruce. Saint Boniface then called the Christmas tree that remained standing “the tree of the Infant Christ.” 
From antiquity to the present day
Christmas trees have been decorated since the 1500s. Martin Luther started this by decorating the top of the Christmas tree with a star symbolizing Bethlehem.
This tradition reached the Russian lands only after almost 200 years. In 1700, it was Peter I who ordered to celebrate the New Year on January 1. Previously it coincided with our new one academic year- September 1. It was ordered to decorate not only spruce trees, but also any coniferous trees. 
Still, the first experience of decorating holidays New Year's trees belong to German culture. While Martin Luther used the star as well as candles as decoration, his compatriots used fruit for this purpose. However, in a lean year they began to be replaced glass toys, which is what people around the world continue to do to this day. And in the 19th century, the first electric garland was invented in the United States.
New Year remains a special family celebration for many of us. Probably everyone agrees with the statement that without elegant Christmas tree There will no longer be that feeling of celebration.
For one night, millions of people turn to a fairy tale beloved by adults and children.
Christmas tree
A Christmas tree or pine tree is the most famous attribute of the holiday not only in Russia, but also in the West. The very idea of decorating a tree is associated with the ancient traditions of the Germanic peoples: for the harvest, the New Year and other celebrations, Europeans decorated trees or gave their branches as gifts. In our country, a decorated Christmas tree appeared at the holiday only in the 19th century, and at first the decorated tree stood on the street.
New Year's gifts
And this tradition has its roots. In the middle of the 19th century, when the fashion arose in the houses of wealthy Russian nobles to put up a Christmas tree for the New Year, after the holiday the tree was given to the servants. Everything that was on the branches of the tree and on the table under it were gifts. Often the gift had its own specific donor. The custom of attributing the appearance of gifts to fairy-tale creatures (such as Santa Claus or elves) appeared only at the beginning of the 20th century.
Father Frost
Father Frost - fairy tale character, symbol of the New Year in Russia. In other countries, he is also known as Santa Claus, or as Jollupukki, and the list of his names is not limited to this. The good-natured old man, helped by his diligent granddaughter Snegurochka (or cheerful elves, if we are talking about Santa Claus), became a favorite children's character in the 20th century.
It is believed that the prototype of Santa Claus is St. Nicholas the Wonderworker, although in Slavic legends there was already a mystical hero symbolizing winter and cold.
Masks and carnival costumes
And this is another tradition “from time immemorial.” Folk festivities, mummers, buffoons, jesters and fortune telling were inherited from Slavic paganism. The artists wore bright costumes and masks to amuse the people. In the Russian Empire in New Year's Eve Masquerade balls were held, the so-called “carnival nights,” where each participant in the celebration hid his face under a mask. Today the fashion for New Year's carnivals is returning.
Fireworks
Fireworks began to be set off for the New Year in BC. It was then believed that the noise and bright light from explosions drove away evil spirits. In fact, who wants to celebrate the New Year with evil spirits? When fireworks, like other equally interesting Chinese inventions, came to Europe, the tradition became international.
Sparklers
Story sparkler goes back to ancient times. It was in Bengal, as historians testify, in the 5th–6th centuries AD. During religious ceremonies, a fire of unusual brightness flared up and quickly burned out on the altars. Depending on the wishes of the clergy, the temple either “smelled of evil” (the composition contained sulfur powder, which, when burned, releases gas with unpleasant smell), or “blessed breath” was poured (in this case, rosin was used instead of sulfur).
Animal of the Chinese zodiac
The coming 2014 will be the year of the blue wooden horse. Where did this horse come from and why is it blue? Since the late 1980s, in Russia and other European countries there has been a trend to associate the arrival of the New Year with one of the animals Chinese horoscope, despite the fact that Chinese New Year comes later. If you don’t seriously go into the intricacies of fortune telling, then for us it’s just a beautiful and non-binding tradition.
For Chinese residents, reverence for the calendar plays a special role, since the most important life decisions have been made since ancient times taking into account the interpretation of the horoscope.
New Year cards
The custom of exchanging cards for the New Year arose in. First sent New Year's greetings by mail to the Englishman Henry Cole in 1843, after which he asked his friend John Gersl to draw New Year's card. From this sketch, 1000 copies of the postcard were printed in London.
Champagne
It is believed that the fashion for champagne appeared in Russia thanks to the noble class, which considered it the only noble drink. Very quickly, sparkling wine became indispensable at social events and banquets, acquiring a festive status. The fashion of clinking crystal glasses was invented and introduced by Emperor Alexander II.
The tradition of drinking champagne on New Year's Eve appeared in the USSR only in the early 1960s. In our country, they drink it mainly on New Year's Day - during the holiday, 45% of the total annual turnover of this drink is drunk.
President's New Year's address to the people
In our country this became a tradition after the appeal of L.I. Brezhnev to the people on the eve of 1976. But, as is the case with other symbols of the New Year, the president’s address to the people during the holiday is also found in many other countries. For example, in England, King Henry V delivered an address in 1923, and since 1970 the Chancellor has wished the country a Merry Christmas.
Photo: thinkstockphotos.com, flickr.com
The coming year will be under the auspices of Yellow Earth Pig. This symbol is known for its kind and generous nature. The animal will bring good luck to those who are not afraid to change their lives for the better.
Eastern horoscope for 2019
People have always tried to lift the veil and look into the future: what will happen in the new year, what to expect, and what to beware of. The Pig (Boar) is the 12th sign of the Eastern horoscope; it is the one that completes the cycle, which means it gives everyone the opportunity to correct their mistakes. It is important to remember that eastern calendar The friendly Pig comes into its own only from February 5, 2019.
Symbol of the year 2019
A few months before the New Year, one of the most pressing and popular questions becomes: who will be the patron of the coming year, its totem and protector. Entrepreneurs begin to fill store shelves with relevant goods, and ordinary people happily buy outfits in the right color and cute souvenirs. In 2019, the Pig (Boar) will ascend to the throne - a sign of the eastern horoscope, which completes the full cycle.
Eastern horoscope for 2018 by year of birth
The mistress of the New Year is the Yellow Dog, which means that the time has come for friendship and closer contact between people, a time for cooperation and greater tolerance towards each other. The eastern horoscope for 2018 promises the opportunity to avoid many problems. A dog is a creature that cares about others. Therefore, it is not surprising that in her year everyone will begin to pay attention to more attention the needs of others.
Horoscope for 2018 according to zodiac signs
The symbol of 2018 is the Yellow Earth Dog, first of all, a true friend for people with noble hearts. Don't stop this year even for a moment. You have a great chance to do extraordinary things.
Symbol of 2018
The coming 2018 will be at the mercy of the elements - the Earth, its main color palette will become all shades of yellow. The dog is kind, sensitive, endowed with a sense of justice! The dog is faithful, sensitive, fair, caring, sensitive, although sometimes it “shows its fangs.” It all depends on how attentive you are and how willing you are to trust her!
About the symbol of the year
The symbols are like Ariadne's threads, which allow a person not to get lost in the labyrinth own life. They exist in many manifestations of the reality around us, but each of them is interpreted differently, since each person has his own key to defining a particular symbol!
Zodiac calendar
Throughout the existence of mankind, the starry sky has attracted people with its mysterious beauty and mysterious unknown. Ancient people were completely confident that everything that happened on Earth was sent from heaven. Since in those distant times there were no clocks and calendars, our ancestors navigated in space by studying the correct “reading” of the starry sky.
Santa Claus is a symbol of Christmas and New Year, but each country has its own character, sometimes strange and even frightening!
Morozko, Studenets, Treskun - all this is one Slavic character of Slavic mythology, the lord of winter and frost. Our ancestors imagined him as a tall old man with a white beard and a staff. From his breath a cold began, from his touch objects froze. Later, with the advent of cinematography, Father Frost dressed in a blue fur coat, moved to Veliky Ustyug, and became good friend for children who still believe in him to this day.
Source: heliograph.ru
Vainakhtsman is very similar to our Father Frost, he also wears a fur coat and has a beard. He rides a donkey and wishes Christmas greetings to children. Children in Germany leave a plate in which Vainachtsman will put treats, and a shoe with hay for the donkey. He watches the kids all the time year, and good ones He encourages children, and he has rods prepared for bad children.
Source: 1.bp.blogspot.com
On this cheerful holiday in France, Pere Noel, whose name can be literally translated as Father Christmas, comes to the children. Per Noel also has an assistant, and his name is Chaland. Shaland is dressed in a traveling cloak and helps his friend. The two of them go home and congratulate the children. They have gifts for good children, and whips for bad children.
Source: media.timeout.com
In Great Britain, the main role in the celebration of Christmas is assigned to the Queen. She says congratulatory speech, and after that everyone goes to church. Children ask Father Christmas to give them gifts, write letters with wishes and burn them in the fireplace. The smoke from the letters travels through the air to Father, and he fulfills their wishes. It is interesting that he himself does not appear in front of the children, but sends gifts to the children’s parents. He looks the same as the others, wearing a red fur coat and a beard.
Source: img.wallpaperfolder.com
Source: top-anthropos.com
The gnome Joulupukki came to visit the Finnish children. This funny name can be translated into Russian as “Christmas goat.” The villagers, who carried gifts home on Christmas night, wore fur coats made of goat skins. He has sensitive, big ears, so he knows well which of the children behaved well and which were mischievous. He also knows who wants to receive what gifts. While the children are sleeping, he brings them gifts and rods for the naughty ones.
Source: heliograph.ru
Children in Sweden are waiting for Christmas gifts from a gnome who is a bit like our brownie. He hides in the basement of every home on Christmas Day. His name is Yul Tomten. He walks around cities and looks into windows, watching how children behave. His good companion, the white goat, is always with him. At Christmas, he throws gifts under the tree and hides back underground.
