1700
Tsar tree
The custom of putting up a Christmas tree for the New Year we borrowed from Western Europe. This fact is considered a textbook truth. But with the author of tradition, everything is not so simple.
There is a historical stereotype: Peter I, introducing a new chronology, due to which January 1 came not in 7208, but in 1700, at the same time decided to adequately celebrate the reform.
The most cited historical document on New Year's Eve is Peter's decree: "Along the large and passing streets, noble people and at the houses of deliberate spiritual and worldly rank in front of the gate make some decorations from trees and branches of pine and juniper, and for meager people, even if a tree or a branch on or put a gate over your temple."
Everything is so, but in our understanding, the cheerful king did not command to arrange New Year trees. Yes, and the German Christmas tradition of his "some decorations from the trees" did not fully correspond. In addition, people are used to celebrating the evening of Basil of Caesarea on the night of December 31 to January 1. Other names: "Generous" (they walked like on Maslenitsa, even the term appeared: "Caesarian" pig, which was fried whole), Vasiliev Evening.
It can be assumed that full-fledged Christmas trees, decorated with sweets and toys, still stood in our capital at that time. But most likely - only in the homes of foreigners living in Moscow, primarily German Lutherans, who preserved their customs in a foreign land.
Since 1704, Peter I moved the New Year celebrations to St. Petersburg. There they walked like a king, and the appearance at the New Year's masquerade balls of the nobles was mandatory.
After the death of Peter the custom began to die. There were no special persecutions against Christmas trees. The problem was that Peter's idea did not really take root among the people. During the reign of Peter the Great, it was purely urban entertainment. They generally forgot to explain to the village why it is necessary to hang apples and gingerbread on Christmas trees.
In addition, not the whole country immediately switched to the Peter's calendar. The people of ancient times in Russia met the onset of the new year on March 1. And so it continued until the end of the 15th century. In 1492, the Russian Orthodox Church decided to postpone the new year to September 1.
To put it mildly, we got used to it. And the foundations are always broken with difficulty.
For example, in the Arkhangelsk province, the New Year is still celebrated three times. The first two (according to the new and old style) - with the whole country, and on September 14 Pomeranian is also celebrated New Year.
In addition, spruce branches in Russia often covered the path along which they carried the deceased to the churchyard. Therefore, the Christmas tree was somehow not very associated among the peasants with fun and celebration.
Finally, the Orthodox Church had little desire to promote the Lutheran custom among the masses. Perhaps, only those who would now be called restaurateurs kept the most staunchly Peter's testaments. The roofs of many taverns in Russia were decorated with Christmas trees. By the way, after the New Year holidays, they didn’t take them off at all. The very expression "to go under the Christmas tree" in those days meant going to a drinking establishment.
1819
Second coming
The second "campaign" of the New Year tree to Russia was again undertaken from Germany. But this time - more successful. In 1817, Grand Duke Nikolai Pavlovich married the Prussian princess Charlotte, baptized in Orthodoxy under the name of Alexander. The princess persuaded the court to adopt the custom of decorating New Year's table bouquets of fir branches.
In 1819, at the insistence of his wife, Nikolai Pavlovich put up for the first time a Christmas tree of respectable size in the Anichkov Palace. In 1825, a public Christmas tree was installed in St. Petersburg for the first time.
In those days, there were no toys yet, the Christmas tree was decorated with fruits and sweets. 
"Under the Christmas tree", which was installed in the capital on December 24, on Christmas Eve, they also arranged a royal banquet. The archives preserved the menu: soups, pies, seasoned beef, roast with salad, pickles (the emperor simply adored them), Swedish jelly, Welsh rabbit meat, Norwegian cod, abbey-style lamprey, ice cream.
In the villages, the Christmas tree still did not take root. But the cities new fashion simply captured, the Christmas tree hype began: expensive Christmas tree decorations were ordered from Europe, children's rooms were arranged in rich houses New Year's parties. "Christmas tree" was no longer called taverns, but a Christmas holiday for children with the distribution of gifts.
Under Alexander III, a foundation was laid new tradition: members of the imperial family performed at New Year's "corporate parties". As a rule, the emperor with the grand dukes went to the arena of the cuirassier regiment for the Christmas tree for the lower ranks of His Majesty's own convoy, the consolidated guards battalion and the palace police. A fantastic detail: the next day, the Christmas tree was repeated for the ranks who were on guard the day before. Agree, some simply unrealistic concern for the subjects.
1915
Elka is an enemy of the state
This continued until World War I, which Russia entered in 1914. An active anti-German campaign began in the country. In the spring of 1915, Nicholas II approved the "Special Committee for Combining Measures to Combat German Dominance", closer to winter, the liquidation of German colonies in the Volga region, southern Ukraine and the Caucasus began, as well as the forced resettlement of colonists to Siberia.
On the eve of 1915, German prisoners of war in the Saratov hospital held a holiday with a traditional Christmas tree. The press called it a "blatant fact", the journalists were supported by the Holy Synod and Emperor Nicholas II. The king called the tradition "enemy" and categorically forbade her to follow.
Actually, there was something paranoid about this ban. Okay, if only the enemy soldiers were having fun under the tree. But ours, too!
Here are the entries from the diary of Nicholas II: "I went to the military hospital to the sick Christmas tree", "in Alix's new room there was our own Christmas tree with a lot of wonderful mutual gifts ...".
Or here is the daily routine of Nicholas II on December 31, 1913. At 15 o'clock the tsar went to the military hospital and to the infirmary of the hussar regiment for the Christmas tree ... At 23 o'clock 30 min. We went to the regimental church for a New Year's prayer service.
Well, what does the "enemy tradition" have to do with it ?! In principle, in this scenario, the tsar was obliged to declare himself an enemy of the Russian people.
1919
Father Frost
without browning
After the revolution, the ban was lifted. The German proletariat, even under ecclesiastical influence alien to the revolution, by definition could not be considered an enemy of Soviet power. And most importantly, Lenin loved the Christmas tree.
However, encroachments on tradition were in those days. Even during the life of the leader, many of his associates, prominent party members, tried to declare the Christmas tree a "bourgeois prejudice." But they could not do anything with this religious relic. How to forbid "prejudice" if the leader himself personally arranged a Christmas tree for children in Sokolniki?
At the same time, he sometimes showed miracles of heroism. January 6, 1919, when he was driving from the Kremlin to Sokolniki for the first New Year children's holiday, the car was stopped by the raiders of the famous Moscow bandit Yakov Koshelkov. They literally threw Ilyich out of the car, put a revolver to his temple, rummaged through his pockets, took away money, documents, "Browning" (Lenin's armed guard and his personal chauffeur did not resist, so as not to endanger the life of the leader). Koshelkov did not recognize Lenin, which he later regretted very much: he told his accomplices that if he had taken Lenin hostage, they could demand that the entire Butyrka be released in exchange for him. Well, the ransom is solid money.
However, he did not regret it for very long, the Chekists found and killed all the raiders in a few months. "Browning" Ilyich, by the way, was returned. But, of course, that's not the point. Lenin, having experienced stress, immediately took a new car and arrived at the children's Christmas tree. He joked, danced round dances, treated them with sweets, gave each a gift - a pipe and a drum. Well, the real Santa Claus.
Even in new year's eve In 1924, when Ilyich was mortally ill and he had three weeks to live, N. K. Krupskaya arranged a traditional Christmas tree. But after the death of the leader, the Christmas tree was dealt with. Our great-grandfathers heard such verses:
Only the one who is a friend of the priests,
The Christmas tree is ready to celebrate.
You and I are enemies of the priests,
We don't need Christmas!
Since 1926, decorating a Christmas tree has already been considered a crime: the Central Committee of the All-Union Communist Party of Bolsheviks called the custom of installing the so-called Christmas tree anti-Soviet. In 1927, at the 15th Party Congress, Stalin announced the weakening of anti-religious work among the population. An anti-religious campaign began. The party conference of 1929 canceled the "Christian" Sunday: the country switched to the "six-day period", the celebration of Christmas was forbidden.
It is strange that it never occurred to anyone that such formulations actually declared Lenin a malicious anti-Soviet, an obscurantist and simply a criminal.
1935
Used hands to axes
Why, just eight years later, the authorities suddenly radically changed their attitude to the Christmas tree - a mystery. It is believed that the rehabilitation of the Christmas tree began with a small note in the Pravda newspaper, published on December 28, 1935. It was about the initiative to organize for the New Year children nice Christmas tree. The note was signed by the second secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Ukraine Postyshev.
To everyone's surprise, Stalin agreed.
And although there were no uncoordinated initiatives in Pravda, officials were in no hurry to organize Christmas trees. Even when they were allowed, many met the New Year 1936 without the forest beauty. Just to be on the safe side: someone took the offer as a provocation. The rest prudently decided that before chopping firewood - in the sense: cutting down Christmas trees - it would be wiser to first follow the fate of both the initiator of the Christmas tree rehabilitation and the initiative itself.
The fates were different. At the Christmas tree - well, at Postyshev - not very much. In the late 30s, he was transferred from Ukraine to the post of 1st secretary of the Kuibyshev regional party committee. Arriving in the area, he organized an unprecedented campaign of arrests. Personally "debunked" a large number of enemies of the party and the people, sending thousands of people to camps or to execution. Then he himself was arrested. February 26, 1939 by the military collegium of the Supreme Court of the USSR sentenced to death penalty and shot on the same day. In 1955 he was rehabilitated.
Some historians call Postyshev "the man who returned the Christmas tree to the people." The thesis is not indisputable.
Nikita Khrushchev in his memoirs will clarify that Postyshev, before writing a note to Pravda, addressed Stalin personally with the idea. He reacted somewhat uncharacteristically, and therefore - mysteriously. Khrushchev writes that the leader, almost without hesitation, answered Postyshev: "Take the initiative, and we will support it."
Which is thought provoking. Firstly, in the party hierarchy, Postyshev was, to put it mildly, not a very significant figure. Secondly, Stalin never made landmark ideological decisions on the spur of the moment. The decision, most likely, was carefully thought out and prepared. And hardly anyone else, except for the leader himself.
1937
Star and champagne
Postyshev was still alive when Christmas trees began to light up throughout the country. The first - in 1937 in Moscow, in the Hall of Columns. instead of gold star of bethlehem There is a new red one. The image of Santa Claus in a long fur coat, a high round hat and with a staff in his hand was performed by the famous entertainer Mikhail Harkavy in those years. By the way, the tradition of celebrating the holiday with champagne is also associated with his name. The debut of "Soviet champagne" took place on January 1, 1937, when in the Kremlin, at a festive reception for the Stakhanovites, Harkavy, under the chimes, for the first time drained a glass of sparkling wine. Champagne, we note, we have just begun to produce. In 1937, the first 300,000 bottles were bottled. Not everyone got it for the New Year.
At first, Christmas trees were decorated in the old fashioned way with sweets and fruits. Then the toys began to reflect the era. Pioneers with horns, faces of members of the Politburo. During the war - pistols, paratroopers, orderlies, Santa Claus with a gun. They were replaced by toy cars, airships with the inscription "USSR", snowflakes with a hammer and sickle. Under Khrushchev, toy tractors, corn cobs, and hockey players appeared. Then - cosmonauts, satellites, characters of Russian fairy tales.
The Snow Maiden appeared in the early 1950s. The image of the granddaughter of Santa Claus was invented by the winners of the Stalin Prizes Lev Kassil and Sergey Mikhalkov. From that moment on, domestic new year tradition may be considered completed. Since then, no fundamental changes have been noticed in the celebration of the New Year. Well, except that instead of a star, various politically neutral peaked tops are increasingly being used. Mostly Chinese design and workmanship.
In Europe, the tradition of celebrating the New Year with a green beauty began in Germany with an ancient German legend about trees blooming magnificently during the winter cold. Soon the decoration of Christmas trees became fashionable and spread to many countries of the Old World. In order to avoid mass deforestation, in the 19th century, artificial spruce trees began to be produced in Germany.
The New Year tradition came to Russia on the eve of 1700, during the reign of Peter I, who was ordered to switch to a new chronology (from the Nativity of Christ) from January 1, 1700 and to celebrate the New Year on January 1, and not September 1 . The decree said: “... On large and passing streets, noble people and at houses of deliberate spiritual and worldly rank in front of the gates, make some decorations from trees and branches of pine and juniper ... and meager people, even if a tree or a branch on the gate or over the temple [house ] put your own ... "
After the death of the king, the prescriptions were preserved only regarding the decoration of drinking establishments, which continued to be decorated with Christmas trees before the New Year. Taverns were identified by these trees. The trees stood near the establishments until the next year, on the eve of which the old trees were replaced with new ones.
The first public Christmas tree was installed in the building of the Ekaterininsky railway station (now Moscow) in St. Petersburg only in 1852.
V different times and Christmas trees were decorated in different ways: first with fruits, natural and artificial flowers, to create the effect of a flowering tree. Later, the decorations became fabulous: gilded cones, surprise boxes, sweets, nuts and burning Christmas candles. Soon handmade toys were added: children and adults made them from wax, cardboard, cotton wool and foil. And at the end of the 19th century, wax candles were replaced by electric garlands.
During the First World War, Emperor Nicholas II declared the Christmas tree tradition "enemy". After the October Revolution, the ban was lifted, but in 1926 the power of the workers and peasants again eliminated the "Christmas tree" tradition, considering it to be bourgeois.
Only in 1938, a huge 15-meter Christmas tree with ten thousand decorations and toys appeared in Moscow, in the Hall of Columns of the House of the Unions. It began to be installed annually and held there for children's New Year's holidays, called "Christmas trees". Since 1976, the main New Year tree of the country has become a tree installed in the State Kremlin Palace.
By the 1960s, the Christmas tree had become familiar and loved by every family. And its decoration - glass balls, toys and paper garlands- one of the main family ceremonies.
The holiday of the Christmas tree was originally intended for children and was to remain forever in the memory of the child as a day of mercy and kindness. holiday tree prepared by adults without fail in secret from children. To this day, the New Year's sacrament and gifts miraculously appearing under the Christmas tree remain the main magic of childhood.
It is difficult to imagine the most anticipated holiday of the year, loved by children and adults, without such a classic attribute as the New Year tree. The history of the tradition that commands to decorate this tree for the holiday goes back centuries. When did people start decorating evergreen trees in Russia and other countries, what made them do it?
What does the tree symbolize
The inhabitants of the ancient world sincerely believed in magical powers that the trees had. It was believed that spirits, evil and good, were hiding in their branches, which should be appeased. Not surprisingly, trees became objects of various cults. worshiped them, addressed prayers to them, asked for mercy and protection. So that the spirits would not remain indifferent, treats (fruits, sweets) were brought to them, which were hung on branches or laid out nearby.
Why were not pines, eucalyptus, oaks and other species decorated, but a Christmas tree? New Year's story contains many beautiful legends on this topic. The most truthful version - the coniferous beauty was chosen due to the ability to remain green, no matter what time of the year it is. This made the inhabitants of the ancient world consider it a symbol of immortality.
History of the Christmas Tree: Europe
Custom as the people know it modern world developed in medieval Europe. Various assumptions are made about when exactly the history of the New Year tree began. Initially, people were limited to small branches of pine or spruce, which were hung in the house. However, gradually the branches were replaced by entire trees.
According to the legend, the history of the New Year tree is closely connected with the famous reformer from Germany. Walking in the evening on Christmas Eve, the theologian admired the beauty of the stars shining in the sky. Arriving home, he set a small Christmas tree on the table, dressed it up using candles. To decorate the top of the tree, Martin chose a star that symbolized the one that helped the Magi find the Baby Jesus.
Of course, this is just a legend. However, there are also official references to the Christmas tree, which fall on approximately the same time period. For example, it is written about her in the French chronicles for the 1600th year. The first New Year's trees were miniature in size, they were placed on tables or hung from walls and ceilings. However, in the 17th century, houses already had big Christmas trees. Deciduous trees, which were previously also used to decorate dwellings before the holidays, were completely forgotten.
Christmas trees in Russia: ancient times
It is believed that the first who tried to make this tree a symbol of the change of the year was Peter the Great. In fact, even the ancient Slavic tribes treated coniferous vegetation with special trepidation, they already had a kind of “Christmas tree”. The story goes that our ancestors danced and sang songs near this tree in the dead of winter. The goal, for the sake of which all this was done, was the awakening of the spring goddess Zhiva. She was required to interrupt the reign of Santa Claus and rid the earth of ice fetters.
Christmas Trees in Russia: Middle Ages
Peter the Great really tried to consolidate in our country such a wonderful custom as the New Year tree. The story tells that the emperor first saw a decorated tree in the house of German friends with whom he celebrated Christmas. The idea made a huge impression on him: a spruce tree decorated with sweets and fruits instead of ordinary cones. Peter the Great ordered to meet in accordance with German traditions. However, his heirs forgot about this decree for many years.
In this case, the question arises: where did the New Year tree come from in Russia? This would not have happened for a long time if Catherine II had not ordered to put trees on holidays. Nevertheless, conifers were not decorated until the middle of the 19th century. It was then that the Germans, who lacked this cheerful tradition in Russia, installed the first decorated Christmas tree in St. Petersburg.
Unfortunately, for almost two decades, made a sweet family tradition illegal. The Soviet government declared the decoration of coniferous trees a "bourgeois whim". In addition, at that time there was an active struggle with the church, and the spruce was considered one of the Christmas symbols. However, many inhabitants of Russia of those times did not abandon the beautiful custom. It got to the point that the tree began to be installed secretly by rebels.
From what events the history of the New Year tree in Russia does not develop! In short, already in 1935 the tradition became legal again. This happened thanks to Pavel Postyshev, who "allowed" the holiday. However, people were categorically forbidden to call trees "Christmas", only "New Year's". But the status of the day off was returned to the first day of January.
The first Christmas trees for children
A year after the return of the forest beauty to the homes of people celebrating main holiday in the year, a large-scale celebration was organized, which took place in the House of Unions. This officially began the history of the New Year tree in Russia for children, for whom this festival was arranged. Since then, similar events have traditionally been held in children's institutions with the obligatory distribution of gifts, calling Santa Claus and the Snow Maiden.
Kremlin tree
For many years, Kremlin Square has been one of the favorite places to celebrate the New Year for the inhabitants of Moscow. All other Russians do not forget to turn on the TV to admire the majestic Christmas tree, decorated in honor of the arrival of the New Year. For the first time, the installation of a coniferous tree, symbolizing eternal life, on Kremlin Square took place back in 1954.
Where did tinsel come from
Having dealt with the history of the appearance of the main one, it is impossible not to be interested in its decorations. For example, such a wonderful tradition as the use of tinsel also came to us from Germany, where it appeared in the 17th century. In those days, it was made from real silver, which was thinly sliced, becoming a silvery “rain”, thanks to which the Christmas tree shone. The history of the emergence of modern foil and PVC products in Russia is not exactly known.
Interestingly, a beautiful legend is associated with Christmas tree tinsel. In ancient times, there lived a woman who was a mother of many children. The family was chronically short of money, so the woman did not really manage to dress up the New Year's symbol, the Christmas tree was left practically without decorations. When the family fell asleep, the spiders created a web on the tree. The gods, in order to reward the mother for her kindness to others, allowed the web to become shining silver.
Back in the middle of the last century, tinsel was only silver. At the moment, you can buy this jewelry in almost any color. Features of materials which are applied to production do products extremely strong.
A few words about lighting
As already mentioned, coniferous trees brought into the house for the New Year, it was customary not only to decorate, but also to illuminate. For a long time, only candles were used for this purpose, which were securely fixed on the branches. The debate about who exactly came up with the use of garlands has not yet been completed. What does history say, how did the Christmas tree with modern lighting appear?
The most common theory says that for the first time the idea of illuminating an evergreen beauty with the help of electricity was expressed by the American Johnson. This proposal was successfully implemented by his compatriot Maurice, an engineer by profession. It was he who first created the garland, assembling this convenient design from a large number of small light bulbs. Mankind first saw a festive tree lit in this way in Washington.
The evolution of Christmas toys
It is difficult to imagine a modern Christmas tree without garlands and tinsel. However, it is even more difficult to refuse elegant toys that easily create festive atmosphere. Interestingly, the first Christmas decorations in Russia were edible. To decorate the symbol of the New Year, dough figures wrapped in foil were created. The foil could be gold, silver, dyed bright colours. Fruits and nuts were also hung on the branches. Gradually, other improvised materials began to be used to create the decor.
Some time later, glass products began to be imported into the country, mainly produced in Germany. But local glassblowers quickly mastered the manufacturing technology, as a result of which bright toys began to be created in Russia. In addition to glass, materials such as cotton wool and cardboard were actively used. The first ones were distinguished by their considerable weight; by the beginning of the 20th century, craftsmen began to make thin glass.
Around the beginning of the 70s, people had to forget about the unique design of jewelry. "Balls", "icicles", "bells" were stamped by conveyors by factories using the same technologies. Interesting specimens came across less and less, the same toys hung in different houses. Luckily, finding a truly original Christmas tree decoration is no longer a difficult task these days.
A few words about the star
Decorating a tree for the holiday is fun with a child who will love the story of where the Christmas tree came from. The history of the appearance in Russia for children will become even more interesting if you do not forget to tell them about the star. In the USSR, it was decided to abandon the classic one that showed the way to the baby Jesus. Its alternative was a red ruby product, reminiscent of those that were placed on the Kremlin towers. Sometimes such stars were produced together with light bulbs.
Interestingly, there is no analogue of the Soviet star in the whole world. Of course, modern products for decorating the top of the Christmas tree look much more attractive and interesting.
This is how the life path of the New Year tree looks in brief, the history of its appearance in Russia as a classic attribute of the holiday.
The tradition of celebrating the New Year and Christmas with a Christmas tree shimmering with colorful lights is familiar and mysterious at the same time. Until now, one can only guess about the origins of this custom, and she herself elegant Christmas tree has a complex long history.
Christmas tree decorated with golden balls and stars.
Paradise Tree and Yule Log
Some researchers believe that the Christmas tree is a reminder of the tree of paradise, where the story of Adam and Eve played out. In accordance with this idea, traditional Christmas decorations, glass balls, symbolize the fruits of the tree of paradise.
According to another version, the custom of putting up and decorating a Christmas tree is an echo of Yule, an ancient German holiday on the night of winter solstice. On Yule it was supposed to decorate and then solemnly burn a log, usually oak or ash. (Both oak and ash were revered as sacred trees.) Yule symbols also served as holly, holly and ivy - they decorated houses outside and inside, wheat stalks and branches of evergreens - baskets were woven from them, in which gifts were delivered: apples and cloves. 
Children and Yule log. Illustration from the book "Aunt Louisa's London toy books: the alphabet of games and sports" ("Aunt Louisa's London toy books: the alphabet of games and sports"). London, 1870.
Christmas tree in Europe
Who and when first came up with the idea to bring a Christmas tree into the house before Christmas is not exactly known. The debate about this is far from being as innocent as it might seem. More recently, in 2009-2010, between Latvia and Estonia, who were figuring out where the Christmas tree appeared earlier - in Riga in the 16th century or in Tallinn in the 12th century, things almost came to a diplomatic conflict.
There is also evidence that in the same 16th century, the religious reformer Martin Luther arranged a Christmas holiday with a Christmas tree in his house in the Saxon city of Eisleben. The legend about him says that one day, walking through the forest on Christmas night, he saw a star fall on the top of a fir tree. 
Engraving from the German book "50 Picture Fables for Children".
Ascetic Lutherans did not consider a Christmas tree decorated with fruits and gingerbread to be an excess. By the 18th century, the Christmas tree had become a common sight in many German lands. Somewhere, a Christmas tree was hung upside down from the ceiling - so it personified a ladder lowered down to people from heaven. Somewhere there were as many small Christmas trees decorated as there were family members and guests who were supposed to be congratulated and bestowed.
In Germany, much later, when its forests were depleted by the end of the 19th century, the first artificial Christmas trees were invented. They were made from goose feathers, which were dyed green. 
Viggo Johansen. "Bright Christmas".
German princes and princesses who married foreign august persons or sat on the throne themselves, bankers, merchants, teachers and artisans brought the Christmas tree to other European countries.
At the British court, the first Christmas tree was decorated back in 1760, in 1819 the forest beauty became part of the court celebration in Budapest, in 1820 in Prague.
In the middle of the 19th century, the United States got acquainted with the Christmas tree, and the Americans owe this, again, to immigrants from Germany. 
Robert Duncan. "Christmas tree".
Petrovsky decree on the celebration of the New Year
In December 1699, Peter I introduced the Julian calendar in Russia by special decree and ordered the New Year's Eve to be postponed from September 1 to January 1. The decree contained instructions on exactly how loyal subjects should have fun. New Year's Eve was to be celebrated with fireworks and plentiful refreshments. Muscovites, residents of the then capital, were recommended to decorate with coniferous trees and branches: spruce, pine, juniper.
The festive tree really took root in Russia only closer to the middle of the 19th century, although already at the beginning of the century it was a frequent guest in the homes of St. Petersburg Germans. The monarchs set an example for the indigenous population. 
A. F. Chernyshev. "Scenes from family life Emperor Nicholas I. Christmas tree in the Anichkov Palace.
The first Christmas tree in the imperial palace was put up on December 24, 1817, on Christmas Eve, by order of the Grand Duchess Alexandra Feodorovna, wife of the future Emperor Nicholas I. The nobility gradually adopted the innovation of the household of the highest persons. At first, Christmas trees were hardly decorated. Candles were strengthened on the branches, which were lit twice: on Christmas Eve and on Christmas itself. Under the tree, most often small, standing on the table, they put gifts for family members.
The pavilion of the Ekateringofsky railway station in St. Petersburg in 1852 became the first public building where a Christmas tree appeared on Christmas Eve. A large tree, almost resting on the ceiling with its crown, hung with ornaments made of colored paper, marked the beginning of the tradition of public Christmas trees, which spread to theaters, noble, officer and merchant clubs and meetings.
The established fashion for Christmas trees gave impetus to the imagination of businessmen. In the late 1840s and early 1850s, Christmas tree markets appeared near Gostiny Dvor in St. Petersburg. Respectable townspeople with childish excitement competed, who had a bigger, thicker, more intricately decorated Christmas tree. It was not necessary to puzzle over the decoration yourself: Swiss confectioners sold Christmas trees with ready-made decor. It was expensive, though mere pennies compared to the Christmas decorations in some wealthy homes, where diamond necklaces were hung from green branches.
In the last decades of the 19th century, the arsenal of jewelry was replenished with industrial toys. The choice was wide: glass balls, voluminous glued figures made of cardboard, edible miniature animals made of sugar and almonds, garlands, crackers and sparklers, "golden" and "silver" rain.
Orthodox priests unsuccessfully but stubbornly protested against the Christmas tree as a secular and even "pagan" custom. They could not know that not so much time would pass, and it was the Christmas tree that would be declared the symbol of "religious dope". 
A. N. Benois. New Year card. Late 19th - early 20th century.
Adventures of the Christmas tree in the USSR
In 1917, most families were not up to Christmas trees. But this did not prevent the Parus publishing house on the eve of 1918 from releasing a gift children's book, The Christmas Tree. The luxurious album, designed by A. N. Benois, includes poems and stories by Korney Chukovsky, Sasha Cherny, Bryusov and Maxim Gorky, who curated the publication. The new government considered the Christmas tree to be quite an appropriate festive attribute for the inhabitants of post-revolutionary Petrograd. 
A frame from the filmstrip "Lenin at the children's Christmas tree". A. Kononov. Artist V. Konovalov. 1940
"Komsomol Christmas Trees" were organized in the mid-20s. The persecution of the painted tree, in fact, began only in 1929, when the celebration of Christmas was officially condemned in the party press. And along with it, as a “priestly custom,” the Christmas tree, allegedly poisoning children with “religious poison.”
Now, if a Christmas tree was brought into the house, then secretly, putting it where it could not be seen either from the threshold or through the window. Vigilant volunteers, who had been patrolling the streets since mid-December, looked into the windows specifically for this purpose.
Elka was "rehabilitated" in 1935 after a brief exchange of remarks between Stalin and Ukrainian party dignitary P. P. Postyshev. “But why not return the Christmas tree to the children?” Postyshev asked. Stalin approved the idea, and his interlocutor appeared in the Pravda newspaper with a note where he reproached the “left” benders who denounced “ children's entertainment as a bourgeois idea. The publication appeared on the morning of December 28 - and in just a few days, festive events with Christmas trees were organized throughout the country and production was launched. Christmas decorations.
The Soviet Christmas tree was in no way supposed to be associated with Christmas. The decorations reflected the spirit of the time. The blue Christmas star with seven rays was replaced by a red five-pointed one. Miniature planes and cars were hung on the Christmas tree. Tiny pioneers, tractor drivers, representatives of the peoples of the Soviet republics side by side with the heroes of fairy tales and figurines of animals. In the late 30s, the company was replenished with new characters: Ded Moroz and Snegurochka.
In 1937, glass balls with portraits of Stalin, Lenin, and members of the Politburo were released, but this initiative was quickly considered politically dubious. 
Soviet postcard. 1950s.
The main Christmas trees of Russia
In December 1996, for the first time since pre-revolutionary times, a giant Christmas tree was installed on the Kremlin's Cathedral Square. From 2001 to 2004, the role of the New Year's symbol was played by an artificial tree, but since 2005, a live spruce flaunts again on the square. It is selected in advance in the Moscow region according to certain criteria: the tree must be at least a hundred years old, and it must reach about 30 meters in height. The winner is determined by a competition among forestries. On Red Square, where hundreds of Muscovites and tourists are celebrating the New Year, last years decorate a huge artificial spruce. 
Decorated Christmas tree on Cathedral Square in the Kremlin.
The Christmas tree is an invariable attribute of Christmas and New Year. Do you know why the tree took this place of honor? In which country was this tree first installed on the square, how and when did they begin to decorate it in Russia, why is it customary to put a star on top, when did the tradition of putting an artificial fir tree appear, and where and when was the highest Christmas tree? We will try to find answers to all these questions in last days outgoing year.
Thousands of years ago, our ancestors spiritualized the tree. It was believed that trees are living beings and the souls of the dead move into them. Spirits, both good and evil, find shelter in the branches of trees. Therefore, people decorated trees, thereby trying to appease them. A special place was given to evergreen trees, including spruce. Our ancestors believed that evergreen trees were favored by the Sun, the main god in many pagan beliefs.
Therefore, even the ancient Germans, meeting the day of the winter solstice, decorated their homes with spruce paws. The Khanty made sacrifices to eat, the Udmurts on the first day of the new year, lit candles on the Christmas tree and held prayers.
In Slavic mythology, near the Christmas tree it was supposed to have fun, play musical instruments, sing and dance. This was done with a specific purpose, with their fun, people tried to wake up the spring goddess Zhiva, so that she would send her son named Light to earth. In turn, the Light was supposed to awaken the kingdom of Santa Claus and free the earth from the icy shackles.
Until now, it is not known exactly when exactly the spruce turned first into a New Year's, and then into a Christmas symbol. But, there are suggestions that this happened precisely on the territory of Germany, later this tradition was borrowed by the Dutch and the British.
And already in the 16th century, spruce became a symbol of Christmas. At first, the Christmas tree was decorated with apples, pears and nuts. This was due to the legend that at the birth of Christ all the trees blossomed and covered with fruits in one night. Later, with the development of crafts, the decoration of the festive tree became more skillful and rich. The top of the spruce was decorated with a sun made of paper, straw or glass. And glass blowers showed extraordinary skill to create the first glass Christmas decorations.
There is a beautiful legend about how all the trees on Christmas night went to bow to the baby Christ. Palm trees near Bethlehem arrived first, then cypresses, beeches, willows, oaks and other trees, and the last to come was a small northern fir-tree. Other trees blocked it from Jesus, but suddenly stars began to fall from the sky and sit right on the tree, from which it began to sparkle and glow.
It is generally accepted that the first decorated tree that was installed in the city square was not one tall tree, as we are used to seeing now, but it was several small trees with candles lit on them. They were installed in the center of Lower Saxony, the city of Hanover in the second half of the 17th century.
Since the 19th century, the tradition of celebrating Christmas and the New Year with a decorated Christmas tree has spread throughout Europe. In 1819 she appeared on new year holiday in Hungary, in 1820 - in Prague, in 1829 - in Scandinavia, in 1840 - in Russia.
Although in Russia the tradition of decorating and using a Christmas tree as an attribute of the New Year was tried to be introduced by Peter I. But the custom did not take root and the spruce becomes a symbol of the holiday only after almost 100 years.
The first public Christmas tree in Russia was organized in 1852 in the building of the St. Petersburg Ekaterininsky railway station. No data has been preserved either about the height of the Christmas tree, or about how the public reacted to it. The only thing that is known is how it was decorated: many colorful paper ribbons, fruits, and a large star crowned the top of the head.
A little earlier, back in 1840, a public Christmas tree appeared in France at the court of Louis Philippe. The tree was erected in front of the Tuileries royal palace, but was not decorated with candles, which did not look as impressive as it is possible with lights. They say that this is why the Christmas tree did not make much impression on the masses, and the tradition of decorating the Christmas tree on Christmas Eve took root in France for a long time.
The tradition of decorating a Christmas tree was brought to England by the husband of Queen Victoria, the German Albert of Saxe-Coburg back in 1841. Literally 10 years later, the whole of Great Britain, following the example of the royal family, began to decorate the spruce and arrange family celebrations and children's parties around it.
The tree came to America at about the same time as to England. This custom also spread thanks to German emigrants. An elegant tree, decorated with candles and gifts, made an indelible impression on the neighbors of immigrants from Germany. And literally the next year, each of them wanted to have exactly the same tree in his house.
And already in 1848, the first seller of Christmas trees appeared in New York. This was the beginning of the New Year's markets.
Today we are looking forward to the most fabulous holiday of the year. The smell of needles, garlands, golden balls is certainly associated with us with the onset of the New Year. Have you already bought a tree?
Interesting Facts
The first artificial Christmas trees
Germany has become a trendsetter for the Christmas and New Year tree. And the Germans were the first to create artificial Christmas trees in defiance of mass deforestation. They invented Christmas trees made of goose feathers, painted green. Later they became widespread not only in Europe, but also in America.
Christmas decorations
Initially, Christmas decorations are symbols in which pagan and Christian traditions are intertwined. So, for example, the star with which it was customary to decorate the top of a tree is nothing more than a symbol of the Bethlehem star, which led the Magi to the manger of Christ. Candles are spiritual light, fruits are fertility, balls, as the toy historians say, can symbolize the fruits of the tree of Good and Evil. And the crown-sun originally symbolized the onset of the new year.
Gift from Norway
During the Second World War, Norway was occupied by German troops, and the Norwegian king and government were hiding in England. However, the subjects of the Norwegian king were able to smuggle in a huge fir tree, which was installed in Trafalgar Square. Since then, already in gratitude for the liberation of the country, Oslo annually gives the British capital exactly the same tree, decorated with Christmas decorations and lights. In turn, the British annually install a tree in the same area.
The tallest tree in the world
The tallest Christmas tree listed in the Guinness Book of Records was installed in Mexico City in 2010. Its height was 110 meters. For comparison, a 40-storey building has the same height.
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