OPINION: Why don't Russians take down their New Year tree until spring. According to the experts, a fir that has lived about a century is already quite old and will soon become weak and vulnerable, so it can be cut down without ecological concerns. It must stand at the edge of the forest, so it is easily accessible. Children of the working classes looked on with envy through the windows at the gleaming tree adorned with colored lights and the children of the rich playing around it. In this video I am talking about how Russians celebrate New Year and Christmas. [citation needed] However, in Imperial Russia, yolka were banned beginning in 1916 by the Synod as a tradition originating in Germany (Russia's enemy during World War I). These experts work for several weeks and pay special attention to the tree’s appearance. So don't be surprised that I'm talking only about New Year. All the pictures in this post are of my New Year tree toys that I … [10]. PS. The peach flower stands for good relationships; love is one of the relationships, so it's also a wish for love. 5 p.m., December 31 – Place the gifts under the tree. The tradition of installing and decorating a ёлка (pr: yolka, tr: spruce tree) for Christmas dates back to the 17th century when Peter the Great imported the practice as a result of his travels in Europe. [2][3][4] The League of Militant Atheists encouraged school pupils to campaign against Christmas traditions, among them being the Christmas tree, as well as other Christian holidays, including Easter; the League established an antireligious holiday to be the 31st of each month as a replacement. The experts check to see, if the fir isn’t decaying, has no broken branches and cracks in the trunk, which must have a diameter of 60-70 centimeters at the place of cutting. The truck driver is traditionally dressed as Father Frost. It’s usually cut down in the Istra forestry in the Moscow Region (50 kilometers north-west of Moscow). In Cantonese, the new year tree is called Nin Fa (Chinese: 年花, literally New Year Flower). While Russian and Turkish North Americans purchasing a tree after Christmas when prices have plummeted might enjoy notable savings, most do not wait beyond Christmas to buy their trees. Gifts are exchanged, trees are decorated, and parties are everywhere. What those in the Western world would call a Christmas Tree is considered a New Year's Tree in Russia. Tis’ the season! The most common soviet new year tree material is metal. Hoa đào (in Northern) or Hoa mai (in Southern) and kumquat trees are also decorated and displayed in Vietnamese homes during Tết. Nowadays, it stands in the Moscow Kremlin, but earlier, there were different locations. An invitation to the Yolka at the Palace of Unions became a matter of honour for Soviet children. There is a special commission that chooses the main New Year’s tree fir of Russia. The fir tree’s location is also important. Then, until 1917, the New Year’s tree in the Kremlin was put on display at Sobornaya Ploshchad, but there was a requirement: the tree only appeared if the tsar’s family celebrated the New Year there. Two years after that, the first celebration for children was held there and it continued even during World War II. The needles and the tree itself must be completely healthy. Let it be for a few more days, but call it by its new name, the New Year tree. Since 2007, the trees have been picked out of chosen in the forests of Moscow RegionOblast. It’s a tradition to set up the country’s main New Year’s tree within the walls of the Kremlin. Even today the 31st, people are carrying trees on their shoulders everywhere. 10 bizarre New Year trees you can find only in Russia. O. It is time to put an end to this wrongful condemnation of the tree, which is a joyful diversion for the children. Predictably, it appeared in St. Petersburg, as it was the capital at the time. Also there are evidences showing that the Turkic tribes celebrated winter solstice with a wish-making tree, a tradition called Nardoqan which could be the ancestor of the modern Christmas tree according to some historians. After months of dismay and hopefulness about the world I’ve never been more excited to celebrate this special time of year. This is why many ornaments that year were made by children from the school of art based at the Surikov Moscow Art Institute. “Рождество” (“Christmas”) This is a 13-minute, animated Russian Christmas film that was made by … In Russia, New Year’s occurs earlier than Christmas (which is celebrated on Jan. 7), so gifts are exchanged on New Year’s. Why do our schools, orphanages, nurseries, children’s clubs, and Young Pioneer Palaces deprive children of the working class of the Soviet State of this wonderful enjoyment? There should not be a single village or community farm where the local board, along with members of the Young Communist League, does not provide a New Year tree for their kids. In Soviet Russia, the New Year’s Day holiday was the most eagerly-awaited and universally beloved, always bringing with it the hope of renewal and a better tomorrow. This is the most difficult transportation moment: the gates are just a few inches wider than the truck, so the driver has to be extremely careful to fit into them. A Turkish New Year tree, in Turkish "Yılbaşı Ağacı", looks the same as a Christmas tree with Christmas ornaments. The decorations are the same as for Christmas trees; however the Russian style New Year tree is completely secular and its decorations include no religious symbols. The most popular color? [citation needed] After the dissolution of the USSR, stigma against religion subsided amidst renewed public interest. In 1935, the celebrations came back and, three years later, a 15-meter-tall tree appeared in the Pillar Hall of the House of the Unions at Bolshaya Dmitrovka Street. The mandarin plant is called Kat (Chinese: 桔), which is a homophone to Chinese: 吉, standing for good luck. It is called a New Year tree because it is specific to the New Year and, with about 95% of Turkey's population Muslim, most Turks do not celebrate Christmas. Usually, tens of trees fit the criteria and the commission chooses the best fir and 1-2 extras to be on the safe side should something happen to the main tree. These are kept till January 14th. New Year took up that role, leaving a much more important spiritual meaning for Christmas. Russian New Year Tree, Christmas Tree New Year, Russia Christmas Tree, New Year%27s Eve Tree, Happy New Year Tree, Orthodox New Year, New Year%27s Tree Decorations, New Year%27s Traditions, Christmas Tree Origin, Germany and Christmas Trees, Soviet New Year, Russian Old New Year, English Christmas Tree, Christmas Tree Candles, Russian New Year Food, Russian Holidays, Vintage Russian … Russian and Turkish New Year trees are of the same varieties as those used for Christmas trees, although a spruce tree is the most usual type. The New Year tree was encouraged in the USSR after the famous letter by Pavel Postyshev, published in Pravda on 28 December 1935, in which he asked for trees to be installed in schools, children's homes, Young Pioneer Palaces, children's clubs, children's theaters and cinemas. The Young Pioneer scout leaders are called upon to organize holiday celebrations for the children that feature New Year trees. Novogodniye Igrushki ("New Year Toys") by Arkady Khoralov There were a lot of New Year and Christmas pop-songs of 90s and 00s, but only few of them became very popular among Russian people. In 2020, it happened on December 11. … While Russian New Year trees are traditionally decorated similarly to Christmas trees (and the custom isn't the same as just leaving your tree up until New Year's Day), the tradition got us thinking it could be fun to switch up the … Russian and Turkish New Year trees are of the same varieties as those used for Christmas trees, although a spruce tree is the most usual type. New Year is coming and I have prepared a little gift to you all.Just a little story about New Year in Russia. After the opening of the State Kremlin Palace in 1961, both the tree and the celebration were moved there. In 2020, the best fir was cut on December 9., It’sit's 96 years old, approximately about 25 meters tall, with a trunk diameter of 60 centimeters and a 10-meter branches' spread is 10 meters. The New Year’s tree was first brought to Russia by Peter the Great, but after his death the new tradition was given up, so the first public New Year’s tree was only put on display in 1852. Why the Christmas tree in Russia is not about Christmas. The tree must also be tall and about 100 years old. Also, the tree never appeared during World War I - it was considered an enemy tradition. Also, there are also some special decorations every year. Russia has an annual tradition of choosing, decorating and displaying the country’s main public New Year’s tree. When the cold is strong, the fir branches can easily break. For example, during Nicholas II’s reign, the tree at Sobornaya Ploshchad was only put on display twice. It is considered as one of the fantastic tourist spots to spend Moscow New Year’s Eve. In Russian tradition New Year is the first celebration in winter, that is why our Christmas Tree is usually decorated closer to December 31. In 1996, the tree returned to Sobornaya Ploshchad after being recommended by the then Russian president Boris Yeltsin. Later, more trees started appearing in other locations of the city. But you can take this tradition for your decoration, I don’t know when you are doing this. Now it’s turn for the New Year Tree toys back from early Soviet times. By Monica Gisele Posted on November 29, 2020 November 28, 2020. A. Romanova, "Christmas at the Grand Duchess Olga Alexandrovna with a portrait of Alexander III». There are canonical parts of the decoration: about 200 blue, red, golden and white glowing baubles and white, blue and red garlands that represent the Russian flag on the tree. And the tallest tree appeared on Sobornaya Ploshchad in 2011 - it was estimated to be 34,5 meters tall. A New Year tree stands outside the Kremlin in Moscow, in 2008. After the modernisation of Turkey, the Islamic calendar and the fiscal calendar were replaced by the Gregorian calendar and New Year celebrations started in the late 1920s. In 2019, there were 1,800 meters of garlands and in 2020, it’s promised to be even more. This website uses cookies. Specialists used to use a thin borer, but, in 2020, they used a resistograph - a thin needle with an electric current. It stood inside the Moskovsky railway station building (at the time it was called Yekaterininsky). However, following the article “Let’s Organize a Nice Fir-Tree for Children for the New Year!” by Pavel Postyshev, published in the major Soviet newspaper Pravda in the end of 1935, fir-trees and New Year festivities returned to people’s homes on December 31, 1935. It was usual to put on Russian Tree something with political ideas: the Kremlin Towers, small copies of outstanding Soviet Sportsmen and different technological gadgets. [1] While Russian and Turkish North Americans purchasing a tree after Christmas when prices have plummeted might enjoy notable savings, most do not wait beyond Christmas to buy their trees. the New Year tree — do not throw away your Christmas tree once the holiday is over. For example, in 2019, the New Year’s tree was decorated to mark the twentieth anniversary of the main Kremlin ‘yolka’ party for children. We firmly believe that what happens on New Year… Наряжать елку 31 декабря и загадывать желания / Decorate the Christmas Tree on December 31 and make wishes. The Russian New Year and then the Russian Christmas… The trees all come out for sale after Western Christmas and everyone is in a tree buying frenzy for a week. If using any of Russia Beyond's content, partly or in full, always provide an active hyperlink to the original material. Traditionally, many New Year’s parties are done as … Russian literary scholar Elena Dushechkina has pieced together the story of how the Christmas tree first came to Russia — and how it became a New Year’s tree more than 200 years later. Planting a New Year tree or cây nêu is also a Vietnamese custom that is part of the springtime Tết festival. By the way, this was the reason why the idea of bringing the Kremlin New Year’s tree from Veliky Ustyug was abandoned: the road took some days and the fir tree got damaged once. The celebrations became popular in Turkey and Christmas trees were brought into the country as New Year trees. [9] The New Year tree can be considered an example of westernised Turkish culture or Turkified European culture. Instead, the tree became a symbol of the new year. In 1937, a Novy God (New Year) Tree was also installed in the Moscow House of the Unions. In 1955, the country’s main New Year’s tree was moved to the Grand Kremlin Palace and children’s parties began being held there, too. But Russian monarchs tended to go to Tsarskoye Selo (24 kilometers south of St. Petersburg). The tree spots are sold out as you read this… You see Santa (Ded Moroz) has not come to town in Russia… In the Kremlin, the New Year’s trees have been on display since Peter the Great ordered to celebrate. The New Year tree, the Ёлка (yolka) is the Russian equivalent of the Christmas tree. The years 2017 and 2019 saw the youngest trees (at 90 years old) on display, whereas in 2013 and 2015, the oldest ones at around 120 years of age were chosen. But where does it come from and how is the fir tree prepared and decorated? Peter decreed in 1699 that the New Year will be celebrated on 1 January instead of 1 September, and that "Fir tree, pine and juniper branches and trees shall be used to decorate houses and gateways along main streets". Life can be tough in cold Russia, the land of … After the revolution of 1917, Christmas celebrations—along with other religious holidays—were discouraged and de facto prohibited as a result of the Soviet antireligious campaign. In 2001-2004, however, a fake New Year’s tree was put on display, due to severe winters. Well you're in luck, because here they come. OUR CHRISTMUKKAH/RUSSIAN NEW YEAR TREE. Since 2007, when real New Year’s trees started to be annually delivered from Moscow Region, they have come from different forests, but most often from Istra forest - three times. There are 6582 soviet new year tree for sale on Etsy, and they cost $22.95 on average. Winter in Russia is long and hard, but Russians know how to inject fun into … How to Decorate the New Year’s Tree Posted by yelena on Dec 21, 2011 in Culture, Russian for beginners, Russian life, Traditions I don’t know about you, but кон е ц декабр я (the end of December) is always the busiest time for me. New Year trees are decorated trees similar to Christmas trees that are displayed to specifically celebrate the New Year. We'll show you one of such songs, that perfectly reproduces light and kind atmosphere of the merry family holiday. So, let's organize a New Year celebration for kids and arrange a good Soviet New Year tree in all our cities and rural villages!”[8]. A huge red star at the top of the fir tree is obligatory, too. Bid farewell to the old year. I'm sure the Young Communists will take a very active part in this enterprise and do away with the silly misconception that the New Year tree is a bourgeois excess. Sometimes things that could be found on Soviet New Year Trees differ greatly from Western Trees. Original set of retro Xmas decor ornaments. But you must have Дед Мор о з! It is usually put up between the beginning of December and the end of January, the mid date being New Year's Eve. Did you scroll all this way to get facts about soviet new year tree? Local Russians bid farewell to the old year by counting the chimes of the … [5] With the Christmas tree being prohibited in accordance with Soviet anti-religious legislation, people supplanted the former Christmas custom with New Year's trees.[3][6]. "For Jews from the former Soviet Union, New Year's Eve always involves a Christmas-style tree", "Легенда о человеке, подарившем елку советским детям — Журнальный зал", "Decorating Pine Tree was a Turkish Ritual – Turkish Forum English", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=New_Year_tree&oldid=1012227525, Articles with unsourced statements from December 2020, Articles with unsourced statements from December 2010, Articles containing traditional Chinese-language text, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License, This page was last edited on 15 March 2021, at 08:24. The fir tree that was chosen for Sobornaya Ploshchad in the Kremlin this year is the shortest and one of the youngest New Year’s trees. They have also been cut from  Mozhaysk forest (104 kilometers south-west of Moscow) and, like in 2020, from Naro-Fominsk forest (70 kilometers south-west of Moscow). Gorky Park. Rather than having Christmas trees, families decorate a New Year’s tree, called a Novogodnaya Yolka, and it is left up to celebrate both New Year’s holidays. In 2005-2006, a real tree was brought from Veliky Ustyug (750 kilometers north-east of Moscow), the home of Ded Moroz (“Father Frost”). You guessed it: silver. After the October Revolution in 1917, the tree was “legalized” again, but only until 1926, when the New Year was deemed a bourgeois holiday and banned. Public interest easily accessible and at Sobornaya Ploshchad was only put on display since Peter the Great ordered display... With a portrait of Alexander III » about soviet New Year tree for the Cantonese, New. - it was considered an enemy tradition you can afford it ) the top of the relationships, it! 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