What trees are decorated for the New Year. Christmas and New Year's plants around the world

Japan

In Japan, one of the most striking details of home decoration before the New Year is the kadomatsu (“entrance pine”). Kadomatsu - Salutation to the Deity New Year's holiday- usually made from pine, bamboo, rope woven from rice straw (shimenawa), decorated with fern branches, tangerines and seaweed. This symbolizes longevity and prosperity at home, success in business, happiness and health, perseverance and resistance to adversity and troubles.

China

In China, “flame trees” are placed on the streets. They are called that because they are decorated with an indescribably huge number of colorful lights. The Chinese try to decorate their homes with dwarf tangerine trees in pots. The lack of fresh flowers is compensated for by paintings depicting flowers, which are a mandatory attribute of New Year's benevolent symbolism.

Greece
In Greece they remember the “old New Year" - "Midsummer Night" (July 23). And there are not trees, but flowers - the main decoration of the holiday of “naughty people”.

Albania

In Albania, long before the holiday, they looked for a tree with a huge straight smooth trunk in the depths of the forest, cut it down, but did not bring it into the house, but left it in front of the house, placed it in a stable, or hid it in the forest. On the night of December 25, Christmas Eve, the whole family gathered around the fire. The head of the family was sent to bring this tree. The appearance of the tree, which was called “buzmi”, was greeted with greetings, shouts and dancing, then it was solemnly lit. Cherry tree branches were placed on the flames, grapevine, branches of a walnut tree, plants that are especially revered as symbols of fertility.
In the vicinity of Pec and Djakovica, 15 oak logs were placed on the hearth in a star shape, the largest of which was also called “buzmi”. It was believed that all misfortunes should burn out in fire. Sometimes juniper branches were thrown into the fireplace, and when they flared up with a crash, everyone present exclaimed: “Let our enemies and everyone who does not wish us well burn like this!”

Brazil
In Brazil, “Christmas trees” are made from paper, wood, and shavings. On New Year's Eve, multi-colored light bulbs, ribbons and silver balls are hung on trees, bushes and palm trees there.

Great Britain

In Great Britain, the New Year's emblem is mistletoe, symbolizing life, health and fertility. Based on traditions, it is necessary to kiss everyone who crosses the threshold of the house if these branches hang above the door. They are also hung from the ceiling and mounted on windows. For Christmas, houses are also decorated with ivy and other plants, symbolizing the ever-blooming and wildlife. On the night of New Year, mistletoe branches are lit and with these torches they go around the earthen area in order to neutralize the spell of evil spirits and get a good harvest in the future.

Vietnam
In Vietnam, the role of the New Year tree is played by the dao, a peach tree beginning to bloom. A tall reed is placed in the center of the room and decorated with small clay fish and bells.

Europe

The tradition of Germanic tribes to hang a Christmas tree with its roots attached to the ceiling is returning again. In ancient times, evil spirits were appeased with such shapeshifters, which symbolized the sun with its rays. Everyone can try this method of setting up a Christmas tree for the New Year, just don’t ruin yours.

Decorating houses with branches of plants that never shed their “robe” began even before the spread of Christianity in Northern Europe. It was believed that spirits lived in the branches of trees, and by decorating the tree they tried to appease them. Perhaps for ancient people the branches of coniferous trees symbolized eternal life. In addition, it was believed that the Sun especially favored evergreen trees. Therefore, welcoming the day winter solstice, the ancient Germans decorated their homes with spruce branches.

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Tradition associates the emergence of the custom of putting up a fir tree in homes on the feast of the Nativity of Christ with the name of Saint Boniface (7th-8th century). It is believed that while preaching in Germany among the pagans and telling them about the Nativity of Christ, he cut down an oak tree dedicated to the thunder god Thor to show the pagans how powerless their gods were. The oak, falling, knocked down several trees, except spruce. And Saint Boniface called the spruce “the tree of the Christ Child.” Apparently, at first the trees were erected on Christmas Day without decorations. And the custom of decorating a spruce itself was established after the Reformation in Protestant countries. According to the most famous legend, the tradition of decorating the Christmas tree was started by Martin Luther in 1513. According to legend, it was the German reformer who decorated the top of the tree with a star on Christmas Eve in memory of the Star of Bethlehem.

The custom of decorating the spruce for Christmas was brought to Russia Peter I. On the eve of 1700, Peter ordered to celebrate the New Year on January 1 (instead of September 1). At the same time, by decree of Peter I it was ordered: “along the streets... in front of the gates, place some decorations from trees and branches of pine, spruce and juniper... stand for that decoration of January on the first day.”

However, at that time the tradition of decorating a Christmas tree did not take root - perhaps this is due to the fact that in Rus' it was customary to line the path of the deceased with spruce branches to the graveyard, so the coniferous tree was not associated with festive fun.

Believed to have revived the tradition Princess Alexandra Feodorovna(German by origin), who became the wife of the Russian Tsar Nicholas I. In 1818, on Christmas Eve, she ordered that fir trees decorated with sweets and fruits be placed in the premises of the royal court in Moscow. After Nicholas I ascended the throne, the tradition of setting up a Christmas tree at Christmas spread beyond the royal residence, and since the late 1840s, Christmas tree markets began to open in Moscow and St. Petersburg every winter. At the same time, according to some sources, the tradition still took root rather difficultly, and the Christmas tree became a ubiquitous decoration in Russia only at the end of the 19th century.

IN Soviet time Initially, the tree was not welcomed, as it “reminded” of religion and Christmas. Thus, with the beginning of the persecution of Orthodoxy, the Christmas tree also fell out of favor: it became even dangerous to place it in the house. But on December 28, 1935, an article appeared in the Pravda newspaper under the heading “Let's organize for the New Year for children nice Christmas tree! Stalin supported the initiative, and the green beauty came out of disgrace and became a symbol of the coming new year: Christmas tree celebrations were organized, Christmas decorations. So the Christmas tree was transformed into a New Year's tree (in the USSR they put a five-pointed star on the top of its head instead of the Bethlehem tree).

Today, the coniferous tree is an integral symbol of the New Year for most families and is invariably associated with festive fun, Santa Claus and gifts. At the same time, within the framework of church symbolism, green beauties are one of the attributes of the festive decoration of churches for Christmas.

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New Year is the smell of tangerines, Olivier salad and decorated houses. And there is also the unique smell of spruce. But spruce is a tree that is decorated in Russia and European countries. How are trees decorated on other continents? If there are no coniferous forests there, then what trees do they decorate for the New Year? Let's plunge into the atmosphere of the holiday not only here, but also in other parts of the planet, because the whole world celebrates the New Year! The final chord of the New Year's composition is the Christmas tree. And it doesn’t matter whether it is artificial or alive, the forest beauty personifies the New Year, and this symbol is unchanged. Even a couple of spruce or pine branches bring the spirit of this amazing holiday into the apartment.

If you choose a living tree, then you should try to ensure that it does not droop and makes you happy for as long as possible. Add sugar, salt and aspirin to the water in which the tree will stand. This nutrient mixture will allow the tree to stand for almost the entire month. Do not forget to add fresh water, as the tree actively drinks it. Fresh trees also love coolness, so you should not place them near heating devices, and try to ventilate the rooms where they are located more often.

Tips for choosing a tree for New Year's celebrations

Almost the whole world prefers the Christmas tree. Its unique aroma of resin and pine fills the house with freshness and happiness. But some people prefer to install an artificial fir tree at home, because once bought, it long years will be used for the holiday. This tree is hypoallergenic, does not crumble, does not need to be looked after, and most importantly, it perfect shape and fluffy branches, and recently you can also find Christmas trees on which you don’t have to hang a garland, since it already has lights.

Holiday Christmas tree decor

Everyone decides for themselves which tree to decorate for the New Year, but if you prefer tradition and freshness, then there are certain rules when choosing a live spruce or pine:

• The needles should be a rich green color, slightly oily, giving off the aroma of pine needles. If dry needles, dull color and lack of smell are detected, there is a possibility that the Christmas tree was cut down a long time ago or is frozen.
• If there is a dark border on the trunk or branches, then most likely such a tree will not stand for long and is not worth taking.
• Pay attention to the presence of mold or fungi - this will also reduce the life of the tree.
• If you take the beauty by the middle of the trunk and lightly hit the ground with the lower end, the needles should not fall off.
• The thickness of the trunk and the height of the tree must be proportionate; if the trunk is very thin, then the tree is weak and will not stand for long.

Giving preference to pine, many are guided by the fact that it has fluffier and softer branches, the tree smells more actively and lasts longer. But you need to be more careful with it, since it releases much more resin and can stain you or the furniture.

Decorating the Christmas tree for the New Year

There are “Royal Spruces” or “Christmas Tree” brought from Denmark, as it is also called. This tree is the Nordmann fir. Differing from its counterparts in its soft and fluffy needles, it is grown in special nurseries and almost always looks perfect. The needles practically do not fall off, just turning yellow. The only drawbacks are that fir has virtually no characteristic forest smell and is about 10 times more expensive than its counterparts.

Modern markets also offer Christmas trees in containers. Such beauties will last a long time, and in the spring they can be transplanted into the ground near the house or in the garden. Mostly Canadian or blue spruce trees are sold in this form. They have longer needles compared to regular spruce, and they have a characteristic bluish bloom, which is where the name comes from.

If you decide to purchase an artificial tree for the New Year, then it also has its own features that are worth paying attention to:

• Manufacturer country. There are often many low-quality examples sold, and most of them are made in China. When choosing trees from Germany and Holland, there is less chance of stumbling upon a low-quality product.
• The material must be durable and odorless.

The bell is a symbol of the new year

• There must be a sign on the box or passport that the product is made of fire-resistant plastic or propylene.
• The wood should be painted with durable paint that cannot be washed off in water. It must also be fire resistant.
• It doesn’t matter whether the artificial tree’s needles are soft or hard, the main thing is that they should not break or become deformed when crushed. To check this, squeeze the needle in your fist, if it straightens, then everything is in order. It is also worth paying attention to the fact that the needles are securely fixed and do not fall out.

Decorating a tree for the New Year

Having carefully chosen your ideal tree for the New Year and placed it in your home, your soul demands to decorate it as soon as possible. Let's start from the foundation. It should be covered with cotton wool or satin fabric to create the effect of a snowdrift. Nearby you can place figures of Father Frost and the Snow Maiden and the symbol of 2016 - a monkey. Or follow the European scenario and place many different boxes packaged as gifts. And among them, lay out gifts for yourself and your guests.

Our tree should respond to the “Christmas tree”, so an important component of the decoration is the garland. They can be purchased in various sizes, colors and designs. Basically, multi-color garlands with several switching modes are now sold. What the garland will be like and how it will burn is up to you. By hanging the garland in a new way every year, even an artificial tree will have a different look.

Fireplace decor

It should be noted that for decorating trees on the street there are special diode garlands that have minimal heating and consume a small amount of electricity; also, street garlands must be labeled with moisture-proof properties. Street trees entwined with lights have a delightful effect. To decorate trees there are Various types Garlands. The most common is “thread”. Decorating with it couldn't be easier. You just need to wrap the tree in a spiral from top to bottom. And by drawing snakes along the branches or trunk, we emphasize natural beauty tree. The fringe garland will look like fluttering icicles falling from a tree. String - light garland with a length of 10 meters is used mainly to decorate street trees.

To beautifully decorate the Christmas tree with toys for the New Year, you first need to hang the largest ones symmetrically. You can decorate only the bottom of the tree with them, and choose toys of increasingly smaller diameters for the middle and top. Or, conversely, reduce the diameter of the toys downwards. The best is to alternate small and big toys like on a chessboard. To prevent the decoration from looking bulky, do not hang toys of the same size and color close to each other.

Figurines of monkeys will serve as an excellent decoration in 2016; it’s worth hanging as many as on the tree, and so that they don’t get bored, add decorations from fruits and cookies; carrots tied with ribbons will also look original.

The main symbols of the New Year - bells - are the most popular decoration for the New Year's beauty.

Decorated Christmas trees

So that there is abundance and prosperity in the house, in an original way Christmas tree decorations are money. The Christmas tree can be decorated with various banknotes or pre-prepared coins with holes; chocolate coins, walnuts, painted in gold or wrapped in foil are also suitable.

If you want the coming year to promise health for your family, then you should hang apples on the tree - since ancient times they have been considered a symbol of health and longevity.

Red hearts and balls are a symbol of love and fidelity. Doves are a symbol of friendship and devotion.

How to decorate tree branches for the New Year

If you have faux Christmas tree, but you still really want the smell of the forest, then you can collect several branches of fresh spruce in the forest, or buy spruce branches in flower shops and at Christmas tree markets.

Decorating garlands

From such branches you can weave Christmas and New Year wreaths. To do this, take several branches and, holding them with your hand, twist them into a ring in a spiral. Secure them with thin wire and tie them with ribbons. You can attach it to a glue gun or using threads Christmas decorations, candies, tangerines, bows and berries. You can also insert bells, cones and flowers. Create a snowy effect by sprinkling foam or spritzing with shimmery hairspray.

You can build a tree from branches. To do this, from thick paper, pre-painted in green color, make a cone, and small twigs, cones, decorations, and tinsel are glued to it using glue or a glue gun. You can also decorate with leaves, rowan berries, and pine bark.

Bare tree branches, such as birch trees, painted white or silver, will look stylish and unusually beautiful. Several decorations are hung on such branches, mostly elongated, hanging ones, preferably made of glass. Can be complemented with small shimmering snowflakes. Such branches are placed in a narrow glass vase.

By intertwining the branches with each other, you can make a garland to which you can attach scarlet bows and small balls and other toys, as well as tinsel. But if real spruce branches are an expensive pleasure, it is better to use artificial ones for such a garland.

What tree do Australians decorate for the New Year?

The first continent to celebrate the New Year is Australia. Being on the other side of the equator, Australians never experience snow. But, following Western trends, Australians grow spruce, pine and fir in nurseries for the New Year. You just need to spray them with varnish, otherwise the needles will fall off very quickly.

Metrosineros is the symbol of the New Year in Australia

But the traditional Australian New Year's tree is considered to be metro cineros - this tropical tree from the eucalyptus genus is covered with purple needle-shaped flowers during flowering. It is elegant in itself, and is not decorated. Basically, such trees are purchased in pots on New Year's Eve and then planted near the house.

The New Year comes to Russian homes with the smell of pine needles, kilograms of bright tinsel, cheerfully winking garlands and, of course, a beautiful Christmas tree. This is exactly the kind of holiday we understand, love and look forward to. And what attributes of festive decor accompany the New Year in different parts of the Earth? I propose to gallop across Europe and find out how representatives of other countries decorate their homes.

Sweden

In preparation for the New Year, Swedes decorate literally everything: walls, doors, window sills, windows. They carefully place light garlands on the windows, giving them the shape of animals, houses, toys... About four weeks before the holiday, they place special candles or electric lamps on the windowsills. Every Sunday, one candle is lit - milestones in anticipation of the holiday. True, in Lately Traditional candles are increasingly being replaced with energy-saving lamps, because the Swedes are very sensitive to environmental issues and savings.

England

In Great Britain, the Christmas tree is always decorated for the New Year. And the British decorate their houses with bouquets of mistletoe - since ancient times, people believed in the magical power of this plant. The fireplace is decorated with large painted felt socks (Christmas Stocking) - one per child - where Santa Claus puts gifts.

The festive decor of the inhabitants of Foggy Albion is dominated by red - the color of the heart, the main organ of our body, blood and life. A variety of heart-shaped figures decorate the Christmas tree.

During the holidays, curtains, sofa cushions, kitchen napkins and the tablecloth - on red ones.

Germany

For the New Year in Germany, houses are decorated with colorful garlands, pine wreaths and Santa Claus figurines. Four weeks before Christmas, German homes display an Advent wreath consisting of mistletoe, with four candles that correspond to each Sunday of the coming Christmas. They often make various Christmas decorations themselves and paint the windows with festive scenes.

IN New Year's decor Germans are dominated by green and red colors.

USA

Americans begin preparing for the New Year almost a month earlier than us. It happens that the Christmas tree appears in the house at the end of November. In America, it is customary to place a spruce tree in the corner of the room, but so that it is visible to all guests and family members. Most often, plain Christmas tree balls are used, and in small quantities. But in America they really love garlands, which decorate both the Christmas tree and the entire house, the facade and the area around the house. Sometimes on the American New Year's tree you can see large bows made of satin ribbon Red. The top of the green beauty is always decorated with a star (symbol Star of Bethlehem) or angel - America is one of the most religious countries in the world.

Another traditional New Year's decoration in the United States is a cane-shaped candy cane, most often decorated with red and white stripes. Often holiday decor complemented by an unusual plant - poinsettia. Moreover, what many take for flowers are actually red-colored leaves.

Japan

In preparation for the New Year, the Japanese traditionally make kadomatsu (a pine tree at the entrance) - this is a kind of greeting to the deity of the New Year holiday. It is made from pine, bamboo, rope woven from rice straw, and decorated with fern branches, tangerines or a bunch of seaweed and dried shrimp. Each of the details of this decoration is symbolic.

The Japanese decorate their houses with bouquets of willow or bamboo branches with mochi hanging on them in the form of flowers, fish, and fruits. These decorations are called mochibana, painted in yellow, green or pink, attached in a visible place or hanging from the ceiling at the entrance, so that the New Year deity - Toshigami, upon entering the house, immediately begins his duties: taking care of the hospitable hosts in the coming year . In every Japanese house on New Year's Day, three branches appear: bamboo, so that children grow up quickly; plums so that the owners have strong helpers; pine trees so that all family members live as long as the pine tree. To ward off evil spirits, the Japanese hang wreaths of straw (or just bunches) in front of the entrance to their houses. A mandatory attribute of the Japanese New Year is the tangerine tree and tangerines, symbolizing happiness, health and longevity.

China

For the New Year, the Chinese decorate the house with pine and cypress branches (symbols of immortality and nobility). At the entrance they always hang branches of blossoming peach, which scare away evil spirits. The house is also decorated with flowers. And above the door, the Chinese attach five long strips of paper, which mean five types of happiness: luck, honor, longevity, wealth and joy. According to ancient tradition, by the beginning of the New Year's celebration, the house should sparkle with cleanliness. Cleaning usually starts from the threshold and ends in the middle of the house.

Instead of a Christmas tree, a Tree of Light is installed in China. It is decorated with flowers, garlands and lanterns. The main color of the Chinese New Year - red - symbolizes life and the beginning of spring, and the New Year itself in China is called the Spring Festival.

Iran

In Iran, a few weeks before the New Year, wheat or lentil grains are planted in small pots. On Nowruz, green sprouts (sabze) will decorate festive table, becoming a symbol of the eternal rebirth of nature, which is no coincidence, because the first day of the New Year in Iran is the first day of spring according to the Persian calendar. Next to the greenery they place the Holy Koran (a later addition to the tradition), and if the family is not religious, a volume of Hafiz, a poet whose beautiful poems about love are known by heart by every Iranian. A mirror is placed nearby - a symbol of purity and tranquility of life, in which the light of candles is reflected - a symbol of happiness. Also on New Year's Day, it is customary to paint eggs (a symbol of fertility), which Iranians do with great pleasure.

Sometimes in Iranian homes before the New Year you can see a vessel with water in which an orange floats - it symbolizes the Earth in the ocean of space.

Denmark

New Year's decor in Denmark is a combination of simple holiday decorations reserved color range, natural materials and a special Scandinavian charm in the selection of decorative elements, which is difficult to describe in words. This abundance white, symbolizing snow and coolness, wood as the main material in the manufacture of jewelry, animal motifs (decorative deer heads, deer figurines or antlers), monochrome decor, emphasis on a combination of many textures and textures. In Denmark, it is customary to decorate larch for the New Year. And your favorite ones new Year decoration Danes - cones, fir branches (carefully placed in jugs of water), glass figurines, wreaths and stars made from dry vine branches.

Some people cannot imagine the New Year without snow and a Christmas tree, while others cannot imagine the New Year without hot sand under their feet and exotic plants that can be decorated no worse than a Christmas tree.

Greece

On New Year's Day in Greece they decorate the pomegranate tree. And the pomegranate fruit is a mandatory attribute of the New Year's holiday in every Greek home. In Greece, there is a custom according to which at exactly midnight the head of the family goes into the yard and breaks a pomegranate fruit against the wall. If the grains scatter throughout the yard, the family will live happily in the New Year.

India

In India, mango or banana trees are decorated for Christmas. And houses are decorated with mango leaves and poinsettias (the most beautiful spurge, “Christmas star”). Clay oil lamps are placed on the walls and edges of flat roofs.

Australia and New Zealand

In Australia, at Christmas and New Year, it is customary to decorate houses and give each other a plant that is a relative of the European mistletoe - Nuitsia. It is called the Christmas tree because of the bright yellowish-orange flowers that appear around the New Year and reach 10 meters in height. A metrosideros strewn with scarlet flowers can also become a New Year's tree. It is also decorated with figurines of koala bears and kangaroos dressed as Santa Claus.