Home Preparations for the winter What does the phraseological phrase “throw pearls before swine” mean? "Casting Pearls Before Swine": Biblical Origins, Meaning and Moral. What does it mean to cast pearls before swine?

Preparations for the winter

What does the phraseological phrase “throw pearls before swine” mean? "Casting Pearls Before Swine": Biblical Origins, Meaning and Moral. What does it mean to cast pearls before swine?

HELLO.RU continues to countdown to the New Year. Today it's time to remember the main symbol of this holiday - the Christmas tree. We will tell you where the tradition of decorating a Christmas tree originates and how to decorate the green beauty in different countries peace.

A traditional and integral attribute of the celebration of Christmas and New Year originated in medieval Germany. At that time, the Christmas tree was not brought home and decorated with bright toys. Those wishing to celebrate the New Year chose a tree in the forest, hung rags, candles and various improvised items on it, quite simple remedies. After the baptism of the Germanic peoples, rituals began to take on a different meaning, already as part of Christian tradition, and spruce trees became a kind of symbol of Christmas Eve (in the Catholic world - December 24). As a “sacrifice” to Christ, people hung the tree with bread and apples: the first was a symbol of communion, the second referred to the forbidden fruit of Adam and Eve. The tradition of decorating a Christmas tree came to Russia only in the 19th century.

Nowadays, each country has its own original way of decorating the Christmas tree. The New Year is celebrated most magnificently in Europe, which is why the Europeans ate - luxurious and richly decorated. The two main colors of the holiday are red and green. They can be found in the decor of the entire home. The Germans, for example, never forget about the traditional spruce wreath on the door, which is a sign of welcome and blessing for all guests.

When choosing the Christmas tree itself, the Germans pay attention to the lush and beautiful tree. They prefer fairly standard decorations - balls and toys, however, they also have a favorite - the nutcracker. By the way, until 1900, people all over the world tried to decorate Christmas trees so that there was literally no free space left on them. And only the last century has brought fashion for minimalism and a stylistic approach to decorating the Christmas tree.

Traditions of Scandinavia

On Stockholm Christmas trees you can often see wooden toys that look like homemade ones, as well as eco-friendly straw decorations. By the way, in Sweden it is customary to install a Christmas tree not at home, but in the yard.

Wooden toys are very popular in Scandinavian countries

Finns most often decorate Christmas trees with handmade toys, as well as flags of different countries and candles.

In Norway, it is customary to cut down a Christmas tree yourself in the forest, and the elder members of the family are entrusted with decorating it, so as to make a surprise for the kids. When the tree is “equipped” with toys and gifts, the rest of the household is called into the room, and they present gifts to each other to the accompaniment of music and singing.

In Norway, it is customary to cut down the spruce in the forest yourself.

Great Britain

In England, the first holiday tree was erected in 1841 at Windsor Castle. Now the British and Irish, when decorating a tree, are guided by the rule - the brighter the better. There are fewer toys on their trees, but more garlands and various bright, luminous elements.

The main Christmas beauty of the English capital is installed in Trafalgar Square. This tree is traditionally given to the British by the Norwegian people in gratitude for their help during World War II. There was a Norwegian woman living in London back then The Royal Family, and the British military took part in the liberation of Norwegian territory from the Nazis.

South America

South Americans also have their own special traditions. In Mexico, it is customary to decorate the house with Christian symbols, depicting the scene of the birth of Christ. Instead of a real Christmas tree, Mexicans decorate an artificial one or put several fragrant branches of live spruce in jars. On the streets, as in many countries with warm climates, evergreen thorny trees replace palm trees.

In countries with warm climates, it is customary to decorate palm trees Among the Brazilians, who have summer on our New Year and Christmas, the tradition has taken root of decorating the Christmas tree with pieces of cotton wool, thus imitating snow.

Rio de Janeiro is also home to one of the most original Christmas trees in the world - a floating one. It is installed on Lake Lagoa and has a height of 85 meters and a weight of 530 tons. The garland of this Christmas tree contains more than 3 million lights, controlled by a computer. Several years ago, the New Year tree in Rio was included in the Guinness Book of Records.

Asia

In China, small tangerine and orange trees are used instead of Christmas trees, and they are decorated with candied fruits, paper lanterns and flowers. Paper packages with wishes of happiness and wealth are also popular here.

In Japan, due to a shortage of spruce, dwarf pines are used. As decorations, residents of this country prefer paper items made using the origami technique, as well as balls made of rice flour, painted in different colors. Wealthy people They install a kadomatsu near their house - a New Year's composition made of bamboo, spruce branches, berries and algae. All components unusual tree symbolize something: pine - longevity, bamboo - durability, and so on.

In America, in addition to toys, it is customary to hang edible decorations on the Christmas tree - sweets in beautiful wrappers, oranges, cranberries, and cane-shaped candies. It is believed that the confectioner who was the first to make sweets in the shape of the letter "J" wanted to immortalize Latin letter, with which the name Jesus begins.

Candy in the shape of the letter "J"Russia

The first home Christmas trees in Russia were installed in imperial palaces, but ordinary residents knew about this tradition only by hearsay. The custom of decorating a winter tree came to the people along with a passion for German culture and literature in the 19th century. The first public Christmas tree was installed in 1852 in the building of the St. Petersburg Ekateringofsky station. One side of it was adjacent to the wall, and the other was decorated with scraps of multi-colored paper. Soon public Christmas trees began to be installed in club buildings, theaters and other places.

From the second half of the 19th century centuries, cardboard toys began to be hung on evergreen trees: garlands, banners, Chinese lanterns. At the beginning of the 20th, special Christmas tree decorations began to be sold in stores - glass balls, first German, then Russian production. In the same century, the custom of decorating the Christmas tree faded due to economic problems. IN Soviet time The tradition of celebrating Christmas and New Year has undergone many changes, but still managed to defend itself.

Even during the war years, families tried not to leave their children without Christmas trees. Instead of traditional toys, there could be anything on the trees, made from improvised materials.

Even during the war years, the tradition of decorating the Christmas tree was not abandoned.

Now the traditions of decorating Christmas trees in Russia are almost equal to those in Europe and America. Many families adhere to their own customs and decorate their trees with retro toys from grandma’s chest. Some people update their collection every year and even order designer “things” for their Christmas tree. Some people show creativity and originality in decoration, using other items instead of toys and garlands: sports balls, jewelry, fluff and feathers, ribbons, bows and even CDs.

For example, such an original, one-of-a-kind Christmas tree was presented at the HELLO.RU digital breakfast, which we organized for our partners a few days ago. Designers from Flora Store Floristry and Decoration Studio decorated this spruce for a reason volleyballs: next summer we will all definitely go to some picturesque park to arrange a volleyball match, but in the meantime we will have time to practice.

You will find other designer Christmas trees from all over the world - the most elegant, the most unusual, the most "artistic" - in our photo gallery by clicking on the photo below.

Click on the photo to view the gallery Click on the photo to view the gallery

Why is it the Christmas tree that is decorated for the New Year, and not some other tree?

The custom of decorating a Christmas tree is very old: it is about two thousand years old. Why did people start decorating trees? The magic of wood was very great in ancient times. IN famous Horoscope Druins (ancient Celtic priests who worshiped the forest, trees) the character and fate of a person is connected with “his” tree (for each person, depending on the date of birth). Our ancient ancestors believed that the spirits of vegetation and fertility also lived in trees, on which the harvest of bread, fruits and vegetables supposedly depended. But powerful spirits were not only good, but also evil, and they had to be appeased with gifts.

Well, the evergreen spruce occupied a special place among all the trees. She was the sacred center, the “world tree,” symbolizing life itself and a new rebirth from darkness and gloom. It was on it, the largest in the forest, that every year at the end of December (when the “sunny” year began) people “hung out various gifts” for the spirits to make them kinder and to get a rich harvest. So an atoning sacrifice was made, as if reproducing the first sacrifice of the creation of the world.

Ancient Europeans hung apples from green spruce branches - a symbol of fertility, eggs - a symbol developing life, harmony and complete well-being, nuts are the incomprehensibility of divine providence. It was believed that spruce branches decorated in this way warded off evil spirits and evil spirits(by the way, spruce branches were also hung from the ceiling, closer to the doors). They decorated the Christmas tree with toys.

And either the Magi or the ancient German shepherds told the world about all this. Then this cheerful and cozy custom penetrated into mansions and castles. And princesses grew up there. Growing up, they married foreign princes (that was how it used to be) and brought German winter customs to other European countries. It was the young German princess, married to the heir to the British throne, who dressed up in late XVII century the first Christmas tree in England. Another princess from Germany taught this to the French. By the way, some scientists believe that the first Christmas tree was decorated in the 16th century in Alsace (which previously belonged to Germany, but is now part of France).

Later, Christmas trees (real New Year's trees, not spruce and pine branches) came to us. Well, how could it be otherwise? How can we live without them? But in truth, this did not happen under Peter I, but only in the 30s of the 19th century. So, about three hundred years ago, our ancestors believed that, decorating christmas tree, they make evil forces kinder. Now about evil forces They’ve long forgotten (although they probably exist), but not a single New Year’s holiday is still complete without a beautiful real tree, straight from the forest, or a beautiful artificial one.

And in conclusion, it should perhaps be said that in Russia the fate of the Christmas tree was not easy. Like any Western innovation, it developed with difficulty. As you know, the custom of decorating a home with Christmas tree branches began with Peter I. In the 30s of the 19th century, Christmas trees were placed for the holiday only in the houses of St. Petersburg Germans. And Christmas trees were put up publicly in the capital only in 1852. TO end of the 19th century centuries, Christmas trees became the main decoration of both city and country houses and in the 20th century they were inseparable from winter holidays until 1918, when, due to the affiliation of the decorated tree with Christmas (that is, the religion of the church), it was banned for as long as 17 years (until 1935) . It was only in 1949 that January 1 became a non-working day. So putting up Christmas trees in houses is not such a big deal. ancient invention, as it may seem. In Rus', he is 60-65 years old (no more).
PS. Personally, I don’t decorate the Christmas tree - it’s a shame to kill it.

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We are all accustomed to the fact that the symbol of the New Year and Christmas is an elegant green Christmas tree or other conifer tree. But this tradition is not characteristic of all nations.

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Nowadays, each country has its own original way of decorating the Christmas tree. And in some countries, the New Year tree is not even a Christmas tree... Let's see what and how they decorate in different countries of the world for the New Year and Christmas...

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The New Year is celebrated most magnificently in Europe, which is why the Europeans ate - luxurious and richly decorated. The two main colors of the holiday are red and green. They can be found in the decor of the entire home. The Germans prefer fairly standard decorations - balls and toys, however, they also have a favorite - the nutcracker. By the way, until 1900, people all over the world tried to decorate Christmas trees so that there was literally no free space left on them.

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Scandinavians, in particular Swedes, prefer animal figures to traditional balls. The Christmas goat deserves special mention. This is a character who fulfills his New Year's role in as many as three countries - Sweden, Norway and Finland. On Stockholm Christmas trees you can often see wooden toys that look like homemade ones, as well as eco-friendly straw decorations. By the way, in Sweden it is customary to install a Christmas tree not at home, but in the yard.

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In China, small tangerine and orange trees are used instead of Christmas trees, and they are decorated with candied fruits, paper lanterns and flowers. In Japan, dwarf pines are used. Paper products made using the origami technique, as well as rice flour balls painted in different colors, are used as decorations.

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In America, in addition to toys, it is customary to hang edible decorations on the Christmas tree - sweets in beautiful wrappers, oranges, cranberries, and cane-shaped candies. It is believed that the confectioner who first made sweets in the shape of the letter "J" wanted to immortalize the Latin letter with which the name Jesus begins.

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The first home Christmas trees in Russia were installed in imperial palaces. The custom of decorating a winter tree came to the people along with a passion for German culture and literature in the 19th century. The first public Christmas tree was installed in 1852 in the building of the St. Petersburg station. From the second half of the 19th century, cardboard toys began to be hung on evergreen trees: garlands, banners, Chinese lanterns. At the beginning of the 20th, special Christmas tree decorations began to be sold in stores - glass balls, first made in Germany, then in Russia. During Soviet times, the tradition of celebrating Christmas and New Year underwent many changes, but was still able to defend itself.

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Holly (or holly) - much more ancient symbol winter holidays than spruce. The ancient Romans considered holly sacred tree god Saturn, Druids traditionally burned its branches for the holiday winter solstice, and the Celts wove wreaths from holly and believed that its bright red berries would help them survive the longest night of the year. Over time, holly has become a real symbol of Christmas. According to one version, the wreath of Jesus Christ was woven from holly, and the red berries are the blood of the Savior. Holly wreaths and garlands are still popular in many countries Western Europe, especially in the UK. It is believed that this plant gives people hope and faith in the best.

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Another popular Christmas plant in English-speaking countries is the Star of Bethlehem poinsettia. In the USA, Canada, UK and several others European countries Poinsettias decorate homes and offices, and also serve as gifts. beautiful plant as a Christmas gift. This tradition in last years began to spread in Russia.

Celebrating the New Year is always accompanied by decorating the New Year tree. This tradition originated in Europe and gradually spread throughout the world. Various garlands, Christmas tree tinsel, colorful toys, candies

What do they decorate for the New Year in other countries?

Celebrating the New Year is always accompanied by decorating the New Year tree. This tradition originated in Europe and gradually spread throughout the world. A variety of garlands, Christmas tree tinsel, colorful toys, sweets - this is not the entire list of what is used to decorate the New Year tree. But this is ours. But what about the situation in those countries where prickly beauties do not grow? What trees are decorated in those countries, and are they decorated with Christmas tree tinsel?

Christmas tree tinsel – and in Africa there is tinsel

Let's move to Africa. Well, somewhere, but here Christmas trees definitely don’t grow. Native people African continent can only see them in pictures or when they come to visit us. But the New Year is celebrated here too. New Year's tree in African countries considered a baobab. True, they don’t place it in the house (most likely it wouldn’t work), but decorate it right where it grows. For decoration, everything is used (almost like ours). Probably, Christmas tree tinsel would look good on this giant. Of course, to decorate it would require great amount tinsel. But if there is a desire, there will always be opportunities. For example, the Tinsel Wholesale company, a leader in the production and wholesale tinsel, could easily supply large quantities of high-quality goods.

The Kingdom of Sudan considers the walnut tree as its holiday tree, which, according to legends, can bring happiness to the home.

But in Nucaragua, the New Year tree is replaced by a coffee tree, which is decorated with red berries hanging on it.

Residents of the island of Bali prefer not to associate trees with this holiday at all. Using rice stalks and colorful paints, they decorate various pillars. Probably, Christmas tree tinsel would be a good fit for these purposes.

Christmas tree tinsel – for some it’s familiar, and for others it’s exotic

In many countries of the world this is Christmas decoration how Christmas tree tinsel is replaced with flowers. For example, the people of India make large and very lush garlands of flowers, which they then use to decorate their houses, both inside and outside, not neglecting the roofs.

But in the Philippines, natural trees are not recognized as a holiday symbol. Their New Year's beauties are made of plastic or wire. But this does not in any way affect their festive mood.

In Brazil, Christmas tree tinsel could be in demand, because Christmas trees grow here. But in this country they don’t dress them up either. Brazilians use trees made from paper, synthetic fibers, various tapes and wood shavings for this purpose. Sometimes they also decorate palm trees growing on the street.

Residents of Mexico also decorate palm trees by placing gifts under them. And in Cuba, cacti are used for these purposes. At the same time, they are decorated with tinsel and paper toys.

In Japan, Christmas from Europe has become widespread only recently. Here residents try to decorate their home spruce branches and garlands.

It doesn’t matter what country people live in or what they decorate for the New Year. The main thing is that this holiday is associated all over the world with goodness, the desire for a better and brighter future.