Christmas trees: types and ideas for decoration

Now it is difficult to imagine the New Year without a forest beauty. In every house, everyone is looking forward to the New Year holidays, preparing gifts, buying sweets and delicacies. The Christmas tree is an important part of the holiday. A skillfully decorated tree will complement the fairytale atmosphere and help make the winter holidays unforgettable. This article will discuss who came up with the idea of ​​spending New Year's holidays with a Christmas tree, their types and various ways of decorating fir trees.

Few people know that the New Year tree in Russia appeared only during the reign of Peter I... On his instructions, the celebration of the New Year's holiday was postponed from September to January 1. At this time, it was ordered to launch rockets and light bright lights, decorate the house. Fir-trees were recommended to be placed not in houses, but in front of them. Those who did not have enough money to buy a whole tree were supposed to have a spruce branch. At that time, coniferous trees were installed in front of houses, taverns and just outside, so they became a part of the New Year's landscape.

After the death of the ruler, this custom was forgotten for a long time. And only in the 19th century, Christmas trees began to appear in St. Petersburg. In 1817, the wife of Nicholas I, Alexandra Fedorovna, asked to install a Christmas tree for the emperor's family in Moscow. And already in 1828, the empress arranged the first children's tree.

From the end of 1840, the sale of fir trees was encouraged. Many rich people acquired forest beauty, trying to outmaneuver their rivals.Noble nobles organized competitions for the fluffiest, richest and most decorated Christmas tree. The tree was decorated not only with sweets, cones or bagels, but also with earrings, rings, bracelets.

In 1852, the first public Christmas tree was installed at the station in Yekateringof... The triumphal procession of the forest beauty continued, and soon she could be seen in almost all houses.

Since the beginning of 1925 the fight against religious holidays began. The Christmas tree, a symbol of Christmas, was also banned. New Year's celebrations began to be called "priest's". These convictions continued until 1935.

Later the tree was not just revived, it was transformed into a holiday, which in the USSR symbolizes a joyful, carefree and happy childhood. Now the children of employees of various enterprises were invited to the New Year. The Star of Bethlehem on the top of the head was replaced by the Red Star, and candles and angels were replaced with figurines of fairy-tale heroes, animals, astronauts and athletes.

Since 1954, the Kremlin has been annually installing the "main Christmas tree of the country."

For many, the New Year is inextricably linked with the installation of a forest beauty. Many conifers can be seen in the forest. There are firs, pines, and spruces here. All these varieties can be safely called "Christmas trees".

At the Christmas tree markets, conifers of various shapes, sizes and colors of needles are sold. For some, a small Christmas tree is preferable, while others will like a real big pine tree. Are quite popular artificial sprucemade from different materials.

On the eve of the holiday, the Christmas tree markets are littered with conifers. Buyers First pay attention to trees with fluffy and voluminous needles, frequent branches and bright colors.

The most popular varieties of conifers.

• Common spruce. Perhaps this is the most common version of the New Year tree. The main advantage of this species is the availability and coniferous smell familiar to everyone from childhood.

• Pine. This species is more hardy than the previous version. Has a rounded shape. The pine smell is less pronounced here. The pine needles are brighter and longer than those of other species.

• Fir is considered the queen of conifers... Its needles are blue-green in color. This is a tree with lush branches, shiny and delicate needles. Has a conical shape.

Cut live spruce will stay fresh for up to 30 days. Once the plants are transplanted into potting soil, they will continue to grow and develop for decades.

Many people choose to choose artificial conifers. They are more often installed in city squares, in shopping centers. For the first time, a replacement for living trees was invented in the 19th century in Germany. They remain popular even now.

Artificial forest beauties can be made from different materials. They are cast:

• made of plastic;
• made from fishing line;
• cut from PVC.

Cast pines outwardly they look like natural wood, so such models are sometimes difficult to distinguish. Although the price of these products is quite high, such a tree will last more than one year without losing its appearance.

Models, twisted from fishing line, consider the most simple and not very high quality option. Their cost is low, but the appearance is far from perfect.

The most popular are PVC models... Their cost may vary depending on their size and country of origin. They look very similar to the real ones, especially if the product is made by reliable manufacturers.

Artificial spruce from PVC look very impressive. Often, the tips of their branches are treated with artificial snow, which makes them more natural and realistic. These products are fireproof, so you can safely hang a garland of light bulbs on them. A bright LED garland will instantly transform a forest beauty, turning an ordinary tree into an extraordinary fabulous masterpiece.

The warranty for such products is usually 7-10 years.

Before you start dressing up a New Year's forest beauty, you should think about where it will stand, and how beautifully it will be decorated. There are certain rules, thanks to which decorating a Christmas tree will turn not into painstaking work, but into an exciting activity.

1. It is advisable that the Christmas tree be located near the outlets - this will allow the use of garland bulbs with a minimum number of wires. There are advanced daisies that do not require a network connection.
2. You should start decorating with hanging garlands, then start decorating with New Year's toys.
3. It is better to hang large toys inside the tree - this will add depth. Smaller decorations are hung at the ends of the branches.
4. It is better to hang expensive jewelry higher - this will protect them from accidental fall and fight.
5. It is better to put it against the wall - this will save space, especially if the room is not very large.
6. A live tree is cut from the bottom if its height is too high.
7. The mirror opposite the forest beauty will visually make her more magnificent.

Many people remember how the pines were decorated in Soviet times. Store or homemade toys, glass beads, rain were hung on them. Such a homemade Soviet Christmas tree in the apartment, of course, looked very organic. But nothing remains the same. The changes and design of the New Year's beauty were touched upon. Now more and more designers recommend using an unusual design, decorating with non-standard decorations, unusual decor.

Perhaps not everyone will be able to dress up a pine tree like real decorators or designers. In this case, you can look at illustrations in magazines or come up with a concept yourself.

When installing a forest guest at home, many do not know how to arrange it correctly. In your house or in a city apartment, you can put a Christmas tree, decorating it in a certain style.

• So, fans of the rustic style can use various wooden decorations, knitwear... Such decor will look very cute and natural.

• For Provence style toys decorated using decoupage technique are more suitable.

• Those who want to remember a carefree childhood should choose for decoration vintage style... Jewelry in a similar style will immediately take you to a world with good and fairy tales, where everything smells of antiquity. The use of artificial plants, tulle, brocade and tassels will allow you to get into this atmosphere. This style is characterized by a choice of pastel shades combined with red, silver and azure. Retro decorations can be made in the form of angels, biblical characters or legendary heroes.

If the forest beauty is on the street, you can decorate it simply, but nevertheless, very original. In this case, all kinds of garlands and lights can become the only decoration.

Decor made of citrus fruits, cinnamon sticks and other sweets it will not only smell good, but also look very original.

For those who do not like special excesses in design, you can use a minimum of decor... The design in a minimalist style with a small amount of decorations will make the New Year's beauty a central figure.

Lovers of outdoor activities can be used as a decoration use sports equipmentby placing skates, old skis or badminton rackets near the trunk or hanging them on branches.

You can decorate the forest guest and in country style. To maintain it, use wooden accessories and all kinds of natural ingredients in the form of acorns, cones or dried fruits and berries.

Every year, designers come up with interesting and original options for New Year's decor. New trends in the design of the main culprit of the holiday include her decoration with unusual or non-standard decor. So, a tree decorated with flowers in the style of shabby chic will add special pomp to the celebration. This and similar styles will appeal to romantic and creative natures.

Its registration must be carried out taking into account certain rules.

1. It is necessary to completely fill the entire crown with decor.
2. The color palette should be consistent with the same range. It should be gentle, refreshing and airy.
3. The layered effect will support the selected style.

For admirers of everything pink, the design of the Christmas tree is more suitable. in a glamorous style. In this case, you need to take care of the original toys made in the form of cosmetic accessories in advance. Cute unicorns and various fairy-tale characters, as well as pink, coral or crimson toys will complement the decoration.

For those who want to stand out it is worth decorating the pine in an unusual way. In this case, you can turn the tree upside down or hang it from the ceiling. Often, not a whole tree is used for decoration, but only spruce branches. They create an original New Year's composition in different styles and shades using unusual decor.

When the merry New Year holidays are held, many begin to wonder what to do with the forest guest. Throwing away a living tree is a pity, although it has served enough.

A second life for a forest beauty.

1. In the event that the tree is adult, it will not be possible to root it, so it can be handed over to a farm or zoo. There the needles will be used as food and bedding for animals. Before taking the pine, it is important not to forget to clear it of rain and tinsel.
2. Can be used in winter as firewood for heating houses with stove heating.
3. Take the tree to your dacha, chop it into chips and use it as mulch for trees and shrubs.
4. A sturdy trunk can be used to make a bench or curb.

Considering that spruce needles contain a lot of nutrients, trace elements and vitamins, it can be used for the preparation of medicinal ointments, decoctions... Inhalation of their needles will help in the fight against pulmonary diseases, bronchitis.

In foreign countries, New Year trees are massively handed over for processing... They are used to make cat litter, paper, furniture, and are used to heat rooms.

Not everyone knows that installing and decorating a Christmas tree should follow strict rules. Feng Shui experts recommend the following.

1. Put the tree in the room in the left corner, closer to the entrance. This will lead to the fact that many necessary connections will appear in life.
2. Placing it in the far corner contributes to material well-being.
3. Installing in the near right corner will bring joy to the younger generation. If you put it in the far right corner, then this will lead to the establishment of family relations.
4. The forest beauty in the center of the room will promote health and well-being.
5. Choosing a place for the spruce in the middle of the wall can activate the travel zone.

Specialists it is not recommended to dress up the tree very early. It is better to do this before lunch, a day before the onset of the holiday.

There are also some very interesting facts.

1. At first, it was customary to decorate New Year's trees with flowers and fruits, cones and sweets. These Christmas tree decorations were subsequently eaten by children.
2. Young needles contain more vitamin C than lemons. It is believed that pine needle wine helped J. Cook's team cope with scurvy.
3. A $ 11 million Christmas tree was installed in Abu Dhabi in 2010. It was decorated with toys inlaid with gold and precious stones.
4. An 85-meter floating Christmas tree was erected in Rio de Janeiro in 2007.
5. The tallest artificial New Year tree was established in 2009 in Mexico City. It reached a height of over 110 meters, which is equal to the height of a 40-storey building.

For most, New Year's holidays are an extraordinary time. At this time, they decorate the Christmas tree in the houses, prepare delicious dishes and gather at the festive table, giving each other gifts.

Choosing what the decor of the New Year's beauty will be, you can study the best photographs in magazines or find the necessary information on the Internet.

• The main forest guest will delight residents and guests of the city.

• Lights are lit in every house. Decorated Christmas trees sparkle in their splendor, delighting everyone.

• Using design ideas, you can decorate the tree in an original way.

• Stylish artificial Christmas trees will be an excellent substitute for a living tree.

• The unusually spectacular designer Christmas trees will delight not only with their appearance, but also with their unusual inverted shape.

• Original design compositions.

The following video shows an example of decorating a Christmas tree for the New Year.