New Year is coming, which means it’s time to buy, put up and decorate a Christmas tree. Moreover, decorating the Christmas tree is the most difficult, but at the same time the most emotional event on New Year's Eve. Over hundreds of years, people have come up with different types and types of Christmas tree decorations. Today we simply call them “Christmas tree toys.” But behind this name lies a wide variety of materials, sizes, styles, and colors. Let's see what kind of Christmas tree decorations there are today.
Star. The top of the New Year tree in our country is traditionally decorated with a red five-pointed star. Stores also sell yellow six-pointed stars, but they are not for the New Year, but for the Christmas tree. Also, sometimes an angel figurine is placed on the top of the Christmas tree. And on the New Year tree, instead of a star, they sometimes use a toy in the form of a stylized icicle. The star at the top of the tree is usually not simple, but illuminated.
Balls. Multi-colored balls of different sizes are the main thing. Typically these balls come in red, gold and silver colors. But there are also balls of other colors. Moreover, usually, light balls are used to decorate a traditional Christmas tree (green), and balls of dark colors are hung on silver artificial Christmas trees. In addition to the fact that balls come in different colors, they are made from different materials. Previously, Christmas tree balls were mostly made of glass, but nowadays they are increasingly made of plastic. Plastic balls are not as fragile as glass ones. But it is the glass balls that evoke more emotions. To decorate Christmas trees, you can use small balls of the same color, or balls of different sizes and colors. If balls of different sizes are used, then larger ones should be placed on the lower branches of the tree. If balloons of different colors are used, then they need to be grouped and each color hung on a separate level. Moreover, it is better not to make the levels strictly horizontal, but to “twist” them in a spiral. Balls can be either plain or multi-colored or with some kind of pattern (ornaments, snowflakes, fairy-tale characters).
Fairy tale characters.
Bells.
For 20 years now, artist, historian and restorer Sergei Romanov has been collecting children's toys: dolls, soldiers, teddy bears, doll furniture, dishes, pedal cars... And especially Christmas tree decorations. His collection contains about three thousand things: cotton dolls from the 1930s, airships, papier-mâché vegetables and fruits from the 50s, and a polyethylene Santa Claus from the 1970s. Until January 18, the Bulat Okudzhava Cultural Center on Arbat is hosting the exhibition “Christmas Tree. Candle. Two balls." Using her example, collector Romanov spoke about the century and a half history of the New Year's toy.
I was 14 years old when we got a kitten. By the New Year, the kitten turned into a large, well-fed cat. And this cat saw a decorated Christmas tree for the first time. And I was stunned. At first he knocked over the toys that were hanging below with his paw, and then he contrived to jump straight onto the tree. And the tree, although it was fixed on an iron tripod, lay at its full length across the room. In one minute I lost all the most beautiful and favorite toys. To restore what was lost, I began to look for and buy antique Christmas tree decorations...
(Total 21 photos)
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Source: lenta.ru
Toys from the collection of Sergei Romanov. All photos: Pavel Bednyakov / Lenta.ru
1. Angel, early 20th century
The custom of decorating a spruce tree for the New Year appeared in the Middle Ages among the Germanic peoples. Since ancient times, the Germans revered spruce as a sacred tree - a symbol of immortality. Every year on the days of the winter solstice, they cleaned their houses with spruce branches, believing that good spirits of nature lived in the needles. Since the 16th century, spruce has become a symbol of Christian Christmas. In Germany, Holland, and England, a tradition arose of placing a whole coniferous tree in the house and hanging decorations on its branches. For the first three centuries, these decorations were exclusively edible. Apples are like a memory of the fruits of paradise that grew on the tree of knowledge. Unleavened waffles - instead of mallow, symbolizing the body of Christ. And of course, marshmallows, gingerbread and nuts, which were gilded with real gold leaf. Actually, real Christmas tree decorations appeared only at the end of the 18th century. In those years, decorations made of fir cones coated with gold, silver-plated stars made of straw and small figures of angels made of hammered brass were very fashionable.
My grandmother often recalled how candles were lit on the Christmas tree. These candles were small, like for a cake, in iron candlesticks. They were attached to the branches so as to turn the flame outward. And they lit it only once - on Christmas night. Moreover, on the same night, buckets of water and sand were placed under the tree along with gifts - to avoid fire.
2. Boat. Late 19th - early 20th centuries
The first Christmas tree balls appeared in Thuringia, in the city of Lausch, in 1848.
Since ancient times, Lausch has been famous for its glassblowers. And then one day one master decided to decorate a Christmas tree for his children for Christmas. But he was very poor. There was not enough money for fruits and sweets. And then he blew apples, lemons, gingerbread and nuts out of glass. The toys turned out to be so beautiful that word spread about them. And soon not only the residents of Lausch, but also all of Germany began to order glass decorations for Christmas.
3. Father Christmas. Cotton toy, chromolithography. Late 19th - early 20th centuries
At first, glass Christmas tree decorations were made of thick, heavy glass, and the inside was covered with a layer of lead for shine. But in the 1860s a gas plant was built in Lauscha. With the help of gas burners, glass could now be heated to very high temperatures, and glassblowers began to make delicate, elegant things. Balls with gold and silver patterns, angel heads, strawberries, icicles, cones... For a long time, German glassblowers kept the secrets of their craft secret, so until the 20th century, Christmas tree decorations were produced only in Germany, from where they were exported to other countries: England, Holland, France , Russia.
4. Father Christmas. Glass. Late 19th - early 20th centuries
In Russia, they began to celebrate the New Year on January 1, 1700, by decree of Peter I. He also ordered, in imitation of the Dutch, to decorate the gates and doors of houses with spruce branches. Toys were not hung on these branches, and Christmas trees were placed mainly on the roofs of drinking establishments. The first Christmas tree, decorated with candles, toys and garlands, was installed in St. Petersburg in 1852 - it is believed that this custom was started by the wife of Emperor Nicholas I, Alexandra Feodorovna, who was born and raised in Prussia.
From that moment on, decorating a Christmas tree became very fashionable. However, there was one difficulty. Glass jewelry imported from Germany was very expensive. At the turn of the 20th century, toy dealers asked for 20 rubles for one glass ball, and for a set they could charge 200. And this despite the fact that for 20 rubles in those days you could buy a cow, for 200 - a house near St. Petersburg.
5. Boy on skis, glass balls. Late 19th - early 20th centuries
Cotton toys have become an alternative to expensive glass decorations. You could buy them in a store, or you could make them yourself. Around Christmas, many women's magazines told their readers how to make a figurine out of cotton wool with their own hands.
Here is an excerpt from a magazine at the beginning of the 20th century: “Cooking the paste. Take 2-3 tablespoons of starch for 1 and 1/2 cups of water and bring to a boil. Then we make a frame from wire. We divide the cotton wool into strips, moisten it with paste and wrap it around the wire. You can also use the papier-mâché technique. That is, stick pieces of paper soaked in paste onto the frame. We secure it all to the frame with threads. We dry the toy for two days. Then we paint.”
6. Children on a sled. Cotton toys with porcelain faces. Late 19th - early 20th centuries
A wide variety of figures were made from cotton wool: angels with wings, birds of paradise, girls on skates and boys on skis. Often the heads of these dolls were porcelain. The stores also sold die-cut sheets with chromolithographic images. From these sheets one could cut out the faces of the same angels, children or Santa Clauses and glue them onto a cotton or fabric toy.
7. Father Christmas. Cotton toy, chromolithography. Late 19th - early 20th centuries
Also, before the revolution, Christmas tree decorations using the Dresden cardboard technique were very popular in Russia. These were figures glued together from two halves of embossed cardboard, tinted with gold or silver paint. They were produced by machine in Dresden and Leipzig starting in the 19th century. These figures were sold in the form of sheets with embossed parts, which you had to press out, cut and glue yourself.
In Russia, Dresden cardboard could be ordered by mail. It was quite affordable. 40 kopecks - for a sheet of simple figures in the form of birds, bunnies, elephants, lions. 1 ruble 20 kopecks - for three-dimensional figures: silver cannons, airplanes, horse-drawn carriages...
8. Star. Mounted toy. Glass. Late 19th - early 20th centuries
Factory production of Christmas tree decorations was first established in Russia during the First World War. At that time, in the city of Klin there was a glass factory, which had belonged to the princes Menshikov since 1848. At this factory, lamps, bottles and vials for pharmacies were made from colored glass. During the war, captured German soldiers ended up in Klin. It was they who taught Russian craftsmen how to blow Christmas tree balls and beads from glass.
9. Father Christmas. Chromolithograph. Late 19th - early 20th centuries
We also owe the First World War another decoration, without which it is impossible to imagine a modern Christmas tree - a spire-shaped top. Throughout the 19th century, the top of the Christmas tree was decorated with either the Star of Bethlehem or a figurine of Jesus Christ. They were usually made from Dresden cardboard and illuminated with candles for greater effect.
With the outbreak of the First World War, the rise of patriotism in both Germany and Russia was so high that they began to put cones on the tops of Christmas trees - the tops of soldiers' helmets and helmets. During the Soviet years, the Star of Bethlehem was replaced by the red Kremlin star, but the shishak remained and was very popular in the 1960-1970s. It could be in the form of a spire, could turn into a rocket taking off, or could be decorated with bells on a twisted wire.
10. New Year tree with cotton toys. Second half of the 1930s
In 1925, the custom of celebrating Christmas was banned in the Soviet Union. For the next ten years, Christmas trees were not decorated in our country. But on December 28, 1935, the Pravda newspaper published an article by the first secretary of the regional party committee, Pavel Postyshev, entitled “Let's organize a good Christmas tree for the children for the New Year!”
From this moment on, the era of the Soviet Christmas tree decoration begins. In terms of technology, Christmas tree decorations of the 30s were not too different from pre-revolutionary ones. As before, toys were made by hand by craftsmen. As before, they were made from Dresden cardboard, cotton wool and glass. But the plots became different - the biblical characters were replaced by Red Army soldiers, sailors, pioneers and collective farmers in red scarves with a sickle in their hands. Also popular among Soviet citizens were the hut on chicken legs, ruddy athletes and a janitor with a broom.
11. Ball in honor of the 20th anniversary of the October Revolution. Glass. 1937
From the Christmas tree decorations of the pre-war years, you can easily understand how the country lived. 1935 The film “Circus” with Lyubov Orlova in the title role was released - cotton clowns, acrobats and trained dogs appeared on Christmas trees. In the same year, the metro opened - and now Christmas trees began to be decorated with miniature red metro caps. 1937 20th anniversary of the October Revolution. For this date, a glass ball was made: on red panels there are four portraits - Marx, Engels, Lenin and Stalin. And in 1938, Moscow artels for the production of Christmas tree decorations produced a series of cotton figurines in honor of Papanin’s expedition to the North Pole. It included: a polar explorer with a bear planting a red flag at the North Pole, the North Pole station and a skier bear delivering mail. In addition to cotton toys, a glass ball was also made with the image of Papanin with a dog in the camp near the tent.
12. Letter from Santa Claus. New Year card. Mid-20th century
A special type of Christmas tree decorations are bonbonnieres. They were also called surprise girls. These were small, beautifully decorated boxes in which sweets or small gifts were hidden. Bonbonnieres began to be made back in the 19th century - from walnut shells or from matchboxes. They were given the appearance of houses, books, drums. In the 30s they were also hung on the Christmas tree. But they were designed in accordance with Soviet ideology. For example, there was a surprise - a mailbox. There was a house with a red flag - the district council. And there was a plane - a tool of the proletariat. After the war, the bonbonnieres quietly disappeared. But it has become fashionable to hang chocolate figures in foil on the Christmas tree - hares, bears, Santa Clauses. In the 50s, you could buy a “Help me get dressed” chocolate bar in stores. There was a baby drawn on the wrapper. And inside there is an insert with clothes that could be cut out, and a rhyme:
“It’s not good for me to sit like this,
So I might catch a cold.
Help me get dressed
Help me keep warm."
13. Santa Claus. Cotton toy, 1930-1940s
In Soviet times, the top of the New Year tree was crowned with a red five-pointed star - like on the Kremlin towers. Santa Claus stood under the tree. It was a tribute to tradition.
In pre-Petrine times in Rus', Father Frost was represented as an old man with a gray beard who ran through the fields and caused bitter frosts by knocking. On Christmastide, it was customary to invite him into the house and feed him kutia - in order to appease him. The image of a Christmas grandfather who gives gifts to children appeared only at the end of the 19th century - in imitation of the European Santa Claus. In Russia, Father Frost at that time was associated with Nikolai Ugodnik, the patron saint of travelers and children.
14. Snow Maiden. Cotton toy. 1930-1950s
But Grandfather Frost’s granddaughter appeared only in the Soviet years. In 1937, a children's Christmas tree was organized for the first time in the Hall of Columns of the House of Unions. The host of this holiday was Father Frost. But he needed an assistant. At first, the organizers of the Christmas tree wanted to appoint the Snowman-Postman as such an assistant. But then we remembered the heroine of the play by A.N. Ostrovsky's "Snow Maiden" - a beautiful fair-haired girl sculpted from snow.
At the end of the 30s, Snow Maiden figurines began to be placed under the Christmas tree. They were made from cotton wool or papier-mâché. In one of the versions, the Snow Maiden was a proletarian girl in morocco boots and with a red flag.
15. Steam locomotive. Embossed cardboard. 1930-1940s
Matte ball in the color of an airplane wing. Budennovtsy walk along it. Above the Budennovites there is an inscription: “Happy New Year 1941!” In the Soviet Union, everyone was waiting for this year, wondering what it would bring? He brought the Great Patriotic War. However, even in these difficult years for the country, people continued to decorate Christmas trees - in the rear, in hospitals, in the trenches on the front line. And they continued to make Christmas tree decorations. They were made from whatever was at hand. They took light bulbs, painted them in different colors, and drew cherries and flowers. Butterflies and dragonflies were twisted from waste copper wire.
16. Airships. Glass. 1930-1940s
In January 1943, shoulder straps were introduced in the Red Army. Both soldiers and officers began to make Christmas tree toys from them. Also popular were airplanes assembled from glass beads and tubes, as well as glass airships, emok-type cars, cardboard cannons, tanks and figurines of border guard Karatsupa with the dog Hindu, preserved from pre-war times.
17. Clock. Glass. 1950-1960s
In 1946, January 1 was declared a day off. The New Year has become a real national holiday. And toys are massive. In the 1950-1960s, several factories of Christmas tree decorations opened at once - in Moscow, Leningrad, Klin, Kirov, Kyiv. New items have appeared: toys with clothespins and miniature toys for small artificial Christmas trees.
Christmas tree decorations these years were very different. In the 1950s, after the release of the film “Carnival Night,” glass watches with hands frozen at “twelve minutes to five” became very fashionable. During the time of Khrushchev - figurines of astronauts and ears of corn. And in the 1970s - shells, houses with snow-covered roofs, spotlights and balls called “radio waves”.
“Radio waves” began to be made even before the war. These were balls with a pattern of circular lines. The pattern was applied with phosphor paint, and the balls glowed in the dark.
18. Hare with a drum. Glass. 1950-1970s
In the 1960s–1980s, toys based on fairy tales were very popular. In principle, this was not news. Back in the 1930s, artels made cotton decorations in the form of heroes of Russian folk tales or poems by Korney Chukovsky. In those years, in many houses, huts on chicken legs, lame bast shoes, or a Cockroach in red boots hung on their Christmas trees. And when “The Tales of Uncle Remus” was translated into Russian in 1935, Brother Rabbit and Brother Fox settled in the pine needles.
19. Clown with a pipe. Glass. 1950-1970s
In the era of developed socialism, entire fairy-tale sets appeared: “The Golden Cockerel”, “Little Muk”, “Little Red Riding Hood”, “Cipollino”. The same fairy tale was produced for years and in different factories. At the same time, the appearance of the heroes could change. This is clearly seen in the old woman from The Tale of the Goldfish. At the beginning of the episode, the old woman is calm, standing, holding on to her shower jacket. But at the end she has her hands on her hips.
20. Glass toys from the 1960s-1980s
In the 1970-1980s, many different toys were produced: bells, figurines of animals, genies, girls in fur coats. Among the balls, the main one was a large polystyrene ball with a rotating butterfly inside. These balls were sold all year round; they were blue, red, green, purple. To the children they seemed magical.
There probably wasn’t a single child who didn’t want to take that butterfly out of the ball. One day I myself came out of the store with such a ball and around the corner hit the asphalt like this: bam! The ball broke, I took out the butterfly. But she no longer spun outside the ball. And all the magic disappeared.
21. Lady with a snowball. Porcelain doll. Late 19th - early 20th centuries
For reference: among collectors, toys produced before 1966 are considered rare. The entire value of toys released after this date is in the memories.
What is one of the most important signs of the New Year holidays? Of course, this is a holiday tree. It is around this green beauty that miracles happen, gifts appear and the whole family gathers. But before that, we need to do a little work: hang toys on the tree and decorate the apartment with Christmas decorations. In Europe, like here, it is customary to decorate the fluffy beauty with Christmas tree decorations. Let's combine business with pleasure today: decorate the Christmas tree together and study English vocabulary on the topic “Christmas decorations.”
Christmas tree in English
The whole point here is what kind of tree we are talking about. If you mean a tree that grows in the forest, then you should remember the phrase fir tree(fir, spruce, fir tree), word spruce(spruce, conifer) or word pine tree(pine). But if you are talking specifically about the New Year tree in English, then know that it will be Christmas tree. You can cut down a real Christmas tree at Christmas tree farm. Of course, there are also bazaars where you can easily buy a live tree.
If you are a supporter of artificial Christmas trees, then you need to know the phrase artificial christmas tree. And Christmas trees decorated with fake snow will be called flocked Christmas tree. Artificial cones can also hang on such trees ( pine cone).
For the tree itself you need a stand ( tree stand) and a “skirt” covering the bottom of the tree ( tree skirt).
Christmas decorations
Each family has its own traditions on how to properly decorate the Christmas tree. Some hang toys of strictly one color, others try to alternate different colors, and still others hang absolutely everything in the house on the Christmas tree (just like the New Year’s cartoon about Prostokvashino). But in any case, you should remember what all these Christmas decorations are called.
We usually hang a star at the very top of the tree ( a star). And in English-speaking countries it is customary to plant an angel on the top of the Christmas tree ( an angel). In general, any decoration on the top of the Christmas tree can be called Christmas tree topper.
Christmas tree decorations in English will be Christmas ornaments or tree ornaments, and Christmas tree lights - Christmas lights. If you love tinsel, then write down the word tinsel. Also, for a complete set of vocabulary for New Year's decorations in English, you will need the words ribbon(ribbon), candles(candles) and candy cane(candy in the shape of a cane).
Candy cane
In English-speaking countries, it is customary to make personalized Christmas tree decorations. For example, you can order a toy online with your last name written on it. Or the decoration could have your photo on it. It is called personalized Christmas ornaments.
Personalized Christmas ornaments
You can also hang Christmas socks near the tree ( Christmas stocking). This way you can receive gifts not only from Father Frost, but also from Santa Claus.
Flowers for Christmas
In English-speaking countries, it is customary to buy a special red flower that symbolizes Christmas. Sometimes this flower is simply called Christmas flower. But a more correct name would be Poinsettia(poinsettia, Christmas star). Also, don’t be surprised if you see flowers Christmas cactus(Christmas cactus), holly ( holly) or mistletoe ( mistletoe). As we remember from the movies, it is customary to kiss under the mistletoe during the Christmas season. So be careful, or, on the contrary, hang it everywhere (it depends on your plans for the coming year). Just in case, remember this English vocabulary. You never know, suddenly you find yourself on a holiday among the English who are homesick.
Poinsettia
Home Decoration for Christmas
Many of us try to decorate not only the Christmas tree, but also the whole house. You can hang tinsel around the house, buy a special New Year's tablecloth ( holiday tablecloth) or decorate the house with bows ( bow) and bells ( bell). It is customary to hang a special Christmas wreath on the door ( Christmas wreath h). In front of a house in Europe you can often see figurines associated with the holiday. For example, deer pulling a cart, or funny snowmen. It is called lawn figures(lawn figures) or Christmas yard/lawn decorations.
You can also hang a Christmas flag in front of your house ( Holiday flag), and put a bow or some kind of decoration on the mailbox ( Bow or decoration for the mailbox). Children love to put special stickers on windows ( Christmas window stickers) or throw artificial snow everywhere ( artificial snow).
And of course you will need a lot of Christmas tree garlands ( Christmas tree light).
Christmas wreath
We hope that thanks to this article, you learned not only what New Year's decorations are called in English, but also got a couple of ideas on how else you can decorate your home for the New Year. Cut out snowflakes, draw on the windows and hang tinsel. After all, waiting for and decorating for the holiday is sometimes even a little more exciting than the New Year itself.
Shutikova Anna
It's time to make our homes more comfortable, give them a festive look and fill them with joy and anticipation of the New Year. The Christmas tree is one of the most important attributes of this holiday. So we take out New Year's balls, garlands, rain and streamers from the boxes. And here questions arise. Which version of the Christmas tree to choose? In what style should I decorate it?
Live or artificial Christmas tree
When purchasing a tree, we have two options: a natural tree grown in a special nursery, or an artificial one from a store.
If you're leaning towards natural herringbone, here are a few tips on how to choose a live tree for the New Year and in what conditions it must be kept.
Before purchasing, check the leaves (needles) first. They should be green. Try moving them slightly and see if they fall off.
A recently felled tree can be identified by its smell. Breathe a little on the tip of the branch and feel pleasant pine aroma. If this does not happen, the green beauty will not please your eyes for long.
Then carefully inspect the barrel. It should not show any signs of any fungi or diseases. If you see dark spots on the cut, you know that the tree was cut down a long time ago.
Finally, you have chosen the Christmas tree of your dreams and are returning home joyful. Of course, I immediately want to install it to bring the feeling of the New Year closer. However, first it is better to keep it on the balcony or in the garage, so that it doesn't crumble from sudden temperature changes.
While the Christmas tree adapts to the higher temperature over the course of several hours, decide on its place in the house. Remember, to keep the tree green longer, it is preferable to place it away from heat sources, for example, a radiator or a fireplace.
The next step is to clear the bottom of the trunk from the bark and make a series of shallow cuts to facilitate moisture absorption. Then place the New Year's beauty in a specially designed stand with water or in a bucket of sand. Add a spoonful of sugar and an aspirin tablet to a pot of water for a delicious pine scent.
So that the tree does not dry out, add water periodically. About a couple times a week. In the case of a bucket, immediately pour a liter of water and add a little glycerin. If you spray the needles and twigs with water from a spray bottle once a day, the tree will be doubly grateful to you.
By the way, in the spring you can plant a live Christmas tree in your garden, if you have one. Just imagine how much joy there will be! Especially in children.
On the other hand, have artificial trees has its advantages. They tend to be cheaper, come in a variety of colors, have branches that hold up better to decorations, and have a lower risk of fire. The choice is yours!
Christmas tree decor
Currently, the variety of decorations is amazing, but there are several traditional ones, without which almost no Christmas tree decoration is complete.
Firstly, these are balls that take root on thorny branches and are entrenched in tradition like the New Year and Christmas itself.
Secondly, tinsel. Another classic decoration that gives our tree splendor and shine.
Thirdly, holidays electric garlands, which radiate magic like little miracle lights. When you turn them on for the first time and the tree lights up, some kind of switch flips inside you and your mood improves. Joy circulates through the veins. The smile never leaves my face.
And finally, Her Majesty the star on the top of her head.
Decorate the Christmas tree with electric garlands
If we include garlands in the decoration of the Christmas tree, we will give our tree a brighter, festive look. Begin?
First, a most exciting activity awaits us all. We need to unravel the tangle of wires and light bulbs that we took out of the box. After this, tangled headphones seem like a no-brainer. Is it true?
Don't rush to hang the garland. First, stretch the garland on the floor and connect it. Check if all the lights are working. Replace them if necessary.
Now let's start decorating the beauty. Remember First of all, we hang the garlands, and then New Year's toys. Take the end of the wire, without the plug, and begin to twist the tree from top to bottom in a spiral, preferably away from the trunk. This will make the tree look more impressive. Then, in the same way, braid the Christmas tree with a second garland, placing the lights at the tips of the branches. If you think it necessary, add a few more garlands. Plug them in and enjoy the beauty.
And note, when you go to bed or leave the house, unplug the garlands from the outlet.
Now comes the fun part. Hear the drum roll!
Examples of decorating a New Year tree in different styles
Red, white and green– three colors that are primarily associated with the New Year and Christmas, like Santa Claus and tangerines. Hang red and white balloons, bows and stars on the green branches.
Golden tones- one of the most traditional decoration options. Decorate the Christmas tree with golden balls, ribbons and figures.
New Year's Christmas tree in Scandinavian style breathes harmony and tranquility. It does not abound with many bright flowers and garlands. White color predominates in the design. Simple elements are perfect as decorations: white balls and snowflakes, small silver jewelry and pine cones, for example.
If you have children, decorating the Christmas tree will inevitably end in confusion. all the colors of the rainbow and a mix of various figures. But there is nothing wrong with that, on the contrary! The house will take on a funny and certainly unique look. Dress up a tree with your children, imagine it as a game, give free rein to their imagination and creativity. Together you will create your own original style, imbued with the spirit of the New Year and Christmas.
White Christmas tree looks very elegant in multi-colored toys.
Do you want to pleasantly surprise your relatives and children? Quirky curved Grinch tree will delight everyone around you.
Christmas tree decoration ideas for children's room.
If you just want home warmth and comfort, look at these cute, inviting Christmas trees.
Do you prefer more lush decoration? Use extravagant decorations, ribbons, twigs of other plants.
Replace the red with apple green and cream. Add more natural elements: cones, flowers, twigs, figures of birds or animals. And create your own unique one, natural, elegant style.
Do you love the sea and the beach? Show your love, decorate the Christmas tree in a nautical theme! Shells, dried starfish, ropes, anchors - these are the decor that reflects the marine style.
I want to decorate a white Christmas tree in modern style? How do you like the combination of white, black and gold decor with stripes and polka dots? Black feathers with shiny golden tips look very exotic.
You might think, black trees- a little sad and depressing. However, if you decorate them properly, they will look gorgeous. Rich metal jewelry in the colors of gold and silver, as well as white and lilac, look best on them.
Do the last two options above seem too eccentric? Dress up a living tree using black and white decorations, photographs and garlands with printed words. The Christmas tree will look very original!
Bright red ribbons are a beautiful classic, but worth adding checkered texture, and the tree will instantly transform.
Two types of ribbons, medium and small balls, several large elements and twigs - this is the recipe for a luxurious New Year's decorations.
White, silver and pink colors harmonize wonderfully with each other. Long live romance!
Without the pink color, the design is no less touching and light, maybe more wintery. But when evening comes, when the lights come on, image of the snow queen melts before our eyes.
Look how delicate the Christmas tree looks with white flowers and balls, lightly dusted with artificial snow (pictured on the left). The Christmas tree in the photo on the right looks great due to silver-violet color scheme.
New Year is not always snowy, but you can always create winter's tale in the house. Wrap your Christmas tree in a thick snow blanket that will remind you of winter from childhood or winter trips to the mountains.
But what’s interesting is that there is a general trend emerging do not decorate the Christmas tree. Maximum naturalness. Only the bottom of the tree is decorated. As they say, everything ingenious is simple.
Christmas decorations- mainly toys designed specifically for decorating a holiday tree.
Decorating a Christmas tree is an ancient custom that in ancient times had the character of a religious rite. In the Soviet Union, a Christmas tree is a fun children's holiday dedicated to the New Year, a holiday that coincides with the winter holidays of schoolchildren. Decorating the New Year tree has come into everyday life as a children's holiday, during which, along with a decorated tree, a living fairy tale with its fantastic plots and characters enters every home, school, club, kindergarten, and nursery. Items used to decorate the Christmas tree were made bright, colorful, and elegant so that the tree had a festive look.
In the design of Christmas tree decorations, the element of fairy tales plays a big role - goldfish, Santa Clauses, Snow Maidens, fantastic birds and animals. Even the most ordinary decorations made of cardboard and paper can have decorative colors that do not exist in reality. The themes of Christmas tree decorations are very diverse: fruits, vegetables, trees, animals, human figures, household utensils and apartment furnishings, houses, means of all types of transport, characters from fairy tales, decorative items (beads, tips, balls, pendants, etc.).
During the Soviet period, a wide variety of materials were used to make Christmas tree decorations in various combinations and combinations. The materials had to be light so that the objects made from them would not burden the branches of the tree with their weight. All flammable items, especially cotton wool, had to be impregnated with a fire-resistant composition. For the same fire safety reasons, the use of celluloid toys to decorate the Christmas tree was not recommended.
Based on the raw materials and processing technology, Christmas tree decorations can be divided into the following main groups:
1) made of glass (balls, tops or spiers, various pendants, figures of people and animals, beads, etc.);
2) made of cardboard (cardboard): a) stamped (animals, birds, fish, human figures, etc.), b) glued (lanterns, bonbonnieres, houses, baskets, firecrackers, flags, etc.);
3) from tinsel and foil (garlands, Christmas tree “rain”, stars, flowers, baskets, etc.);
4) made of cotton wool (Santa Clauses, fruits, mushrooms, figures of people and animals);
5) items for lighting the Christmas tree (electric garlands, candles, candlesticks).
Christmas tree decorations made of glass- one of the main types of Christmas tree decoration. Without objects (toys) made of glass, the Christmas tree would look poor and boring. The surface of the glass, having an almost mirror-like shine, reflects the Christmas tree lights, endlessly repeating their reflections, and this creates an enchanting picture. Glass Christmas tree decorations are blown from glass darts (tubes). Glass blowing can be done by mouth or mechanically - using compressed air on special blowing units. In domestic production, automatic blowing of the simplest types of spherical-shaped decorations from molten glass mass was mastered on rotary machines that produce radio tubes, electric lamps and other glass products. The technique of blowing items for a Christmas tree from glass tubes is simple: a piece of glass dart (tube), heated on a burner, is melted at one end, and air is blown into it from the free end, which expands the walls of the dart in a heated place to a given size. To ensure the correct shape of the product, the dart is slowly rotated from time to time during the blowing process. While the product has not yet cooled down or after additional heating, you can make deflections (holes), stripes (corrugation) or spotlights (recesses) in it with a sharpened stick. This processing is called hand molding. Stamping is done in metal split molds, the inner walls of which have the exact relief of the product. The molded products undergo further processing - silvering, painting and trimming the stem. A cap is put on the processed products, after which the jewelry is packed in boxes, and those that are included in sets are packed in cardboard boxes.
Automatic glass blowing for Christmas tree decorations is carried out on automatic carousel-type units. The molten glass mass from the melting furnace enters in strictly dosed quantities into the nests of a slowly rotating machine, where compressed air is supplied using a compressor, blowing the glass mass into a hollow product of a given relief. The finished products are sent to another machine for cutting the stem. Further processing and finishing of the product is carried out in the usual manner.
According to the finishing method, glass Christmas tree decorations were divided into the following groups:
1) silver plated (amalgamated);
2) painted, including painted with silver;
3) artistically painted on silver, on colored clear or colored glass.
For silver-plated products, mainly colorless (transparent) glass was used. Lead glass could not be used to make such products, since it gives a dark tint to the amalgam.
Christmas tree decorations made of glass in the USSR were made in a varied assortment, which included: spherical or elliptical objects, smooth and with various reliefs; tops in the form of conical tips or five-pointed stars; conical faceted corrugated lanterns; fruits, vegetables, fruits, pine cones, acorns, pears, grapes, etc.; birds and fish, sometimes with inserted tails; figures of animals - dogs, deer, swans, ducks; these products are good in silver, as well as in white and colored glass in combination with one another; dishes and household utensils - samovars, teapots, jugs, vases, etc., they can be silver, painted or with artistic designs; items of equipment - airships, parachutes, boats, cars, tanks; products assembled from small beads and glass beads - airplanes, bicycles, chandeliers, traffic lights, etc. Their shapes are largely conventional, which is due to the characteristics of the source material.
Christmas decorations. Moscow Christmas tree decoration plant
Christmas tree decorations made of cardboard made from thin, good quality wood cardboard.
They were divided into three groups:
1) stamped cardboard,
2) glued cardboard,
3) firecrackers, flags and lanterns.
Stamped cardboard made by stamping in metal molds. Each product consisted of halves, glued together after stamping and die-cutting. Some complex toys (for example, birds, etc.) had additional details. To give the toys a more elegant look, cardboard sheets were covered with aluminum or bronze potting paper before going into production. Sometimes the pasting was done with white paper followed by coloring. For hanging on the Christmas tree, a small loop of thick colored thread was glued into the toy. To paint stamped cardboard, aniline powder paints dissolved in alcohol varnishes or nitro varnishes were used. The painting was done with a spray gun, only some details were painted on by hand (eyes, fins, mouths, etc.). Additional finishing materials included cellophane, colored paper, and rolled paper. The range of stamped cardboard included the following products: stars, comets, shells; animals and birds, insects, fish, reptiles; human figures and various characters from fairy tales; transport items (airships, airplanes, etc.); household items (watches, etc.).
Glued cardboard It was cut out along the cutting contour using die cuts and glued together with light wood glue. The finishing material was glued in the form of stripes, folds and pleats. The finishing material was different types of paper - potal, crepe, glossy, cigarette, as well as textiles of bright colors - silk, plush, velvet, satin and chintz, ribbons, paper lace, soutache, relief pictures and tinsel. The assortment of laminated cardboard included a variety of products: various houses, furniture, household utensils and toys, decorative baskets and bonbonnieres, various lanterns, animal figurines, and transport items. All products made from laminated cardboard had to have hangers for fastening, except for baskets and bonbonnieres, in which a handle could be used for hanging.
Firecrackers were made by pasting a cardboard cylinder with different types of paper and cellophane, trimmed with different types of paper and cellophane, trimmed with paper lace at the ends of the cylinder at both of its edges and tightened tightly. Surprises in the form of caps, half masks, aprons and other paper products were placed into firecrackers of various sizes.
Flashlights of different shapes were made from corrugated paper. The corrugation was made in the form of an accordion so that the lanterns could be folded. The bottoms and rim were made of cardboard. A wire eyelet was attached to the upper rim.
Checkboxes were made from colored paper or from paper on which a design was printed in several colors. The flags were strung on a thread or braid into garlands consisting of an equal number of flags. Each garland must have free ends of thread or braid at least 15 cm long on each side. The folded garlands were tied into bundles and sealed with a paper parcel.
Christmas tree decorations made of papier-mâché and other pressed paper and wood pulps. Small figures for the Christmas tree, as well as Santa Clauses, Snow Maidens, etc., were made from papier-mâché and other pressed paper-wood masses. For the manufacturing process, see.
Christmas tree decorations made of tinsel. Tinsel is a cord or thread twisted from metal wire, silk or paper thread. Tinsel threads can be copper, brass, or silver plated. Decorations were not made from tinsel threads alone; the threads were used only as additional material in various types of products. Loops were made from tinsel, on which decorations were hung from the tree, bonbonnieres were tied with tinsel threads, and they served as finishing for products made of cardboard and cotton wool. Christmas tree decorations made from tinsel included the following types of products.
Christmas tree decorations made from flattened. Plushenka is a thin copper, silver-coated or brass wire, flattened into a flat strip (hence its name), with a cross-section from 6.025 to 0.05 mm. Garlands, stars, comets, rain, sun were made from flattened stuff; It was also used to decorate objects made of glass, cardboard and cotton wool. The flattened tree has a significant reflective surface - it shines very effectively among the Christmas tree branches and gives the tree a special elegance.
Christmas tree decorations made from gimp. Gimp is the thinnest copper or brass wire, silver-plated, rolled into a thin spiral. Gimp, in contrast to flattened material, has a matte shine, it is very elastic, easily stretches, taking the most intricate shapes. Various figures and frames made of wire are braided with gimp in different directions, resulting in elegant decorations - butterflies, beetles, swans, flowers, fruits.
Christmas tree decorations made of foil. Foil is a thinly rolled sheet of aluminum or other metal. Beautiful rosettes and stars of various configurations and sizes are made from this material. They are assembled from separately stamped parts, painted with colored varnish in one or more colors.
Christmas tree decorations made of cotton wool. This group primarily includes Santa Clauses.
Santa Clauses- a traditional figure in the assortment of Christmas tree decorations. This is a children's favorite character from folk tales and literary works. Good-natured and cheerful, he was almost always depicted carrying a Christmas tree and a bag of gifts in one hand (or on his shoulder), and a gnarled old man’s stick-staff in the other. Santa Clauses were usually made on stands ranging in size from 15 to 75 cm, but there were also smaller (hanging) figurines - 10-12 cm. The basis of the figure of large Santa Clauses is a frame made of wood or wire. A head (mask) was attached to the upper part of the body. The hands were made of wire. The entire structure (base) was enveloped in shavings, crumpled paper and gray wool, after which a surface layer of cotton wool was wound and glued with potato starch. Sometimes clothes were made from crepe paper. Santa Clauses were dressed in winter clothes of various styles, but mainly these clothes were an imitation of a tanned or cloth-covered sheepskin coat or jacket. The hat was usually made fluffy with a top in the color of the fur coat. The figure was fixed on a stand covered with cotton wool after the entire structure was wrapped in cotton wool. In addition to the figures of Santa Clauses, large figures of Snow Maidens, as well as skiers, skaters, etc. were made from the same materials. In addition to Santa Clauses made from cotton wool, these figures were also made from sawdust using the hot pressing method. Such figures are more durable and strong than cotton ones. Santa Clauses were also produced, made by paper casting using vacuum machines. Some enterprises produced Santa Clauses using a combined method: the front relief part of the head, hands, etc. was stamped, and the rest of the body was processed by hand. The cotton figures were painted with aniline paints, while the pressed ones were painted with oil paints. Cotton Christmas tree decorations were covered with “snow,” which was made from crushed glass with a fixative made according to a special recipe approved by the State Sanitary Inspectorate. The fixative did not allow the “snow” to fall off. The glue used in the manufacture of Christmas tree decorations from cotton wool contained fire-resistant components to protect the cotton wool from ignition.
Christmas tree lighting. The Christmas tree is especially impressive when brightly lit. The tree was lit with special candles inserted into candlesticks, electric bulbs or garlands of electric lamps. Candlesticks for the Christmas tree were stamped from tin or made of wire. The candlesticks had different devices: 1) with a clip that held the branch like a clothespin; 2) with balance - balancing weight.
For making candlesticks White and black tin 0.3-0.5 mm thick, alcohol and nitro varnishes, and enamel paints were used. The cup of the candlestick into which the candle was inserted had to be no narrower than 0.7 mm and should not be tapered, otherwise the candle would fall out. The candlestick was supposed to have a socket for draining stearin, an elastic spring or a balance that ensured the balance of the candle.
Christmas tree candles were made from paraffin and sold by weight in packs of 25 pieces.
Electric garlands made from small electric lamps. They came with parallel and serial connections. Light bulbs could be simple or figured. Electric garlands were designed for a network of 120 and 220 V.
Christmas tree toy “Snowflake”
Production of Christmas tree decorations in the USSR. Christmas tree decorations were produced by enterprises of the Union industry, mainly the Ministry of Radio Engineering Industry, the Ministry of Electrical Engineering Industry, the Ministry of Instrument Making, as well as industrial cooperation. Industrial cooperative artels produced all types of Christmas tree decorations. The local industry of the Union republics, mainly the RSFSR and the Ukrainian SSR, produced Christmas tree glass, cardboard and cotton decorations. The main production bushes were located near large glass factories - suppliers of dart glass. Historically established industries were located in the Moscow region (Klinsky district), in the Kalinin and Leningrad regions, in Moscow and Leningrad, as well as in Ukraine in Kyiv. New enterprises organized during the Soviet period were also grouped mainly in these same places. The best factory of the Ministry of Local Industry of the RSFSR was located in Moscow - the glass Christmas tree decoration factory of the Moscow City Executive Committee Toy Trust. In Moscow there was a factory of cardboard Christmas tree decorations of the same ministry. Large cooperative enterprises for the production of Christmas tree glass were the Optik artel, the Red October artel (beads), as well as the Reshetnikovsky Glass Blowing artel, the Yuzhno-Alferovskaya factory of local industry (Christmas tree glass), the Cooperative Labor artel (cotton decorations, Santa Clauses and other figures made of cotton wool). In Leningrad, the leading role in the production of Christmas tree glass was played by the Kultigrushka artel. Enterprises in Kyiv, Saratov, Lvov, Sverdlovsk, Yerevan, Riga, Minsk and others also produced Christmas tree decorations in a wide range.
Christmas tree toy “Apple”
Requirements for the quality of Christmas tree decorations. For Christmas tree decorations made of glass, it was required that the shape of the products be correct, without noticeable curvature, so that the walls were not too thin and could withstand a light blow with a relaxed finger, so that the silvering was uniform and not dull. Products painted or painted should not have stains or drips on the surface and should not stain hands. It was required that the glass powder, diamond dusting and relief paints did not fall off, that the cutting of the stem (neck) was even, and that the steel wire loop did not fall out of the hole in the stems.
The main requirements for the quality of tinsel products were that these products be well decorated: the pile of the rolled tinsel was evenly and neatly trimmed, and its surface had no dark spots. Stamped products made from cardboard were required to have a dense surface without burrs or fringed edges, without folds, cracks, or torn areas on the surface, so that they would be embossed. When gluing, the products had to have tightly and evenly fitted edges, without glue drips or dirty smears on the surface. The extremities of stamped products with only one front side were tinted from the inside. The laminated cardboard had to be well finished, properly shaped, free of stains, and strong enough for shipping and packaging. The firecrackers were required to have the correct cylindrical shape, be neatly glued together, without stains, and the paper lace of the firecrackers should not be wrinkled. The lanterns had to have a well-attached wire eye on which they were hung from the tree.
Packaging and labeling. Most Christmas tree decorations, due to their fragility, need good packaging. Glass Christmas tree decorations, assembled in sets, were packaged in cardboard boxes lined with cotton wool or lignin inside. Products with artistic designs or decoration were wrapped in soft paper. The boxes were tied with twine and placed tightly in a box with soft padding on all sides. Individual items could be packed with the same precautions in boxes without boxes. When packaging, the use of raw cushioning materials and raw containers was not allowed. Packaging must be careful and tight - without empty spaces; products were selected according to size. On the top lid of the box there were inscriptions: “Top”, “Caution”, “Glass”, “Do not throw”. A packaging label of the established pattern is placed inside the box and glued to the outside. When packaging, tinsel garlands were tied in 10-15 pieces and sealed with paper tape in two places, after which 10 packs were tied. The garlands had to be laid in rows in long boxes (the entire length of the garland) not very tightly so as not to wrinkle the pile of the garland. Paper was placed in the boxes between the rows. In addition, the box had to be lined with paper inside. “Sun” and “comets” were tied together with thin wire, 10 pieces each, and placed in bags, boxes or plywood boxes. Christmas tree “rain” was packed in envelopes of 10 pieces and in packs of 100 envelopes. Stars, wreaths and other Christmas tree decorations were tied with soft wire or ties, 10 pieces per pack. Products made from gimp and rolled paper twisted on wire are placed in boxes and plywood boxes, and large products, in addition, were pre-wrapped in paper. Cotton Santa Clauses were placed in boxes one by one, small ones - several pieces in boxes and then placed in containers. The boxes, bags and boxes in which Christmas tree decorations were packaged had to have a label indicating the name of the product, quantity, name and address of the manufacturer.
Small Christmas tree. Set of Christmas tree decorations.
Sets of Christmas tree decorations and various individual types of products, laid out in symmetrical groups, were displayed in glazed counters. Tinsel garlands, Christmas tree rain, and flags looked elegant when they were hung on nails, brackets and other hanging devices. Carnival masks and streamers were also hung on wall cabinets.
To make it easier for customers to select Christmas tree decorations, it would be desirable to have in the store demonstrative lists of sets of different prices, made up of available Christmas tree decorations. To display Christmas tree decorations, lit, decorated Christmas trees of various sizes were recommended, installed in a store or on a rotating stand.
Christmas decorations. Factory of glass Christmas tree decorations and optical products
New goods. 1960. No. 5
With a diploma from the All-Union Chamber of Commerce
In a spacious and high room with a complex gas supply and ventilation system, the hum of burners does not stop from morning to evening. There are glassblowers at the burners. Their products (although they are not table crystal or decorative glass) are known throughout the Soviet Union and in many foreign countries. Glass Christmas tree decorations are made here, without which no New Year's holiday is unthinkable. 450,000 - 500,000 products worth about 600,000 rubles are produced per month by this section of the glass and optical toys plant of the Department of Printing Industry and Cultural Goods of the Moscow City Executive Committee. In 1960, for the systematic mass production of high-quality consumer goods, by decision of the Expert Council of the Permanent Pavilion of the Best Samples, the plant was awarded a III degree diploma with an annual bonus of 20,000 rubles.
Now the plant team is working on mastering the production of souvenirs from optical ground and polished glass. And yet, the main product of the plant remains glass Christmas tree decorations. At exhibitions in Budapest, Brussels and New York, visitors admired bright, festive pendants, figurines, balls...
It would seem like a simple product - a Christmas tree toy. But how much imagination, ingenuity, patience and labor the factory workers put in so that, reflecting the light of the bulbs, the decorations with multi-colored lights would sparkle on the Christmas tree.
Over 200 types of Christmas tree toys - this is the range of products of the plant. They go on sale individually and in beautifully designed boxes with a cellophane-covered window. And almost every month more and more new types of jewelry appear. This is a great merit of the plant’s artist T.I. Sergeeva. Based on her sketches, shapes are created and toys are painted. Only recently have interesting sets appeared: “Doctor Aibolit”, “Figured”, “Bells”, “Gray Neck”, “Silver Hoof”, “Friendship of Peoples”, etc. Among the Christmas tree toys are characters familiar to children from stories, poems and fairy tales : Doctor Aibolit, grandfather Kokovan, Daryonka, Father Frost, Snow Maiden, Little Red Riding Hood, animals and birds - hare, duck, fox, penguin...
It's hard to believe that all these toys are born from simple glass tubes (glass-dart) produced by the Klin and Skhodnensky glass factories. The tubes are calibrated and sent to glassblowers, who give them the required shape. In the hands of glassblowers A.K. Chernykh, M.M. Kondrashina, N.K. Deryabkina, V.V. Chirikina, G.P. Evgrafova, V.I. Romashkina and their workmates, “dead” glass tubes come to life.
But what glassblowers make is only a semi-finished product or, as they say, “golyo.” Often “golyo” is silvered or aluminized. Aluminizing is a more progressive method that displaces silver plating. The installation of two aluminizing machines allowed the plant to save 100 kg of silver per year and reduce the labor-intensive production process.
Some toys are coated with clear or colored varnish; in some cases they are painted with an airbrush.
The next processes are drying and painting. An ornament is applied to the toys with a brush or a “stick” (through a piece of paper rolled into a bag). Toys are painted with white and nitro enamel of various colors, also using spray guns. The best colorists of the Christmas tree toys section are R. A. Vaskina and L. N. Poluektov. The ornament they applied, subtle in design and fresh in color, adorns the products.
After coloring, the Christmas tree decorations are processed using a mechanical disc knife (trimming the so-called “whiskers”), metal clothespins or caps are put on them and wrapped in paper or packaged in set boxes.
There was widespread competition among the teams of the Christmas tree decorations site for the right to be called communist labor collectives. The head of the site, I.V. Khayustin, calls the members of the youth brigade R.I. Eremeeva the best among the best.
Other sections of the plant are also operating successfully. The annual gross output is constantly growing, having already reached 17 million rubles. It is not for nothing that the high performance of the plant’s staff was noted by the CPSU Republic Committee and the District Executive Committee of the Stalin District of Moscow.
In the near future, it is planned to install a centering and sticker machine at the plant, and launch a refrigeration unit, which will greatly facilitate the removal of semi-finished optical products after processing. This will greatly increase product output and raise its quality even higher.
Christmas tree decorations “Baby”
Christmas tree toy “Bird”
