Many people know the joyful thrill of anticipating the New Year when they open a box of carefully stacked fragile treasures - Christmas tree decorations.

The Christmas tree is both a symbol of the holiday and a wonderful occasion to bring the households together in a common creative activity.

Everyone, without exception, likes making Christmas decorations. This family tradition is hundreds of years old. The process of making Christmas decorations is enjoyable, beautiful and entertaining. It puts children and adults alike in a festive mood and creates a wonderful bonding atmosphere.

Paper Dolls - a good old-fashioned game from Victorian times VictorianStyle Paper Doll

Many sources claim that the first Christmas decorations appeared at the end of the 18th century.

In those days it was fashionable to decorate Christmas trees with gold-plated cones, silver-plated stars made from straw, and angel figurines made from foil.

Christmas angel

According to one version, on the eve of 1842, the queen's husband Victoriaprince Albertdescended from a German lineage of dukes Saxe-Coburg-GothaIn accordance with his country's old custom, he had the ceremonial hall Windsor palace, a decorated Christmas tree.

The next morning, a popular English magazine, The Illustrated London News, published a pictorial sketch depicting an unusual picture from the royal palace. This is how the German tradition of decorating the Christmas tree entered British homes. As early as the following year, in the run-up to the holiday, Norwegian spruces began to be supplied to London, which were decorated with homemade toys, biscuits and small bags of sweets.

Christmas balls made of cardboard

In Russia, according to one of the most beautiful versions, the first Christmas decorations came about thanks to the wife of Nicholas I, Alexandra Feodorovna, who was born and raised in Prussia. It was she who ordered the installation, in the palace of the imperial family, of the first Christmas tree with garlands, candles and toys. In those days, glass Christmas decorations were incredibly expensive. The dealers charged 20 roubles for a single ball. For the same amount of money, you could buy a whole cow.

Paper Christmas tree balls

The production of Christmas tree decorations in those years was underdeveloped, and everything used to decorate the tree was either imported from Germany or handmade. The decorations consisted of symbols of historical events. Apples represented the Tree of Good and Evil, candles and angels represented purity, the six-pointed star on the top commemorated the miracle of the Nativity in Bethlehem.

After the 1917 revolution, it was forbidden to celebrate Christmas and decorate Christmas trees. But even the mightiest of leaders could not eradicate this tradition. During the period of persecution, people still decorated trees and the most beautiful and unusual Christmas decorations were secretly made by hand. In 1935, the Christmas tree was returned to Soviet people's everyday life, but already in the role of a festive tree for the New Year.

Paper and clay mushrooms

Even in the hardest of times, during the Great Patriotic War of 1941-1945, New Year's Eve was celebrated.

In the military bunkers at the front line, Christmas trees were decorated with toys rolled out of bandages, cartridge cases, and cuirasses, which, for the duration of the holiday, were replaced by branches of the forest beauty. The tree raised morale and reminded us of peaceful life and home.

Textile Christmas tree decorations

With each new phase in Russian life, the New Year beauty's outfit changed. The Christmas decorations, like a kaleidoscope, reflect the history of the country and every day of its life. Portraits of leaders on the Christmas glass balls alternate with images of military subjects, Soviet heroes and the achievements of the national economy.

Christmas souvenirs. France.

Now we live in an amazing time: we can open up the past of many generations, we can not only buy an ordinary "shop-bought" toy, but also create our own, the most original and unique one. We can decorate our Christmas tree with anything we want, from glass balls and candy to homemade toys and fairy tale characters.

Textile Christmas tree decorations. Sweden.

Every country, every nation, has its own traditions, styles and secrets of handmade Christmas decorations, which are carefully preserved and maintained. Christmas decorations are handed down from generation to generation. They are carefully restored, treasured and cherished.    

Paper Christmas tree decorations. Denmark.

It's easy to make your own Christmas decorations. You can use whatever materials you can find around the house - paper, cardboard, fabric, newspapers, thread and more.

But perhaps the most precious thing about a handmade toy is the love and warmth it contains. Can you imagine how proud a child would be to show off their creation - a balloon or a cheerful, paper elephant that they made together with their loved ones!

Now is the perfect time to think about what your home will look like over the festive period, and the great mood created by creating together will certainly be assured!

Photos taken from open sources on the Internet

With love and respect, Tatiana Kalinina 

@tatakalinyshka