An elegant, brightly decorated Christmas tree is an important attribute of the New Year and one of the familiar symbols of this winter holiday. What are some interesting and surprising facts related to the New Year tree?
A well-known fact: in Russia they began to put a Christmas tree on a holiday under Peter I. However, not everyone knows that at that time the tree was very rarely decorated. In addition, the emperor did not insist that the tree should become an invariable attribute of the holiday. At that time, it was permissible to replace spruce with juniper or pine. Christmas trees were distributed free of charge to especially poor members of the population before the holidays.
In Slavic culture, spruce symbolizes loneliness and death. In ancient times, for example, suicides were usually buried between two trees growing at a distance from the cemetery. The gloomy image of a Christmas tree is also present in Celtic beliefs. The Celts considered this tree a haven of an evil forest spirit, which could only be bought off by sacrifice with blood. Due to such motives, the Christmas tree as an attribute of the New Year could not take root in different cultures for a long time.
Initially, candles were added to the beauty and brightness of the Christmas tree. Even now, representatives of pagan culture, celebrating not the New Year, but Yule, adhere to the rule of decorating Christmas trees with white candles. But the colored lanterns familiar to everyone appeared only in 1882. It was only after 1895 that garlands were traditionally decorated with garlands.
From the point of view of magical rites and traditions, it is necessary to decorate the Christmas tree for the New Year strictly on December 30th. Moreover, this should be done in the morning. Then you need to start making wishes. The Christmas tree in magic seems to be a special conductor between a person and higher magical powers that will help fulfill dreams.
The special magic of the New Year tree can have a positive effect on family relationships. To do this, you should put a decorated Christmas tree in the left side of the room, in which the main celebration of the New Year will take place.
Even if artificial trees are popular, they are not able to positively affect human health. Experts have proven that a living tree in a house can absorb up to 70% of all dust and harmful substances that are present in the air.
For the first time, non-natural trees were used for the holiday in Germany. It happened back in 1774. At that time, artificial spruce was made from goose feathers.
