New Year’s atmosphere of St. Petersburg

A bit of history.

They began to celebrate the New Year at the behest of Peter I. It was he who set the date 31.12 and ordered the townspeople to decorate their homes. Those who were constrained in funds were allowed to use coniferous branches, who were richer, had to decorate whole trees. Sweets were used as decorations. nuts, vegetables. After the death of the tsar, the tradition was resumed under the reign of Catherine, and the first tree decorated with lights appeared in 1852.

After the revolution of 1917, Christmas trees were banned. And only in 1935 did they decide to return the holiday to the children and were allowed to celebrate the New Year. It was then that the star on the top of the tree turned red, and portraits of politicians appeared as decorations. Then the Soviet champagne appeared. In 1937, a whole festive program was organized: fairs were organized on Palace Square, and the Alexandria Column was decorated with food – this was supposed to symbolize abundance and prosperity.

The Great Patriotic War did not become an obstacle to celebrating the New Year.

In the 50s, the main component of the holiday was a feast: Olivier, jellied meat, sprats, and herring under a fur coat appeared.

In the 60s and 70s, in conditions of shortage, it was necessary to prepare in advance, sometimes within a year, and when preparing the New Year’s table to include imagination. But, at the local factories, they began to produce Christmas tree decorations in large quantities.

In the 80s, New Years began to be celebrated more often outside the home. The film “Irony of Fate” appeared.

In the 90s, everyone’s tables were different due to financial inequality. After the feast, everyone went for a walk. In 1991, they began to celebrate Christmas.

In the 2000s, the holiday finally returned to the city – the authorities began to spend large sums on its decoration and festive events.

Starting from the end of November, a certain pre-New Year activity has already been noticed. New Year’s assortment appears in stores, the city is beginning to be decorated. People hang glowing garlands on the windows. Think about gifts.

From mid-December you can already admire the city’s decorations, and not only in the center, but in the center, splendor in all its glory.

 

 

 

Decorated Christmas trees are everywhere, shop windows compete in the sophistication of providing a New Year’s miracle.

 

A Nativity scene appears at the Kazan Cathedral, music sounds from it, the dome is decorated with a projection, the Christmas tree shines.

 

Moving along Nevsky Prospekt, the main central street of the city, observing elegant decorations, glowing windows, promoters in Santa Claus costumes, street performers with a fire show, one cannot help but be imbued with the New Year’s bustle.

A gingerbread house with augmented reality was installed on Malaya Konyushennaya street. You need to scan the QR code and download the application. Then you can look inside the house from the smartphone screen, see how Santa Claus is preparing for the New Year and various New Year’s stories.

 

And finally, we go to the main tree on the Palace Square. We are already greeted by glowing horse-drawn carriages. And here it is, the main tree.

Since 2014, according to a survey of townspeople, it has become artificial, but officials are not averse to returning the real one by 2021. The question, of course, is controversial. The technology of growing Christmas trees in forestry came to us from the west, in particular from Denmark. It is Danish spruce that is different. dense and beautiful needles. It takes 6-7 years to grow a tree of the correct conical shape up to 2 m high.

Now you can get a Christmas tree for free in one of the city’s forestries. You can pick up only one tree, no more than 3 meters high. The felling takes place in the places of gas pipelines, linear objects, along the canals of roads where the growth of trees is not provided and they will still be cut down.

 

From the middle of December, New Year and Christmas markets begin with a special holiday atmosphere. You can find interesting handmade gifts, designer gingerbread and much more. Everyone comes here for something of their own, and for the mood as well.

 

 

Mice have settled on Manezhnaya Square – not real, but a symbol of 2020: an ice rink, merry-go-rounds, a stage with entertainment events, a light and music show and a fair representing different countries of the world.

 

 

On the 20th of December, Christmas bazaars appear. The sale of live Christmas trees begins. It is enough to feel the smell of fresh spruce needles to travel back to childhood and recharge with New Year’s energy.

Unsold trees usually go to charities, woodworkers, the zoo, food and bedding for herbivores, orphanages, hospitals and temples.

The art spaces of St. Petersburg also begin New Year’s events, fairs, exhibitions and master classes, for example, on creating New Year’s wreaths, culinary master classes.

Even educational institutions do not stand aside. The Stieglitz Academy, or “Muche”, for example, is a great celebration of design and applied arts. You can buy designer brooches, interior design items, etc.

The planetarium, theaters and palaces also hold New Year’s programs for children and adults. You can listen to the New Year’s organ.

The oldest film studio “Lenfilm” also holds New Year’s trees with the opportunity to take part in staging or shooting a New Year’s film.

And the excursion companies of St. Petersburg offer various events, including visits to clubs and bars in St. Petersburg, from 6 to 12 institutions at a time.) This is if it is difficult to choose one thing.

There are also festive programs in the suburbs of St. Petersburg. You can go to Gatchina for the festival “New Year’s commotion”.

The main city park on the Elagin Island of the Central Park of Culture and Leisure also hosts fairs and events.

Traditionally, the Peter and Paul Fortress will have ice sculptures with a slide for children.

A special train with an interactive entertainment program departs from St. Petersburg, which will take children and adults to Veliky Ustyug, the homeland of Father Frost. Since November 11, Father Frost has traveled across Russia and planned to visit 28 cities.

In the art space New Holland, they also prepared, put up a Christmas tree and huge Nutcrackers, there is also an open skating rink and a New Year’s market with master classes.

 

 

And in order not to freeze, they installed such ovens, in the street cafe they also approached this issue creatively.

A New Year’s retro tram will run around the city, where you can also celebrate the New Year with music and Santa Claus, observing (better snow-covered, but how lucky you are) views of the city center.

And the main wizard himself will arrive in the city on 21.12, light the main tree and announce the start of the Santa Claus race.

In past years, Santa Claus flew in by helicopter and went down in a hot air balloon.

Also in the city begins to run “Grandfather Morobus”. The route is always kept secret. At its stops, cheerful Santa Clauses play fiery melodies and give gifts to residents.

 

This year, the festive city grounds will be in the style of folk art, in the domain of master Danila.

On New Year’s Eve, the metro will operate around the clock, night buses will run.

An entertainment program will take place in every district of the city.

The main thoroughfare of the city, Nevsky Prospekt, will become a pedestrian, small stages will be installed with entertainment programs, dances, songs and competitions. All this will last until 4 a.m. The epicenter of the festival will be the stage on the Palace Square. Everything will start at 11 p.m. and last until 4 a.m. an ice-mirror show is promised. At 3:00 a.m. New Year’s fireworks will be thundered in the water area of ​​the Neva.

 

Everyone expects from the New Year something special, that it will be better than the previous one, and will bring a little closer to the fulfillment of cherished desires. And the anticipation of the holiday is also a special state. When you wait and want to believe in a miracle. Pleasant vanity, choice of gifts, home decoration. . Thinking over the menu for the New Year, everything creates a unique holiday atmosphere.

Happy New Year, everyone!