home

The history of the Christmas (New Year) tree from the 16th century to the present day. Coniferous quiz Which country is considered the historical birthplace of the Christmas tree?

Simple winter quiz

1. How many rays does a snowflake have? (Six.)

2. When is it better to prepare firewood: in summer or winter? (In winter, since the sap flow process stops and the wood is dry.)

3. Why do snow patterns appear on the inside of window glass in winter? (In winter, the air near the window glass cools down greatly and some of the water vapor from it settles on the cold glass in the form of ice crystals. Then these crystals begin to branch and grow, “drawing” frosty patterns on the glass.)

4. Where is it colder - the North or South Pole? (At the South Pole.)

5. Why don’t rivers freeze to the bottom even in severe frosts in winter? (Water at a temperature of 4 degrees Celsius has the highest density and is located at the bottom of the river. For this reason, the movement of water in the vertical direction stops and its further cooling does not occur.)

6. On your mitten you saw two snowflakes of different shapes. One is simpler, and the other is a complex openwork pattern. Is it possible to determine by the appearance of these snowflakes which of them fell from a higher and which from a lower height? (Yes. The more complex the shape of the snowflake, the greater the height it fell from, since its whirling in the air was accompanied by the process of crystallization - the addition of new particles of moisture to it, which provided additional sophistication of its shape.)

7. Why are second frames installed in the winter? (The still air enclosed between the two frames, being a poor conductor of heat, prevents the room from freezing in winter.)

8. Why does the air temperature usually rise during snowfall? (This happens because when snow forms, heat is released from droplets of water or water vapor.)

9. Do trees grow in winter? (No, their growth stops in winter.)

10. When do sounds travel faster: in winter or summer? (Sounds travel faster in summer than in winter because in winter the air is denser and therefore the speed of sound is slower.)

Spruce Quiz

1. What beauty dresses up once a year? (Christmas tree.)

2. Which country is considered the historical birthplace of the Christmas tree, and then the New Year tree? (Germany.)

3. When was the Christmas tree born according to the biological passport? (Coniferous trees, including spruce, have ancient origins. They replaced fern-like plants at the beginning of the Mesozoic. It may very well be that the distant ancestors of our Christmas tree were contemporaries of giant dinosaurs. )

4. How they decorated the Christmas tree during A.S.’s childhood. Pushkin? (The Christmas tree in Russia began to be used as a New Year tree from the middle of the 19th century; the future poet did not have a New Year tree during his childhood. )

5. Who wrote the story “The Boy at Christ’s Christmas Tree”? (F.M. Dostoevsky. )

6. How many years does a spruce tree live if it avoids the fate of becoming a New Year's tree? (Spruce lives 300-400 years. Long-lived Christmas trees can live up to 500 years. )

7. Who is the author of the New Year's Eve "Christmas Tree", which tells about how the New Year's tree was decorated in the forest? (V. Odoevsky.)

8. Which popular cartoon told how a peasant, rightly reasoning: “How could it be on New Year’s Day without a Christmas tree!”, followed his wife’s orders to go into the forest to choose one, only it seemed to him that “the size would be too small”? (Cartoon by A. Tatarenko “Last year’s snow was falling”, 1983 )

9. What popular song mentions the unusual style of attire of New Year's trees, literally "trees in triangular dresses"? ("Three White Horses", song from the movie "Sorcerers". )

10. Name the children's writer and storyteller who came up with the Planet of Christmas Trees. (Gianni Rodari.)

11. Name the author of the lines:

It was in January
There was a Christmas tree on the mountain,
And near this Christmas tree
Evil wolves roamed. (A.L. Barto)

12. What does the phraseological unit “tree-stick” mean? (This expression means annoyance, bewilderment, admiration. )

Quiz “Happy New Year!”

1. In the calendar, the last month of the outgoing year is December. Its name comes from the Greek word "deka", which means "ten". However, on the calendar he is twelfth in a row. How can this discrepancy be explained? (This tradition dates back to the calendar of the ancient Romans, according to which (even before Julius Caesar) the beginning of the year was considered March 1. According to this frame of reference, December was the tenth month of the year. )

2. From what literary work are these words: Twelve struck! The year has ended, and a new one has been born! (N. A. Nekrasov. Russian women. )

3. In pre-Petrine Rus', apples were a traditional New Year's treat for the festive feast. Why? (Before the calendar reform of Peter I, the New Year was celebrated on September 1 - at the time when apples were picked.)

4. Which ancient people celebrated the New Year on January 1? (Romans.)

5. Why was December 31st, during the time of Peter I, popularly called “Generous Evening” and Vasiliev’s Evening? (New Year's Eve was called “generous” because a rich table was set, at which everyone who came wishing for a generous year was treated. The same day was celebrated as the day of remembrance of St. Basil. )

6 . In which country can you celebrate New Year the most times? (In India. Here the New Year begins depending on the customs of different states. If you try hard, you can celebrate the New Year more than 30 times in this country. )

7. Name the Russian writer, author of the work “New Year”. (I.A. Bunin.)

8 . Residents of which island do not wait for the New Year, but are actively looking for it? (On Easter Island it is believed that the New Year brings the swallow's egg. The first inhabitant of the island to find it solemnly announces: “The New Year has come!” )

9. What serial number was assigned to the release of the animated series “Well, wait a minute!” with a story about New Year's Eve? (Eighth.)

10. In Japan, the arrival of the New Year is heralded by 108 strikes of the bell, in Russia the Kremlin chimes strike New Year's midnight, and in the UK? (London clock Wig Ben. )

11. What movie is this catchphrase from: “There is an attitude to have fun celebrating the New Year”? ("Carnival Night" .)

Quiz “What if there is no Christmas tree?”

In some countries, due to the hot climate and the lack of coniferous forests or due to national traditions, the New Year's tree (or better yet, a plant) is not the green, prickly, beautiful Christmas tree.

Let's find out what people from different countries decorate their homes with before the New Year holidays.

Since questions on this exotic topic require special knowledge, we will introduce answer prompts with three possible answers - participants need to choose the correct one. Each of them has the same amount of conventional game units, for example, 5 fir cones, or more simply, “shishi”. The host of the competition asks a question, asking you to choose the correct answer. Before entering an active game, the participant assigns a “price” to the question, not exceeding the amount available in his personal account. Further, he can give the answer himself and, if successful, increase his account by the amount of the cost of the question assigned by him or transfer the question to another participant. In any case, only one of the answer options is accepted. If the player to whom the question was passed answered correctly, the “cost” of the question goes to his account, and the account of the previous participant remains unchanged. If the answer is wrong, then both players lose the game “shishi”. The host’s next question is answered by the guest sitting at the festive table to the left (right) of the participant who answered the previous question.

I.Residents of which country make a New Year's bouquet of greetings to the deity of the holiday mainly from pine, bamboo, plum, woven rice straws with the addition of fern and tangerine branches?

1. China. 2. Japan. 3. Thailand.

II.In which country do people decorate their homes with coffee tree branches before the New Year holiday?

1. Nicaragua. 2. Brazil. 3. Kenya.

III.In which country is an unripe green nut considered a New Year's talisman of happiness?

I. Indonesia. 2. Sudan. 3. Argentina.

IV. In which country do they celebrate New Year by a palm tree?

1. Cuba. 2. Nepal. 3. Saudi Arabia.

V.In which country is it customary to decorate houses with mistletoe on New Year's Eve?

1. Norway. 2. Canada. 3. South Africa.

VI.In which country the equivalent of a Christmas tree are branches of holly and mistletoe?

1. Argentina. 2. Mexico. 3. England.

VII.In which country is the familiar spruce replaced by a local tree that blooms with red flowers and is called metrosideros?

1. Ghana. 2. Australia. 3. Singapore.

VIII.In which country on New Year's Eve do they throw bamboo shoots into the fireplace so that they crackle and hiss to scare away evil spirits?

1. Korea. 2. Japan. 3. China.

IX.In which country on New Year's Eve is it customary to give friends a half-blooming twig of hao-dao - a peach tree?

1. Vietnam. 2. New Zealand. 3. India.

X.In which country is the padauk considered a New Year's flower, the short-term flowering of which signifies the onset of the New Year?

1. Cambodia. 2. Myanmar. 3. Indonesia.

Quiz “Tell me what his name is?”

Place three digital signs (from 1 to 3) in different places in your guest room with pictures of a green Christmas tree, Father Frost and Snow Maiden, hung far apart from each other (as far as the dimensions of the apartment allow). Next, the host of the evening asks questions dedicated to Santa Claus, naming three possible answers. Cheerful music is playing. While it is playing, participants must make a choice and take a place under the picture indicating the number of the answer, “correct” from the participant’s point of view.

All those who made the wrong choice are eliminated from the “race”, and those who answered correctly guess the answer to the next question and also receive one of the sweet toys that decorate the small artificial Christmas tree - the keeper of the prize fund.

I. In which country is New Year's grandfather called Lana Pasquale?
1. Mexico. 2.Colombia . 3. Uruguay.

II. In which country is the New Year's grandfather called Grandfather Heat?
1. Panama. 2.Cambodia . 3. Sudan.

III. In which country is New Year's grandfather called Tash Noel?
1. Spain . 2. Czech Republic. 3. Finland.

IV. In which country is New Year's grandfather called Santa Claus?
1. Scotland. 2. Ireland. 3.England

V. In which country is New Year's grandfather called Mikulas?
1. Poland. 2.Czech . 3. Hungary.

VI. In which country is New Year's grandfather called Mosh Jarile?
1. India. 2. Pakistan. 3.Romania .

VII. In which country is New Year's grandfather called Vainakhteman?
I.Austria . 2. Israel. 3. Türkiye.

VIII. In which country is New Year's grandfather called Saint Basil?
1. Greece . 2. Bulgaria. 3. Netherlands.

IX. In which country is New Year's grandfather called Bobbo Natale?
1. France. 2. Spain. 3.Italy .

If there are more questions than there are quiz participants, the “races” begin again for everyone. The number of questions can be increased due to the “oldies” in other countries:

in Germany - Miko-laus;

in Cuba - Baltazar, Gaspar, Melchor;

in France - Pere Noel;

in Finland - Joulupukki;

in Denmark - Julemanden;

in Japan - Segatsu-san;

in China - Dong Che Lao Ren;

in Norway - Ylebukk;

in Panama - Popeye Noel;

in the Netherlands - Sinter Klaas;

in Uzbekistan - Karbobo.

In this article we will talk about the origins of the European custom decorate the Christmas tree and how the features of this tradition changed at different stages of history. We will mainly talk about traditions of Germany and France and, in particular, about the Alsace and Lorraine regions, since it is the capital of Central Alsace that the city is considered the “official birthplace” of the New Year tree, and neighboring Lorraine gave the world such a popular Christmas tree decoration as a glass ball.

Christmas or New Year tree- this is an image that combines numerous fairy tales, legends, childhood memories and for most people symbolizes a joyful moment when everyone, young and old, gathers together to celebrate Christmas or New Year in a cozy atmosphere. We have an inherent need to hope for renewal and light even in the most severe winter, and the origins of this need go back centuries.

As an evergreen tree, the Christmas tree has always had a magical appeal for both pagans and Christians, being an object of desire, the embodiment of warm holidays and meetings with family and friends. The traditions of decorating the Christmas tree have changed over the course of European history and today are of interest as a kind of cultural monument, as a reflection of our past.

The Ancient Origins of Christmas Traditions

The tradition of veneration and ritual use of trees was found among European peoples already in ancient times. The tree was considered a symbol of life among the ancient peoples of Europe and was often decorated with fruits, flowers, and cereals. Thus, the Celts deified trees and believed that spirits lived in them. And, for example, on the day of the winter solstice, the Romans decorated their houses with branches of evergreen trees in honor of the god Janus.

Like many other pagan traditions, this custom was later adopted by Christians, who simply replaced the branches with whole, freshly cut trees. In addition, the popularity of the “Christmas tree” among Christians was facilitated by medieval Christmas mysteries, one of which was dedicated to the story of Adam and Eve, and a spruce decorated with red apples was usually used to depict the tree of paradise.

The Legend of Saint Boniface and the Christmas Tree

According to some reports, the custom of setting up a decorated Christmas tree for Christmas originated in Germany. The "inventor" of the Christmas tree is considered Saint Boniface(675-754) - an English bishop who was engaged in missionary work in Germany, preaching the Christian faith. According to legend, once in a certain Bavarian village Boniface met a pagan tribe that worshiped the sacred oak of the god Thor (according to another version - Odin). To prove to the pagans the powerlessness of their gods, the saint cut down this oak tree, and, to the surprise of the Germans, no powerful spirits emerged from the cut down tree to punish Boniface for his act. Impressed by what they saw, many pagans converted to Christianity.

This legend has the following continuation: before the eyes of the amazed pagans, a young Christmas tree grew in the place of the felled oak tree (in fact, this part of the legend is not confirmed in the life of the saint and is considered a later attempt to Christianize the pagan tradition). Boniface explained to the pagans that the evergreen tree was a symbol of Christ and the strengthening of the Catholic faith, while the fallen oak signified the end of paganism. The next year, all the pagans in the area were already Christians and happily decorated the grown Christmas tree, celebrating the holiday of Christmas, previously unknown to them.

According to another version, with the help of coniferous trees, the crowns of which have a triangular shape, St. Boniface tried to convey the idea of the Trinity to the pagans.

Christmas tree of the 16th century: Christian symbolism

For Christmas celebrations in the 16th century, Europeans began to increasingly use whole young trees instead of branches - common, as already mentioned, in the pagan tradition. Moreover, the most suitable for this purpose were immediately recognized as coniferous trees, because even at the beginning of winter they remain green and serve as the embodiment of hope for a new life, for the renewal of nature.

The earliest documentary evidence, preserved in the humanistic library, tells that for decorating Christmas trees - which were called by the old German word Meyen- were used at that time apples. These are flavorful and crispy. red apples are still known in Germany and Alsace under the name Christkindel Apfel(“Christmas apples”) In Alsace, it is customary to collect them in October and store them until December-February.

Decorating Christmas trees at that time was most often of an official nature, since these trees were mainly installed in squares in front of churches, as well as in front of the town hall and workshop buildings. The green beauty's outfit consisted of two symbolic elements: firstly, actually apples, which recalled the original sin of Adam and Eve, and secondly, host, or wafer (oublie), which served as an indication of the atonement of sins through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ. In the Lyceum Chapel of the Alsatian city of Ageno (Haguenau) ( Haguenau) a fresco of the 15th century has been preserved, in which this symbolism is visually embodied in the form of a tree, the crown of which is clearly divided vertically into two zones: on one side apples hang on the tree, and on the other - wafers.

After Christmas trees began to appear in ordinary homes, the tree was first adopted hang to the ceiling beam, as was previously done with “pagan” branches. After some time, they began to place the spruce in a small tub filled with sand and gravel.

Which Christmas decorations were most common during this period, besides, of course, the aforementioned apples and wafers? Since the beginning of the 16th century, a Christmas tree decoration called Zischgold, which was made from thin metal plates or gilded strips, which added even more shine to the festive decoration of the Christmas tree.

Another similar type of Christmas tree decorations is lametta- gimp, or “rain”, which in France is usually called “angel hair” ( cheveux d'ange). According to some reports, Lyon craftsmen were already making these brilliant Christmas decorations as early as the 15th century.

Is Celeste the birthplace of the Christmas tree?

Although Christmas tree tradition probably existed in Germany and Alsace from about the 12th century, the first written mention of a "Christmas tree" ( Meyen) in this region date back to 1521. This refers to the entry dated December 21, 1521, preserved in humanistic library ( Bibliothèque Humaniste) - an Alsatian city located between and. However, in those days Celeste did not yet belong to France and was called in the German manner: Schlettstadt.

This historical entry in the account book reads: “ Item IIII schillinge dem foerster die meyen an sanctuary Thomas tag zu hieten"("4 shillings - to the forester for protecting the Christmas trees since St. Thomas's Day" (December 21)). Having studied this fragment of city archives, historians have concluded that the custom of decorating houses - primarily, of course, the houses of wealthy citizens - with Christmas trees for Christmas arose in Alsace. As you can see, the authorities of Celeste were forced to spend money to ensure the protection of the forest from plunder by local residents who were trying to get their hands on the coveted Christmas tree.

Several other, later, archival records have also been preserved: for example, a record from 1546 tells that two workers were tasked with building a road into the forest so that it would be easier to get to the spruce trees and cut down the required number of trees. Another record indicates that in 1555 the city authorities, trying to avoid abuses, introduced a ban on cutting down fir trees. Finally, a description has been preserved, compiled in 1600 by the cupbearer of the city hall, Balthasar Beck ( Balthazar Beck) (1580-1641) and dedicated to how the Christmas tree should be decorated and what other customs of that time were associated with the celebration of Christmas in the main hall ( Herrenstube) town hall of Celeste (then Schlettstadt).

In particular, Beck mentions that apples and wafers were used to decorate the tree. He also describes the custom of inviting the children of city council members, the councilors themselves and other municipal employees, who were allowed to “shake” the tree and eat all the delicacies that decorated it. Other Alsatian cities soon joined Celeste. So, in 1539, a Christmas tree was installed in the Strasbourg Cathedral.

In fact, the right to be called " home of the Christmas tree» is disputed by several other European cities. For example, a brief documentary evidence has been preserved that on the Christmas holiday on December 24, 1510, Riga(Latvia) traders danced around a tree decorated with artificial roses before burning it (a clear echo of pagan traditions). There are also malicious Estonians who claim that the first Christmas tree was erected in Tallinn in 1441.

Disputes over where the Christmas tree first appeared have not subsided to this day. sticks to his version, and Church of St. George in December there is an annual exhibition dedicated to christmas tree stories. In addition, in the humanistic library of Celeste, every December, the same archival document from 1521 is exhibited, which allegedly proves that in this Alsatian city the birth of the custom of decorating houses for Christmas with trees.

In any case, apparently, it was here that this custom was documented for the first time in history.

Late 16th - 17th centuries: Protestant traditions of decorating the Christmas tree

In the 16th century, the tradition of having a decorated Christmas tree was firmly rooted in Germany, Austria, Alsace and Lorraine. Moreover, supporters Reformation supported this custom in every possible way, emphasizing the symbolism of spruce as the heavenly Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil.

At the end of the 16th century, under the influence of Protestant circles and the urban bourgeoisie, the custom of giving gifts on the occasion of the end of the year moved from St. Nicholas (December 6) on December 24. From that time on, the Christmas tree was always at the center of the celebrations: it was under it that gifts were now placed. In addition, with the light hand of Protestants, the main character of Christmas becomes not Saint Nicholas (who seemed to them too pagan character), but Baby Jesus (Christkindel), who over time became customary to be depicted as a young girl in a veil, dressed in a white robe and a golden crown with fir branches and candles (one of the hypostases of Saint Lucia). She gives gifts to obedient children, while the terrible buka (grandfather with rods) ( Père Fouettard, and in the Alsatian tradition Hans Trapp), in turn, treats the mischievous people not with tangerines and sweets, but with a whip.

In the second half of the 16th century, the leaders of the Reformation refused to use the nativity scenes (Nativity scenes) adopted by Catholics to celebrate Christmas, since Protestants do not have a doctrine of venerating images. Instead of this Protestants began to develop traditions of decorating Christmas trees- after all, this attribute of Christmas, unlike nativity scenes, does not directly depict either Christ or other biblical characters. Martin Luther proposed that the Christmas tree be considered a symbol of the Tree of Life in the Garden of Eden.

The symbolism of decorating a Christmas tree during this period it remains fundamentally Christian and does not cause any objections in the Lutheran camp. Moreover, devout Protestants, focused on careful attention to the texts of the Old Testament, strongly advocated the use of appropriate decoration for the Christmas tree. Therefore, in addition to traditional red apples and hosts, at the end of the 16th century, multi-colored apples were increasingly being used to decorate the Christmas tree. paper wrappers in the shape of roses and other colors.

These flowers are an allusion to the words Prophet Isaiah about the “root of Jesse”- the tree of Jesse, or the family tree of Jesus Christ ( Wed. "And a branch shall come forth from the root of Jesse, and a branch shall grow out of his root." The symbolism of this type of jewelry indicated the origin and birth of the Savior. In addition to this, the flowers on the tree were reminiscent of the words of an old Christmas carol Es ist ein Ros entsprungen (“The Rose Has Grew”), written just in that era.

The following archival entry in Old German dates back to 1605: “ Auff Weihnachten richtet man Dannenbäume zu Straßburg in den Stuben auf. Daran henket man Roßen auß vielfarbigem Papier geschnitten, Aepfel, Oblaten, Zischgold und Zucker“ (“At Christmas, a fir tree is installed in the living room. The tree is decorated with paper roses, apples, wafers, gold leaves and sugar”).

XVIII-XIX centuries: Christmas - children's holiday

During this period, the religious symbolism of the holiday begins to recede into the background. Instead of apples, a variety of round-shaped delicacies (for example, stuffed nuts wrapped in gold or silver paper) are beginning to be used to decorate Christmas trees.

The place of the guests is now taken by gingerbread, sweets, waffles and traditional delirious (bredele, Also bredela or bradle) - Christmas cookies made from gingerbread dough.

In Alsace, southern Germany and some parts of Switzerland, a special type of bredel, the so-called springerle or sprangerly ( sprengerle or springerle), which are printed aniseed cookies, most often round or heart-shaped. They are baked specifically for Christmas, and this tradition has survived to this day.

In addition to the cookies themselves, special molds for baking these sweets are sold in Alsatian cities. Ceramic relief shapes, or “stamps,” for creating a specific design on dough can be purchased in stores as souvenirs. Previously, such molds were made mainly of wood and decorated with carved scenes of everyday life or compositions based on biblical scenes. More information about traditional Alsatian sweets, souvenirs and folk crafts can be read in the article “Folk crafts, customs and traditions of Alsace" .

The specific form of sweets used to decorate the Christmas tree gradually lost importance in the 19th century and became more and more diverse. Since that time, decorating the Christmas tree and all related traditions have been considered mainly the prerogative of children. Immediately after the end of the Epiphany holiday, at the beginning of January, boys and girls are now invited to “shake” the Christmas tree and “harvest the harvest,” which little sweet tooths do with pleasure.

In the 19th century, gingerbread and bredels began to be additionally decorated with glaze, and sometimes with small colored sprinkles. Decorative pictures with various subjects are glued on top of the sugar or chocolate glaze (these were chromolithographs, most often depicting angels or stars). A small wooden fence, reminiscent of a hedge, is arranged around the trunk of the tree. front garden in front of a traditional peasant house. The space fenced off in this way symbolizes paradise lost due to the Fall of man.

Hence the word Paradiesgartlein(“Paradise Garden”), which is what this Christmas garden was called in Germany. As you can see, Christian symbolism is gradually gaining importance again.

The Christmas tree comes to France and the UK

The support that the leaders of the Reformation provided to the “Christmas tree tradition” explains the rapid spread of the Christmas tree throughout Protestant regions Northern Europe, including Germany and Scandinavian countries. Do not forget that Alsace at that time was part of German world, as well as the neighboring duchies of Lorraine and Austria. All this time, throughout the 17th and 18th centuries, the tradition of putting up a Christmas tree in houses at Christmas was developed in all the mentioned regions.

At the end of the 19th century, after the Franco-Prussian War of 1870, the tradition of decorating the New Year (Christmas) tree finally came to France. The honor of spreading this tradition belongs to the residents Alsace and Lorraine, who, not wanting to become Prussians, after the annexation of their regions to Germany, decided to leave for France, the “land of human rights”, which again became a republic.

Even before this, in 1837, the German wife of the heir to the French throne, Ferdinand Philippe, Duke of Orleans, Lutheran Helena of Mecklenburg-Schwerin, ordered the installation of a Christmas tree in the Tuileries Garden, but then the tradition did not take root. (A century earlier, in 1738, another unsuccessful attempt to introduce the tradition of the Christmas tree at the French court was made by the wife of Louis XV, Marie Leszczynska). Only the influx of immigrants from Alsace and Lorraine predetermined the massive spread of the Christmas tree in France. (By the way, thanks to the same Alsatian settlers, the tradition quickly spread to the United States).

Today a giant christmas tree (sapin de Noel, arbre de Noel) can be seen in the central square of every major French city: in Paris and Rouen, on Stanislav Square in Nancy and on Place Kleber in the city of Strasbourg, which bears the proud name of the “capital of Christmas”. Since about the 1930s, the custom of putting up a decorated Christmas tree at Christmas has been accepted in almost all French homes.

The tradition of Christmas trees, which is typical, was also brought to Great Britain by the ubiquitous Lutherans, namely the husband of Queen Victoria Prince Albert- aka Duke of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha. On his initiative in 1841 Great Britain(more precisely, at Windsor Castle) the first Christmas tree was erected. In 1848, a photograph of the royal family gathered around a Christmas tree appeared in an English newspaper, which was soon circulated in the form of numerous postcards. Court fashion quickly spread among the bourgeoisie, and then among the common people. In the Victorian era, it was believed that a Christmas tree should have six tiers of branches and be placed on a table covered with a white linen. Then it was decorated with garlands, bonbonnieres and paper flowers.

It is curious that even before its appearance in the UK, the tradition of Christmas trees took root in Canada. It was only in the 20th century that this custom finally penetrated into the main Catholic countries of Europe - Italy and Spain.

Christmas tree decorations of the New Age: the invention of the glass ball and other innovations

In the mid-19th century, natural products used to decorate the Christmas tree began to be replaced with artificial ones. In 1858, a terrible drought broke out in the northern Vosges and Moselle, and the harvest of apples and other fruits was extremely poor, so local residents were unable to decorate Christmas trees with live fruits. And then glass blower from the Lorraine village of Götsanbrück ( Goetzenbruck), which is nearby Meisenthal (Meisenthal), came up with the idea of making glass balls in the form of apples and other fruits. After that glass christmas tree decorations gained popularity far beyond Alsace.

Town Meisenthal(Meisenthal) in Lorraine is still famous today for the skill of its glaziers. The head of the Nancy Art School, Emile Galle, worked at this glass factory for over 20 years (from 1867 to 1894): first the designer studied with local masters, and then, having become a mature artist himself, he worked closely with the factory to create his magnificent works. Today in Meisenthal you can visit International Center for Art Glass (Center International d'Art Verrier) and get to know the work of glassblowers better. But this center is not just a museum, but a creative workshop where they regularly experiment with new modern ideas, without forgetting, of course, about traditions. One of the main types of products remains glass balls- almost the most popular Christmas tree decoration today. In addition to balls, local craftsmen make glass decorations in the form of bells, Christmas trees, cones, nuts, birds and many other images.

Besides glass balls, in the 19th century, the rich arsenal of Christmas tree decorations was replenished with numerous angels, dressed in gold or silver foil. Also, gilded spruce trees began to be often used to decorate Christmas trees. cones and stars made from gilt straw and white Bristol board (made from premium paper). Later, a tradition arose to place on the top of the tree star- a symbol of the Star of Bethlehem, which showed the Magi the way to the birthplace of Christ. As an alternative, the top of the tree is sometimes decorated with a spire ( cimier oriental) or a figurine of a golden angel with a Latin inscription Gloria in Excelsis Deo("Gloria").

But the main innovation of this era was the custom of illuminating the Christmas tree with festive lights. Initially, of course, they were used for this purpose. candles- despite the risk of fire (by the way, the first person who came up with the idea of decorating the Christmas tree with candles was, it is believed, Martin Luther, enchanted by the beauty of the starry sky). But since wax was quite expensive, instead of candles they often used oil-filled nutshells with a small floating wick on the surface - or flexible candles that could be wrapped around fir branches. The illumination was not only decorative, but also symbolic, reminiscent of the birth of Christ, who is light of the world. At the beginning of the 20th century, electric garlands appeared, which at first few could afford, they were so expensive.

In the 20th century they also became widespread artificial christmas trees, which were first invented in the 19th century in Germany. Numerous fans of artificial trees today claim that they are cheaper, safer and more convenient than real trees. As for the environmental aspect, debate continues on this issue: there is no consensus as to what causes more harm to nature: cutting down natural trees (the advantage of which is that they are biodegradable) or the production of artificial Christmas trees from polyvinyl chloride with not always safe additives.

Christmas tree in Catholic countries

Only in the 20th century did the custom of decorating a Christmas tree come to the main Catholic countries of Europe - Italy and Spain. For example, in Vatican the tradition of the Christmas tree appeared only in 1982 on the initiative of John Paul II, elected pope four years earlier. At first, not all representatives of the Catholic Church approved of this custom, but gradually the tree became an integral part of Christmas celebrations in the Vatican, and today not a single Christmas is complete without a magnificent tree in St. Peter's Square in Rome.

During the reading of the prayer, the Angel of the Lord on Sunday, December 19, 2004 Pope John Paul II explained to the believers as follows the meaning and symbolism of the Christmas tree: “[...] a traditional Christmas tree is often installed next to the nativity scene - this is also a very ancient tradition associated with glorifying the value of life. In winter, this evergreen spruce becomes a symbol of immortality. It is at its trunk that gifts are usually placed. This symbol also has great Christian significance, since it recalls the Tree of Life and the image of Christ - the highest gift of God to humanity. Thus, the Christmas tree carries the message that life does not stop for a moment and that it is a gift, not material, but valuable in itself, the gift of friendship and love, brotherly mutual assistance and forgiveness, the ability to share and sympathize».

♦♦♦♦♦♦♦

Today there are no specific regulations regarding how a Christmas tree should be decorated. It can be a lush decoration or an ascetic, simple outfit. This can be a modern designer Christmas tree, allowing a person to express his imagination to the maximum. In any case, this evergreen tree remains a symbol of the Christmas holidays and unforgettable childhood experiences.

♦♦♦♦♦♦♦

Used sources .

05.03.2019

Which forest thins out before the New Year?

(New Year's Christmas tree .)

Christmas tree?

(Glass blowers.)

Which country is considered the historical homeland of Christmas and then New Year's Christmas trees?

(Germany.)

When was she born? herringbone according to a biological passport?

(Coniferous trees have an ancient origin. They replaced fern-like plants at the beginning of the Mesozoic. It is very possible that the distant ancestors of our Christmas tree were contemporaries of giant dinosaurs.)

How many years does he live? spruce, what if he avoids the fate of becoming a New Year's tree?

(Spruce lives 300-400 years. Long-lived Christmas trees can live up to 500 years.)

What family do they belong to? Christmas trees?

(To the family pine. )

At what age do you ate Are there bumps?

(At 35 - 40 years old.)

Can spruce to predict the weather?

ate equal to approximately 2 km, and one tree pine trees- six times more. What conclusion can be drawn about the living conditions of these trees?

(Pine grows in drier soils than spruce .)

Why do pine trees ate No?

(Pine - light-loving plant.)

What kind of wood were ship masts made from?

(From pine trees )

What can be obtained from pine needles pine trees?

Pine can be planted to strengthen sands, and spruce No. Why?

(U pine trees the roots go deep into the soil, and ate

How to distinguish a cedar branch pine trees from the branch pine trees ordinary?

(Pine has two needles in a bunch, while cedar needles have five.)

Which forest is darkest - in spruce or pine?

(In spruce.)

Which coniferous

(Spruce . Pianos, balalaikas, and guitars are made from spruce.)

What kind of wood coniferous tree sinks in water?

(Larch .)

Which wood is ours? coniferous wood is not destroyed by water and air and is stored for thousands of years?

(larches . Its wood is used for underwater structures, shipbuilding, etc.)

From which coniferous The interior parts of the Moscow Kremlin buildings are made of wood, does the wood of this tree not rot?

(Larch. )

Which coniferous cedar?

(Sosn y.)

From the seeds of which Eurasian pine trees get butter?

How many pine

(380 pieces. Cedar - 2 pieces, spruce - 30 pieces. And squirrels don’t really like pine cones, they are very resinous.)

In the old days in Rus' they brewed beer using young shoots of this hop instead of hops. coniferous tree. Which one?

(Pines .)

What plant is called "grape" coniferous forests"?

(Juniper.)

coniferous- poisonous?

(Yew berry.)

Name the “pencil” tree.

(Cedar. )

Which coniferous does wood hardly burn and “loves” fires?

(Sequoia evergreen, cultivated in the south of Russia.)

The scientific name of this valued by landscape designers ate – spruce Engelman. And by what “color” name do we know it?

(Blue spruce .)

A forest of aspens is called an aspen forest, and a forest of oaks is called an oak grove. What are the coniferous forests called? oil? Pines? Cedars? Fir?

(Spruce forest, forest, cedar or cedar forest, fir forest.)

Saffron milk caps willingly grow under Christmas trees And pine trees. Spruce mushrooms grow in spruce forests, but what else are the names of pine mushrooms?

(Bog mushroom.)

What forest bird living in the Siberian taiga can remember the location of almost six thousand of its storerooms, in which it hid its supplies for the winter?

(This is smart cedar sheep hiding cedar cones in storage rooms. Her visual memory is larger than that of a human.)

Which plant is not a coniferous: cypress or eucalyptus?

(Eucalyptus.)

Which conifers

(Sequoia.)

What valuable ornamental stone is fossil resin coniferous trees?

(Amber.)

The rod of which ancient god was crowned spruce bump?

(Dionysus, or Bacchus.)

pine trees?

(Winner of the Isthmian Games.)

What wood was Jupiter's scepter made of? Trojan horse? Cupid's arrows?

(Scepter from cypress , horse from ate , arrows from cedar .)

The coat of arms of which Russian city is decorated with a cannon and three Christmas trees?

(Yelnya . Smolensk region, on the Desna River.)

Not only coniferous tree, but also a tributary of the Don.

(Pine .)

Not only pine

(Bor.)

Which tree is depicted on the coat of arms of the city located in the Lipetsk region on the banks of the river Pines?

(Spruce - Yelets city.)

The name of which European country comes from the word “molid” - “ pine»?

(Moldova, Moldova.)

What is a branch often called? coniferous tree: paw, flipper or claw?

(Paw.)

The name of which animal in English combines the words “pig” and “ pine»?

(Porcupine -porcupine. It resembles a pig in its habit of rummaging in the ground and grunting when grazing. Well, pine, of course, with needles.)

The name of which fruit in English consists of two words in one - “ pine" and "apple"?

(Pineapple - pineapple, pine - pine, apple - apple.)

(Pine .)

Not only the drill in the dentist's car, but also pine forest.

(Bor.)

Name the chemical element coniferous forests.

(Bor.)

Which road sign shows coniferous tree?

What do a brawler boy and pine trees?

(Bumps.)

Which, regardless of the thrown seeds, grows in any furrow?

(Pinery - boron ozda.)

Say in one word the phrase “One pine forest”, if this word is the surname of a Russian composer.

(Bor -one is Borodin.)

How they dressed up Christmas tree

(The Christmas tree in Russia began to be used as a New Year's tree from the middleXIXcenturies, the future poet did not have a New Year tree during his childhood.)

Who wrote the story “The Boy at Christ’s Christmas tree»?

(F.M. Dostoevsky.)

(V. Odoevsky.)

What fairy tale was written by G.Kh. Andersen: “Spruce”, “Pine” or “Fir”?

(« Spruce ».)

What tree did Mikhail Lermontov write about “It Stands Lonely in the Wild North”?

(Pine .)

Name the children's writer and storyteller who came up with the Planet of New Year's elo To.

(Gianni Rodari.)

It was in January
stood Christmas tree on the mountain,
And near this one Christmas trees
Evil wolves roamed.

(A. Barto.)

In 1903, Russian writer Raisa Adamovna Kudasheva wrote the poem “ Christmas tree" Quote the first two lines, known to absolutely everyone.

("Born in the forest herringbone …»)

that wooden man was planed from Italian pine trees That's why he had that name. Which?

(Pinocchio. Pinia - Italian pine , a coniferous tree with an umbrella-shaped crown.)

"In Italian pine the cones are prickly and heavy, the size of a small melon. To get hit on the head with such a bump is so oh-oh!” Who did Pinocchio fight off with such bumps?

(From Karabas Barabas.)

Which ballet begins with a scene at the Nativity Christmas trees: “Cinderella” or “Nutcracker”?

("Nutcracker".)

Fill in the missing word in the Russian proverb: “Far pine it’s standing, but it’s making noise for its own.”

(boru.)

What do they say about someone who cannot find a way out of a simple, uncomplicated situation in life?

(In three pine trees got lost.)

How many pine trees

(“On the Murom path there were three pine trees , my dear said goodbye to me until next spring.")

What did the characters call their walls in the song from the cartoon “The Town Musicians of Bremen”?

(Pines -giants. “Our walls are giant pine trees...”.)

In the 19th century, the Moscow mayor issued a decree in which he established a phrase recommended for coachmen to replace swearing in the presence of ladies. We also use this phrase with success. What phrase did he recommend?

(« Christmas trees -sticks.")

What does the phraseological unit mean now? Christmas trees-sticks"?

(This expression means annoyance, bewilderment, admiration.)

Which coniferous did the tree give its name to the method of skiing up a slope?

(Spruce - “Christmas tree”.)

What trees are depicted in Shishkin’s painting “Ship Grove”?

(Pines .)

The morning in which forest did Shishkin depict in his famous canvas?

(“Morning in pine forest.")

What trees are depicted in Ivan Shishkin’s painting “Rye”?

(Pines .)

What is the name of the place where New Year's gifts are sold? Christmas tree: green market, Christmas tree bazaar or coniferous supermarket?

(Christmas tree bazaar)

The Ancient Origins of Christmas Traditions

The Legend of Saint Boniface and the Christmas Tree

According to another version, with the help of coniferous trees, the crowns of which have a triangular shape, St. Boniface tried to convey the idea of the Trinity to the pagans.

Christmas tree of the 16th century: Christian symbolism

The earliest documentary evidence preserved in the humanistic library tells that for decorating Christmas trees - which were called by the old German word Meyen- were used at that time apples. These are flavorful and crispy. red apples are still known in Germany and Alsace under the name Christkindel Apfel(“Christmas apples”) In Alsace, it is customary to collect them in October and store them until December-February.

Is Celeste the birthplace of the Christmas tree?

In any case, apparently, it was here that this custom was documented for the first time in history.

Late 16th - 17th centuries: Protestant traditions of decorating the Christmas tree

These flowers are an allusion to the words Prophet Isaiah about the “root of Jesse”- the tree of Jesse, or the family tree of Jesus Christ ( Wed. “And a branch shall come forth from the root of Jesse, and a branch shall grow out of his root.” The symbolism of this type of jewelry indicated the origin and birth of the Savior. In addition to this, the flowers on the tree were reminiscent of the words of an old Christmas carol Es ist ein Ros entsprungen (“The Rose Has Grew”), written just in that era.

XVIII-XIX centuries: Christmas - children's holiday

The place of the guests is now taken by gingerbread, sweets, waffles and traditional delirious (bredele, Also bredela or bradle) - Christmas cookies made from gingerbread dough.

In addition to the cookies themselves, special molds for baking these sweets are sold in Alsatian cities. Ceramic relief shapes, or “stamps,” for creating a specific design on dough can be purchased in stores as souvenirs. Previously, such molds were made mainly of wood and decorated with carved scenes of everyday life or compositions based on biblical scenes. More information about traditional Alsatian sweets, souvenirs and folk crafts can be read in the article “Folk crafts, customs and traditions of Alsace".

Hence the word Paradiesgartlein(“Paradise Garden”), which is what this Christmas garden was called in Germany. As you can see, Christian symbolism is gradually gaining importance again.

The Christmas tree comes to France and the UK

Christmas tree decorations of the New Age: the invention of the glass ball and other innovations

Christmas tree in Catholic countries

♦♦♦♦♦♦♦

Used sources .

In December we will have many children guests. Let me collect some facts about this about the New Year in different countries. One New Year's quiz gave me this idea.
Then we’ll see what we can come up with from this - a quiz game or just reading at home for educational purposes...

1. The coldest place on the planet is the South Pole.
The Arctic - the North Pole - is an ice-covered expanse of the Arctic Ocean. With the onset of summer in the northern hemisphere of our planet, this ice partially melts. In addition, warm currents, the Gulf Stream, for example, also play a significant role in the temperature regime of the region. In general, the average temperature in the Arctic in winter is about -34°C, and in summer it is even warmer.
Antarctica is not just the southernmost continent. It is still covered with a non-melting ice shell. In geography lessons they always teach that it is always colder on the mainland than on the sea. Add to this the eternal ice cover, which reflects almost 95% of sunlight, the absence of warm currents, and here you have the complete picture. According to scientists, the average temperature of the southern continent is -49°C.
If we start compiling a ranking of the coldest places on our planet, the picture we get is as follows: Antarctica will be the permanent leader, followed by the coldest places in the Northern Hemisphere (Yakutsk, Verkhoyansk, Oymyakon - all three places in Yakutia, and Greenland).

3. When did you celebrate the New Year?
In Ancient Greece, the beginning of the year fell on the longest day of the year - June 22. And the Greeks calculated chronology from the famous Olympic Games, which were held in honor of the legendary Hercules. For the first time, a calendar in which the year began on January 1 was introduced by the Roman emperor Julius Caesar.
In Russia, on New Year's Eve, costumed children and adults went from house to house. Dressed in masks and animal skins, they sang, danced, and sprinkled grain on the floor, wishing the owners a rich harvest. And the New Year was celebrated at the beginning of autumn - September 1st. Only in 1700 did Peter the Great move the New Year celebration to January 1, as was customary in all European countries. The first day of the New Year 1700 began with a parade on Red Square in Moscow. And in the evening the sky lit up with the bright lights of festive fireworks.

4. When did they start giving gifts?
Few people know that the custom of giving New Year's gifts came to us from Ancient Rome. They say that the first gifts were laurel branches, which foreshadowed happiness and good luck in the coming year. “I wish you a favorable and happy New Year,” the Romans wrote on New Year’s gifts, sometimes adding humorous verses, because the New Year is a cheerful holiday.

5. In Hungary In the first second of the New Year, they prefer to whistle through children's pipes, horns, and whistles. It is believed that they are the ones who drive away evil spirits from the home and call for joy and prosperity. When preparing for the holiday, Hungarians do not forget about the magical power of New Year's dishes: beans and peas preserve the strength of spirit and body, apples - beauty and love, nuts can protect from harm, garlic - from diseases, and honey - sweeten life.

6. In Germany people of all ages, as soon as the clock begins to strike midnight, climb onto chairs, tables, armchairs and, with the last blow, unanimously, with joyful greetings, “jump” into the New Year. Santa Claus appears on a donkey. Before going to bed, children put a plate on the table for the gifts that Santa Claus will bring them, and put hay in their shoes - a treat for his donkey.

7. In England according to the ancient custom, when the clock begins to strike 12, the back doors of the house are opened to let out the old year, and with the last stroke they open the front doors, letting in the new year.
On New Year's Day, theaters stage performances based on old English fairy tales for children.
In England, the custom arose of exchanging greeting cards for the New Year. The first New Year's card was printed in London in 1843.
Before going to bed, children put a plate on the table for the gifts that Santa Claus will bring them, and put hay in their shoes - a treat for the donkey.
In England, a bell announces the arrival of the New Year. True, he starts calling a little earlier than midnight and does it in a “whisper” - the blanket with which he is wrapped prevents him from demonstrating all his power. But at exactly twelve the bells are undressed, and they begin to loudly sing hymns to the New Year. At these moments, lovers, in order not to separate next year, must kiss under a mistletoe branch, which is considered a magical tree.

8. French Santa Claus called Pere Noel. He comes on New Year's Eve and leaves gifts in children's shoes.

9. In Greece New Year is the day of St. Basil, who became famous for his extraordinary kindness. Children leave their shoes near the fireplace, hoping that the saint will fill them with gifts.

10. In the Czech Republic and Slovakia A cheerful little man comes to the children, dressed in a shaggy fur coat, a tall lambskin hat, and with a box on his back. His name is Mikulas. For those who studied well, he always has gifts.

11. In Italy It is customary to throw out broken dishes, old clothes and even furniture from apartments at the very last minute of the old year. Following them, firecrackers, confetti, and sparklers fly. It is believed that if you throw away an old item on New Year's Eve, you will buy a new one in the coming year. On the Apennine Peninsula (in Italy) the New Year begins on January 6th. All Italian children are looking forward to the good Fairy Befana. She flies in at night on a magic broom, opens the doors with a small golden key and, entering the room where the children sleep, fills the children's stockings, specially hung from the fireplace, with gifts. For those who have studied poorly or been naughty, Befana leaves a pinch of ash or coal. It's a shame, but he deserved it!
Babbo Natale - Italian Santa Claus.
In the Italian provinces, this custom has long existed: on January 1, early in the morning, you need to bring “new water” home from the source. “If you have nothing to give your friends,” the Italians say, “give them “new water” with an olive branch.” It is believed that “new water” brings happiness. For Italians, it is also important who they meet first in the new year. If on January 1 the first person an Italian sees is a monk or priest, that’s bad. It is also undesirable to meet a small child, but meeting a nice grandfather is good. And it’s even better if he’s hunchbacked... Then the New Year will definitely be happy!

12. In Spain There is a tradition of eating grapes on New Year's Eve. When the clock strikes, you need to have time to eat 12 grapes, one for each of the twelve coming months.

13. In Cuba on New Year's Eve, they fill all the dishes in the house with water, and at midnight they begin to pour liquid out of the windows. Thus, all residents of Liberty Island wish the New Year a bright and clear path, like water. In the meantime, while the clock strikes 12 times, you need to swallow 12 grapes, and then goodness, harmony, prosperity and peace will accompany you all twelve months.

14. In Scotland The New Year is celebrated with a kind of torchlight procession: barrels of tar are set on fire and rolled through the streets. Thus, the Scots “burn” the old year and light the way for the new one. The well-being of the owners depends on who is the first to enter the house on the morning of the New Year. It is believed that a dark-haired man who comes with a gift will bring happiness.

15. In Scandinavia In the first seconds of the New Year, it is customary to grunt under the table to ward off evil spirits, illnesses and failures from the family.
In Sweden, before the New Year, children choose the Queen of Light, Lucia. She is dressed in a white dress, and a crown with lit candles is placed on her head. Lucia brings gifts for children and treats for pets: cream for the cat, a sugar bone for the dog, and carrots for the donkey.

16. In Ancient China On New Year's Day, the only holiday of the year for beggars was declared, when anyone could enter the house and take what they needed, and if you refused, the neighbors would turn away with contempt. In modern China, New Year is a festival of lanterns. It is celebrated on the fifteenth day of the Lunar New Year. On New Year's Eve, countless small lanterns are lit on the streets and squares, believing that the sparks from them will drive away evil spirits. The New Year itself comes in January-February, so it is associated with the end of winter and the beginning of spring. For many centuries, the inhabitants of China, seeing off the cold and bad weather with the light of lanterns, greet the awakening of nature. Lanterns are given different shapes, decorated with bright designs and intricate ornaments. The Chinese especially like to place lanterns on the streets in the form of 12 animals, symbolizing each year of the 12-year cycle of the lunar calendar.

17. In Vietnam New Year according to the lunisolar calendar is called Tet. This is a family holiday, during which all quarrels are forgotten and grievances are forgiven. The Vietnamese decorate their homes with miniature tangerine trees with tiny fruits. Every Vietnamese home has an ancestral altar, and paying tribute to their memory is an important part of the New Year's celebrations. New Year and January 1 are celebrated in Vietnam, it is called the “holiday of the young”.

18. New Year in Japan- one of the most popular holidays in the country. Japanese children celebrate the New Year wearing new clothes, believing it will bring good luck and health. On New Year's Eve, children put a drawing of their dream under their pillow, then their wish should come true. Pine dominates flower arrangements, symbolizing longevity and endurance. And in the morning, when the New Year has already come into its own, the Japanese go out to greet the sunrise; at the first rays they congratulate each other and give gifts. Armfuls of straw are hung on the facades of houses to protect the house from evil spirits. And the most important thing for the Japanese is to laugh in the first second of the New Year - then happiness will accompany them all year.
The main New Year's accessory is a rake (kumade), with which the Japanese will be able to rake in happiness in the New Year. They are made in sizes from 10 cm to 1.5 m and are decorated with rich paintings. To appease the Deity of the year, who brings good luck to the family, the Japanese build a kadomatsu in front of the house - a small gate made of three bamboo sticks to which pine branches are tied. Also in Japan, at exactly midnight, a bell begins to ring and strikes 108 times. According to a long-standing belief, each ringing “kills” one of the human vices. According to the Japanese, there are only 6 of them - greed, anger, stupidity, frivolity, indecision, envy, but each has 18 shades.
Japanese Santa Claus is called Segatsu-san - Mr. New Year. Girls' favorite New Year's entertainment is playing shuttlecock, and boys fly a traditional kite during the holiday.

19. In India as many as eight dates are celebrated as New Year, as many cultures intersect in the country. On one of these days - Gudi Padwa - you need to eat the leaves of the neem tree, which taste very bitter and unpleasant. But according to the old belief, they protect a person from illnesses and troubles and, oddly enough, provide a sweet life.

20. In Algeria, Bahrain, Jordan, Lebanon, Morocco, Oman, Pakistan, Sudan, Syria and Tanzania greet Muharram - the first month of the year of the Muslim lunar calendar. A few weeks before this date, Muslims place wheat or barley grains on a dish of water to germinate. By the beginning of the new year, sprouts appear that symbolize the beginning of a new life.

21. Jewish New Year- Rosh Hashanah is not so much a memory of any historical event from which the counting of years begins, but rather the day of the Supreme Judgment. It is believed that on this day the Almighty judges people and, based on their actions, decides what fate awaits them next year. Therefore, the main thing at such a time is the repentance of every person. This day is filled with prayers and restrained joy. On the table there are festive candles, a round challah with apples that are dipped in honey to make the year sweet.
The New Year in Israel is called Rosh Hashanah and is celebrated on the first two days of the month of September. Rosh Hashanah is the anniversary of the creation of the world and the beginning of the reign of God. On this day, the acceptance of God as ruler is reaffirmed. The New Year holiday is a day of intense prayers and low-key fun.

22. In Brazil The New Year's celebration is called Iemanja. The beaches fill with people and religious chants praise Iemanja. Even those who live far from the water try to come to the coast to make offerings to the sea: most often these are flowers on small ships made of wood. Participants in the ceremony dress in suits of a certain color - depending on the saint who will “rule” during the new year.

23. In Nepal New Year is celebrated at sunrise. At night, when the moon is full, Nepalese people light huge fires and throw unnecessary things into the fire. The next day, the Festival of Colors begins, and then the whole country turns into a huge rainbow. People paint their faces, arms, and chests with unusual patterns, and then dance and sing songs in the streets.

24. In Panama at midnight, when the New Year is just beginning, all the bells ring, sirens howl, cars honk. The Panamanians themselves - both children and adults - at this time shout loudly and knock on everything they can get their hands on. All this noise is necessary in order to “appease” the coming year.

25. In Holland Santa Claus is called Sinterklaas. We all know well that Santa Claus flies from Lapland on reindeer. But among the Dutch, the “chief winter grandfather” arrives from Spain and not on reindeer, but on a ship. Sinterklaas, surrounded by his retinue, leaves the ship to the pier, where the mayor of the city and the elders are already waiting for him. Here, to the sounds of festive music and general rejoicing, he is presented with the symbolic keys to the city. This is an interesting tradition that has been followed in Holland for many, many years. And thanks to modern technologies, the colorful spectacle of the Sinterklaas meeting can be seen via television in different parts of the country.
In Holland, there is a custom on the night before New Year's holidays to hang children's shoes and put carrots in them. What are carrots for? And for the horse Amerigo, on which Sinterklaas rides across the roofs of houses and throws traditional treats, letters made of chocolate, and the initials of children into chimneys.

26. Also in September, namely on the 11th, comes New Year in hot Ethiopia. It coincides with the end of the big rains and the beginning of the harvest. On New Year's Eve, festive processions, fun games and festivities are held; the bravest compete in jumping over fire.

27. March 21st is celebrated New Year in Afghanistan This holiday is called Navruz. This is the time when agricultural work begins. The village elder makes the first furrow in the field. On the same day, fun fairs open, where magicians, tightrope walkers, and musicians perform.

NEW YEAR'S QUIZ for schoolchildren in grades 1-8

Target: improve skills about the New Year.
Tasks:
1. develop logical thinking;
2. expand your horizons and vocabulary;
3. increase interest in learning the language;
4. cultivate respect for the culture of the country of the language being studied.
5. promote the development of students’ creative abilities,
6. cultivate a sense of kindness, empathy, and instill an interest in art.
Equipment: presentation, certificates and tasks on cards.

Quiz for schoolchildren about the New Year

What winter holidays do we celebrate twice: according to the old and new styles?
(Christmas - December 25 and January 7. New Year - January 1 according to the new style and January 14 according to the old style. The phrase old New Year is our domestic invention and tradition.
In Rus', when the whole family gathered at the New Year's table, the children tied the table legs with a bast rope. What did this New Year's custom symbolize? (This meant that the family would be strong in the coming year and should not be separated.)
Why did Russians celebrate the New Year twice with an interval of four months in 1699-1700?
(In 1699, a few months after the Russians had already celebrated the New Year on September 1, they had to repeat the celebration. Because on December 19, Peter the Great issued a decree on the reform of the calendar in Russia. According to this document, the New Year began to be celebrated on 1 January and the Christian chronology was adopted - from the Nativity of Christ. The first January festive New Year in Russia was celebrated very widely for almost a day.)
When issuing a decree on the celebration of the New Year, Peter I wrote that on this day, January 1, “to decorate houses from trees and branches of pine and spruce. Each one should start shooting in his own yard, but there will be no heavy drinking and massacres on this day...” Why did he forbid drinking and fighting on this day? (According to Peter, “other days are enough for this.”)
In pre-Petrine Rus', fresh apples were a traditional New Year's treat for the festive feast. Why? (After all, before the calendar reform of Peter I, the New Year was celebrated on September 1 - at the time when apples were picked.)
In Japan, the arrival of the New Year is announced by 108 strikes of the bell; in the UK, the New Year's midnight is struck by London's Big Ben clock. But in Russia?
(Moscow Kremlin chimes.)
Why didn’t the future poet Pushkin have a New Year’s tree during his childhood? (The Christmas tree in Russia began to be used as a New Year's tree only from the middle of the 19th century.)
With the advent of Soviet power, the custom of decorating a Christmas tree for Christmas was abolished as religious. And when was it restored? (Only in 1935, they began to decorate the Christmas tree for the New Year.)
When did January 1 become a non-working day in Russia? (The decision on this was made in December 1947.)
Residents of which countries are the first on Earth to celebrate the New Year?
(Residents of New Zealand and the state of Fiji. This is explained by the fact that these territories are geographically located closest to the date line.)
What advantage do residents of the Chukotka village of Uelen have over other Russians?
(They celebrate the New Year first. Uelen is the easternmost village of Russia. It is located not far from Cape Dezhnev in the Chukotka Autonomous Okrug. Its residents celebrate the New Year 8 hours earlier than in Moscow.)
Residents of which region of the Russian Federation celebrate New Year later than all other Russians? (Kaliningrad region, the westernmost region of Russia. New Year comes to them an hour later than to Moscow.)
How many times can you celebrate New Year in Russia? (Now, in accordance with the new law “On the Calculation of Time,” there are 9 time zones passing through the territory of Russia. Therefore, in Russia, the New Year can be celebrated 9 times. And more recently, there were 11 time zones, and therefore the number of New Year celebrations in our country decreased by 2.)
What gymnastic trick does the Earth perform at the time of the next New Year? (Verso.)
At what strike of the Kremlin Chimes does the New Year begin in our country?
(According to the rules of the exact time service, the new hour begins with the last sound signal, including the last strike of the clock.)
Who were the first people on Earth to celebrate the New Year in space? (These are Russian cosmonauts Yuri Romanenko and Georgy Grechko, in orbit of the Salyut-6 station on January 1, 1978.)
For Americans he is a saint, for the French he is a father. And who is he to us, Russians?
(In America, Santa Claus brings gifts to Americans, Père Noel - Father Christmas - to the French deputy, and Grandfather Frost gives gifts to little Russians.)
Which ancient Belarusian forest is considered the birthplace of Father Frost? (Belovezhskaya Pushcha)
In what month does our Grandfather Frost celebrate his birthday? (In November, more precisely - November 18. What is the age of the winter wizard is not known for certain, but it is certain that he is more than 2000 years old. The children themselves came up with the date of birth of Father Frost, since it is on November 18 on his estate - in Veliky Ustyug - that the real one comes into its own It’s winter and frosts are hitting.)
In what region of the Russian Federation is Veliky Ustyug, the patrimony of Father Frost, located?
(In the Vologda region. Veliky Ustyug is one of the oldest cities in the Russian North. It was officially named the birthplace of Father Frost in 1999.)
When did the Russian Father Frost have a granddaughter, the Snow Maiden? (More recently, she was invented by the Russian playwright A.N. Ostrovsky, who in 1873 wrote a play in verse - the poetic “spring fairy tale” “The Snow Maiden.”)
Which Russian city is the historical birthplace of the Snow Maiden?
(Kostroma. In Kostroma, the Snow Maiden has both a tower and a living room, where she cordially receives and entertains her guests of any age.)
When did the song “Yolochka” (“A Christmas tree was born in the forest...”) appear, which is sung by all children and adults in our country during the New Year holidays?
(The poem “Yolochka” was first published in 1903 in the children’s magazine “Malyutka” with a two-letter pseudonym. Composer L.K. Bekman wrote music for the poems. Only in 1941 was the real author of the words identified - Raisa Adamovna Kudasheva, Russian writer.)
What beauty dresses up once a year?
(Christmas tree.)
Which country is the historical birthplace of the Christmas tree, and then the New Year tree? (Germany.)
Name the children's writer and storyteller who invented the Planet of Christmas Trees.
(Gianni Rodari.)
What is the name of the Russian ancient, but ageless dance at the New Year tree? (Round dance.)
Name the singer of the lullaby for the Christmas tree. (Blizzard.)
What is the name of the New Year's two-faced ball? (Masquerade, carnival.)
A New Year's drink for risky people is... Which one? (Champagne.)
What is the name of the most peaceful New Year's warhead? (Clapperboard.)
What do New Year's crackers begin with?
(Confetti.)
Not only the winding road in the mountains, but also the Christmas tree decoration. What is this?
(Serpentine.)
What was the name of the village in which amazing events took place on Christmas night, which N.V. told us about? Gogol? (Dikanka.)
What were the names of the boys from the story of Arkady Gaidar, who came to their father in the distant taiga to celebrate the New Year with a geological expedition? (Chuk and Gek.)
From which film by Eldar Ryazanov did the catchphrase fly out: “There is an intention to have fun celebrating the New Year”? ("Carnival Night".)
Name our most New Year's film, showing which on New Year's Eve has become a real Russian tradition, which is already more than 30 years old.
(“The Irony of Fate, or Enjoy Your Bath,” director Eldar Ryazanov, 1976. They joke that in order to tactfully find out a woman’s age, you need to ask her how many times on New Year’s Eve she watched this film. The number of views will be equal to her age.)
But Santa Claus harnesses not reindeer, but reindeer to his Christmas sleigh! What proves the truth of such a statement? (The presence of antlers. After all, male deer shed their antlers in the fall.)
Why can’t you repay existing debts on New Year’s Eve?
(So as not to have to deal with this all year long. You need to repay all financial debts in advance; taking on old debts on New Year’s Day is not recommended.)
In Greece, on New Year's Eve, guests place a stone on the owner's threshold, wishing him that this thing will always weigh no less. What is this thing? (Wallet.)
What is it customary to wash your face on New Year's Eve in Hungary in order to be well-off all year?
(Literally with money!)
Why in Hungary on New Year's Eve are they not served ducks, chickens, or geese?
(So that “happiness does not fly away from home.”)
Why on the evening of December 31 do Italians only walk strictly in the middle of the pavement?
(They are afraid to walk along the edges of the pavement for safety reasons, since Italians throw old trash and furniture out of windows on New Year’s Eve.)
In Germany, these seasonal workers must be at least 180 cm tall, have a deep throat and a beard. They are given special clothing free of charge. What color is she? (Red, these are Santa Clauses.)
In which country, during New Year's street processions - the most exciting part of the holiday - thousands of lanterns are lit to illuminate the path to the New Year? (In China.)
Which island state has this custom: before the New Year, people fill all the dishes with water, and at the moment when the clock strikes twelve times, they create a real flood, at the same time pouring water out of the windows, wishing themselves that life would be the same in the coming year light and clear, like water? (At Cuba.)
In what month does the New Year begin according to the Eastern lunar calendar? (In February.)
* * * * * *
In what month in the history of Russia was the New Year NOT celebrated?
A. March. V. September.
B. January. G. November.
(The ancient Slavs celebrated the New Year on March 1 with the onset of warmth and the beginning of field work. In 1492, the beginning of the year in Rus' was officially moved to September 1. Since 1699, the New Year began to be celebrated on January 1.)
When did you celebrate the New Year in pre-Petrine Rus' of the 18th century?
A. January 1st. V. March 1st.
B. June 1st. G. September 1.
What is the affectionate name for Father Frost in some Russian fairy tales?
A. Freezer. V. Morozko.
B. Morozets. G. Jellied meat.

What is the name of Santa Claus' "magic wand"?
A. Scepter. V. Rod.
B. Staff. G. Palitsa.
What kind of headdress does our Russian Santa Claus wear?
A. Kolpak. B. Boyarka hat.
B. Turban. G. Pot.
(And Santa Claus walks around in a red cap.)
Where does Santa Claus get gifts for Russian children on New Year's Day?
A. From the chest. B. From the bag.
B. From the safe. G. From a sock.
What is the name of the fairy tale by V.F. Odoevsky?
A. “Moroz Ivanovich.” V. “Kholod Petrovich.”
B. "Kolotun Nikolaevich." G. “Cold Semyonovna.”
What fairy tale was written by G.Kh. Andersen?
A. "Spruce". V. "Pine".
B. "Fir". G. "Cedar".
What is the name of the place where Christmas trees are sold?
A. Green market. B. Christmas tree market.
B. Green auction. G. Coniferous supermarket.
Which Kremlin tower appears on TV screens on New Year's Eve?
A. Borovitskaya. V. Nikolskaya.
B. Spasskaya. G. Kutafya.
What item does every Japanese consider it their duty to purchase in order to rake in new happiness in the coming year?
A. A shovel. B. Fishing net.
B. Bamboo rake. G. A straw basket.
Under the guise of a representative of which profession does the Mongolian Santa Claus appear on New Year's Eve?
A. Cook. V. Shepherd.
B. Steelmaker. G. Cosmonaut.
What time of year is New Year celebrated in Australia?
A. Summer. B. Autumn.
B. Winter. G. Spring.

NEW YEAR'S QUIZ

1. The most important grandfather at the New Year holiday. (Freezing.)
2. Nickname of Santa Claus. (Red nose.)
3. The city where the residence of Father Frost in Russia is located. (Veliky Ustyug.)
4. Santa Claus's wand. (Staff.)
5. Storage of gifts from Santa Claus. (Bag.)
6. Granddaughter of Santa Claus. (Snow Maiden.)
7. Part of the world where the custom of celebrating the New Year at the Christmas tree arose. (Europe.)
8. A mandatory attribute of the New Year's holiday. (Christmas tree.)
9. Giving the tree a New Year's look. (Decoration.)
10. Place for New Year's sale of trees and Christmas tree decorations. (Bazaar.)
11. Strings of lanterns on a New Year tree. (Garland.)
12. They are lit both on the Christmas tree and on the festive table. (Candles.)
13. Shiny New Year's ribbon. (Tinsel.)
14. A long narrow ribbon made of colored paper, which is thrown at each other at the New Year's party. (Serpentine.)
15. Substitute for snow on the New Year tree. (Vata.)
16. Multi-colored paper circles that are showered on each other at the New Year's party. (Confetti.)
17. Colored decorative lights flying into the air. (Fireworks.)
18. Close people with whom you most often celebrate the New Year. (Relatives.)
19. Time of day when New Year is celebrated. (Night.)
20. A chain of children and adults holding hands and walking around the New Year tree singing. (Round dance.)
21. A cold, sweet treat that looks like snow. (Ice cream.)
22. The last day of December in relation to the New Year. (Eve.)
23. New Year's tree branch. (Paw.)
24. They are usually given as gifts for the New Year. (Present.)
25. A toy that, when it bursts upon impact, makes a sharp sound and throws out confetti. (Clapperboard.)
26. Costume ball on New Year's Eve. (Masquerade.)

In which country in the world is New Year's grandfather called Pere Noel? (France)
In which country is New Year's grandfather called Toshigami? (Japan)
Which country has a tradition of calling the New Year's old man Yolupukki? (Finland)
Which Russian city is considered the birthplace of the Snow Maiden? (Kostroma)
Where is it customary to decorate with bamboo for the New Year? (In Vietnam)
Which country in the world has a tradition of decorating the New Year's holiday with holly branches? (USA)
In this country, instead of a Christmas tree, a tangerine tree is brought into the house for the New Year. (China)
Where on New Year's Eve they dance around a house made of palm leaves instead of a Christmas tree? (In Ghana)

New Year's quiz for grades 1 and 2

1. Which New Year's grandfather has a long red fur coat, a boyar hat, a thick white beard and a long staff in his hands and a very kind smile?
2. This Santa Claus has a white beard, a red hat with a pompom, bright swimming trunks on his tanned body, sunglasses and a surfboard. Where is he from?
3. In this country, the New Year coincides with the cattle breeding holiday. Santa Claus comes to the children in the clothes of a cattle breeder, with a fox hat on his head, a long whip in his hands, a flint and a snuffbox on his side. What country are we talking about?
4. From which movie is this catchphrase: “There is an attitude to have fun celebrating the New Year”?
5. Which city is declared the geographical homeland of the Russian Father Frost?
6. In which country does the local Santa Claus himself, Bobbo Natale, give out gifts, but the fairy Befana with a red cap and crystal slippers?
7. In what country does Santa Claus have such a funny name - Joulupukki?
8. What is the name of the Spanish Santa Claus?
* * * * * *
Now let's change the problem a little. You will need to choose the correct answer from the three offered.
9. In which country is New Year's grandfather called Baba Zhara?
1) In Panama; 2) in Cambodia; 3) in Sudan.
10. In which country do residents make a New Year's greeting bouquet from pine, bamboo, plum, woven with rice straws with the addition of fern and tangerine branches?
1) In China; 2) in Japan; 3) in Thailand.
11. In which country, before the New Year holiday, are homes decorated with branches of the coffee tree?
1) In Nicaragua; 2) in Brazil; 3) in Kenya.
12. In which country do they celebrate New Year near a palm tree?
1) In Cuba; 2) in Nepal; 3) in Saudi Arabia.
13. In which country, instead of a Christmas tree, do they use the Metrosideros tree, which blooms with red flowers?
1) in Ghana; 2) in Australia; 3) in Singapore.
14. Where on New Year’s Eve do they throw bamboo shoots into the hearth to scare away evil spirits with crackling and hissing?
1) In Korea; 2) in Japan; 3) in China.

New Year's quiz for grades 3 and 4

1. How was the first Christmas tree decorated in France in 1600? The first mention of the New Year tree in literature dates back to this year.
2. What are Christmas trees made of in the Philippines? What dish in Holland is served only on the New Year's table?
3. In Japan, on New Year’s Eve, branches of two plants are tied at the door - a symbol of fidelity and longevity. One of them is pine, and the other?
4. In which country (in the city of Pajakylä) is there a Santa Claus post office?
5. In Bulgaria, it’s customary to bake coins and… into New Year’s pies.
6. What do they always sew for the New Year in Korea?
7. What person, today a rare profession, is considered a symbol of happiness in Austria?
8. The heroine of which Ostrovsky play would be very useful to us here at New Year’s Eve?
9. In 1638, gilded and silver-plated toys appeared on Christmas tree branches. Which?
10. In which country was the day when the first snow passed the beginning of the new year?
11. What do they eat in Sweden for the New Year?
12. What is the name of Santa Claus in Italy?
13. What do the people of Hungary use to ward off evil spirits before the New Year?
14. What do Japanese children draw and put under their pillows on New Year's Eve?
15. Cubans fill all the dishes with water on New Year’s Eve. What do they do with this water?
16. What is strictly forbidden to do in China on the first days of the New Year
17. In which country is it customary to joke on New Year’s Day, like we do on April 1st?
18. Why shouldn’t you stand under the windows on New Year’s Eve in Panama?
19. Why do the Scots bring a piece of coal to visit on New Year's Eve?
20. What was the name of the boy with an icy heart?
21. Which fairy tale hero fought the Mouse King on New Year’s Eve?
22. In which Russian city does Father Frost live?
23. Who was the first in the world to establish the custom of celebrating the New Year?
24. The longest-living Christmas tree is in one of the cities in the American state of Indiana. What's the name of this town?
25. In Australia, Santa Claus doesn’t come on a sleigh, but on what?
26. Residents of which island are the first to celebrate the New Year on our planet?

CONIFEROUS QUIZ

Which forest thins out before the New Year?

(Coniferous forest. Spruce forest, pine forest, etc.)

What beauty dresses up once a year?

(New Year's Christmas tree.)

Thanks to the work of people of what profession, the New Year is dressed up Christmas tree?

(Glass blowers.)

Which country is considered the historical homeland of Christmas and then New Year's Christmas trees?

(Germany.)

When was she born? herringbone according to a biological passport?

How many years does he live? spruce, what if he avoids the fate of becoming a New Year's tree?

(Spruce lives 300-400 years. Long-lived Christmas trees can live up to 500 years.)

What family do they belong to? Christmas trees?

(To the family pine.)

At what age do you ate Are there bumps?

(At 35 - 40 years old.)

Can spruce to predict the weather?

Length of all roots of one tree ate equal to approximately 2 km, and one tree pine trees- six times more. What conclusion can be drawn about the living conditions of these trees?

(Pinegrows in drier soils than spruce.)

Why do pine trees in the forest the lower branches die off, and ate No?

(Pine- light-loving plant.)

What kind of wood were ship masts made from?

(From pine trees)

What can be obtained from pine needles pine trees?

(Vitamin flour, artificial wool.)

Pine can be planted to strengthen sands, and spruce No. Why?

(U pine trees the roots go deep into the soil, and ate they are located close to the surface.)

How to distinguish a cedar branch pine trees from the branch pine trees ordinary?

(Pine has two needles in a bunch, while cedar needles have five.)

Which forest is darkest - in spruce or pine?

(In spruce.)

Which coniferous is the tree considered the most musical?

(Spruce. Pianos, balalaikas, and guitars are made from spruce.)

What kind of wood coniferous tree sinks in water?

(Larch.)

Which wood is ours? coniferous wood is not destroyed by water and air and is stored for thousands of years?

(larches. Its wood is used for underwater structures, shipbuilding, etc.)

From which coniferous The interior parts of the Moscow Kremlin buildings are made of wood, does the wood of this tree not rot?

(Larch.)

Which coniferous the tree is also called Siberian cedar?

(Sosn y.)

From the seeds of which Eurasian pine trees get butter?

(From cedar - Siberian pine.)

How many pine Does a squirrel need pine cones a day to be full?

(380 pieces. Cedar - 2 pieces, spruce - 30 pieces. And squirrels don’t really like pine cones, they are very resinous.)

In the old days in Rus' they brewed beer using young shoots of this hop instead of hops. coniferous tree. Which one?

(Pines.)

What plant is called "grape" coniferous forests"?

(Juniper.)

Which tree is the only one coniferous- poisonous?

(Yew berry.)

Name the "pencil" tree.

(Cedar.)

Which coniferous wood hardly burns and “loves” fires?

(Sequoia evergreen, cultivated in the south of Russia.)

The scientific name of this valued by landscape designers ate – spruce Engelman. And by what “color” name do we know it?

(Blue spruce.)

A forest of aspens is called an aspen forest, and a forest of oaks is called an oak grove. What are the coniferous forests called? oil? Pines? Kedrov? Fir?

(Spruce forest, forest, cedar or cedar forest, fir forest.)

Saffron milk caps willingly grow under Christmas trees And pine trees. Spruce mushrooms grow in spruce forests, but what else are the names of pine mushrooms?

(Bog mushroom.)

What forest bird living in the Siberian taiga can remember the location of almost six thousand of its storerooms, in which it hid its supplies for the winter?

(This is smart cedar sheep hiding cedar cones in storage rooms. Her visual memory is larger than that of a human.)

Which plant is not a coniferous: cypress or eucalyptus?

(Eucalyptus.)

Which conifers plants reach a diameter of 12 meters?

(Sequoia.)

What valuable ornamental stone is fossil resin coniferous trees?

(Amber.)

The rod of which ancient god was crowned spruce bump?

(Dionysus, or Bacchus.)

The winner of which games in Ancient Greece was awarded a wreath of pine trees?

(Winner of the Isthmian Games.)

What wood was Jupiter's scepter made of? Trojan horse? Cupid's arrows?

(Scepter from cypress, horse from ate, arrows from cedar.)

The coat of arms of which Russian city is decorated with a cannon and three Christmas trees?

(Yelnya. Smolensk region, on the Desna River.)

Not only coniferous tree, but also a tributary of the Don.

(Pine.)

Not only pine forest, but also a city in the Nizhny Novgorod region of the Russian Federation.

(Bor.)

Which tree is depicted on the coat of arms of the city located in the Lipetsk region on the banks of the river Pines?

(Spruce- Yelets city.)

The name of which European country comes from the word “molid” - “ pine»?

(Moldova, Moldova.)

What is a branch often called? coniferous tree: paw, flipper or claw?

(Paw.)

The name of which animal in English combines the words “pig” and “ pine»?

(Porcupine - porcupine. It resembles a pig in its habit of burrowing in the ground and grunting when grazing. And of course, pine - with its needles.)

The name of which fruit in English consists of two words in one - “ pine" and "apple"?

(Pineapple - pineapple, pine - pine, apple - apple.)

The word “pump” is an anagram of the name of which coniferous tree?

(Pine.)

Not only the drill in the dentist's car, but also pine forest.

(Bor.)

Name the chemical element coniferous forests.

(Bor.)

Which road sign shows coniferous tree?

(On the road sign “Resting Place.”)

What do a brawler boy and pine trees?

(Bumps.)

Which, regardless of the thrown seeds, grows in any furrow?

(Pinery - boron ozda.)

Say in one word the phrase “One pine forest”, if this word is the surname of a Russian composer.

(Bor-one is Borodin.)

How they dressed up Christmas tree during A.S.’s childhood Pushkin?

(The Christmas tree in Russia began to be used as a New Year's tree from the middle XIX centuries, the future poet did not have a New Year tree during his childhood.)

Who wrote the story “The Boy at Christ’s Christmas tree»?

(F.M. Dostoevsky.)

(V. Odoevsky.)

What fairy tale was written by G.Kh. Andersen: “Spruce”, “Pine” or “Fir”?

(« Spruce».)

What tree did Mikhail Lermontov write about “It Stands Lonely in the Wild North”?

(Pine.)

Name the children's writer and storyteller who came up with the Planet of New Year's elo To.

(Gianni Rodari.)

It was in January
stood Christmas tree on the mountain,
And near this one Christmas trees
Evil wolves roamed.

(A. Barto.)

In 1903, Russian writer Raisa Adamovna Kudasheva wrote the poem “ Christmas tree" Quote the first two lines, known to absolutely everyone.

("Born in the forest herringbone...»)

That wooden man was planed from Italian pine trees That's why he had that name. Which?

(Pinocchio. Pinia - Italian pine, a coniferous tree with an umbrella-shaped crown.)

"In Italian pine the cones are prickly and heavy, the size of a small melon. To get hit on the head with such a bump is so oh-oh!” Who did Pinocchio fight off with such bumps?

(From Karabas Barabas.)

Which ballet begins with a scene at the Nativity Christmas trees: “Cinderella” or “Nutcracker”?

("Nutcracker".)

Fill in the missing word in the Russian proverb: “Far pine It’s standing, but it’s making noise for its own.”

(boru.)

What do they say about someone who cannot find a way out of a simple, uncomplicated situation in life?

(In three pine trees got lost.)

How many pine trees stood on the Murom path in the famous Russian song?

(“On the Murom path there were three pine trees, my dear said goodbye to me until next spring.")

What did the characters call their walls in the song from the cartoon “The Town Musicians of Bremen”?

(Pines-giants. “Our walls are giant pine trees...”)

In the XIX century, the Moscow mayor issued a decree in which he established a phrase recommended for coachmen to replace swearing in the presence of ladies. We also use this phrase with success. What phrase did he recommend?

(« Christmas trees-sticks.") Pines.)

What is the name of the place where New Year's gifts are sold? Christmas tree: green market, Christmas tree bazaar or coniferous supermarket?

(Christmas tree bazaar)

Which forest thins out before the New Year?

(Coniferous forest. Spruce forest, pine forest, etc.)

What beauty dresses up once a year?

(New Year's Christmas tree .)

Thanks to the work of people of what profession, the New Year is dressed up Christmas tree?

(Glass blowers.)

Which country is considered the historical homeland of Christmas and then New Year's Christmas trees?

(Germany.)

When was she born? herringbone according to a biological passport?

How many years does he live? spruce, what if he avoids the fate of becoming a New Year's tree?

(Spruce lives 300-400 years. Long-lived Christmas trees can live up to 500 years.)

What family do they belong to? Christmas trees?

(To the family pine. )

At what age do you ate Are there bumps?

(At 35 - 40 years old.)

Can spruce to predict the weather?

Length of all roots of one tree ate equal to approximately 2 km, and one tree pine trees- six times more. What conclusion can be drawn about the living conditions of these trees?

(Pine grows in drier soils than spruce .)

Why do pine trees in the forest the lower branches die off, and ate No?

(Pine - light-loving plant.)

What kind of wood were ship masts made from?

(From pine trees )

What can be obtained from pine needles pine trees?

(Vitamin flour, artificial wool.)

Pine can be planted to strengthen sands, and spruce No. Why?

(U pine trees the roots go deep into the soil, and ate they are located close to the surface.)

How to distinguish a cedar branch pine trees from the branch pine trees ordinary?

(Pine has two needles in a bunch, while cedar needles have five.)

Which forest is darkest - in spruce or pine?

(In spruce.)

Which coniferous is the tree considered the most musical?

(Spruce . Pianos, balalaikas, and guitars are made from spruce.)

What kind of wood coniferous tree sinks in water?

(Larch .)

Which wood is ours? coniferous wood is not destroyed by water and air and is stored for thousands of years?

(larches . Its wood is used for underwater structures, shipbuilding, etc.)

From which coniferous The interior parts of the Moscow Kremlin buildings are made of wood, does the wood of this tree not rot?

(Larch. )

Which coniferous the tree is also called Siberian cedar?

(Sosn y.)

From the seeds of which Eurasian pine trees get butter?

(From cedar - Siberian pine.)

How many pine Does a squirrel need pine cones a day to be full?

(380 pieces. Cedar - 2 pieces, spruce - 30 pieces. And squirrels don’t really like pine cones, they are very resinous.)

In the old days in Rus' they brewed beer using young shoots of this hop instead of hops. coniferous tree. Which one?

(Pines .)

What plant is called "grape" coniferous forests"?

(Juniper.)

Which tree is the only one coniferous- poisonous?

(Yew berry.)

Name the “pencil” tree.

(Cedar. )

Which coniferous does wood hardly burn and “loves” fires?

(Sequoia evergreen, cultivated in the south of Russia.)

The scientific name of this valued by landscape designers ate – spruce Engelman. And by what “color” name do we know it?

(Blue spruce .)

A forest of aspens is called an aspen forest, and a forest of oaks is called an oak grove. What are the coniferous forests called? oil? Pines? Cedars? Fir?

(Spruce forest, forest, cedar or cedar forest, fir forest.)

Saffron milk caps willingly grow under Christmas trees And pine trees. Spruce mushrooms grow in spruce forests, but what else are the names of pine mushrooms?

(Bog mushroom.)

What forest bird living in the Siberian taiga can remember the location of almost six thousand of its storerooms, in which it hid its supplies for the winter?

(This is smart cedar sheep hiding cedar cones in storage rooms. Her visual memory is larger than that of a human.)

Which plant is not a coniferous: cypress or eucalyptus?

(Eucalyptus.)

Which conifers plants reach a diameter of 12 meters?

(Sequoia.)

What valuable ornamental stone is fossil resin coniferous trees?

(Amber.)

The rod of which ancient god was crowned spruce bump?

(Dionysus, or Bacchus.)

The winner of which games in Ancient Greece was awarded a wreath of pine trees?

(Winner of the Isthmian Games.)

What wood was Jupiter's scepter made of? Trojan horse? Cupid's arrows?

(Scepter from cypress , horse from ate , arrows from cedar .)

The coat of arms of which Russian city is decorated with a cannon and three Christmas trees?

(Yelnya . Smolensk region, on the Desna River.)

Not only coniferous tree, but also a tributary of the Don.

(Pine .)

Not only pine forest, but also a city in the Nizhny Novgorod region of the Russian Federation.

(Bor.)

Which tree is depicted on the coat of arms of the city located in the Lipetsk region on the banks of the river Pines?

(Spruce - Yelets city.)

The name of which European country comes from the word “molid” - “ pine»?

(Moldova, Moldova.)

What is a branch often called? coniferous tree: paw, flipper or claw?

(Paw.)

The name of which animal in English combines the words “pig” and “ pine»?

(Porcupine -porcupine. It resembles a pig in its habit of rummaging in the ground and grunting when grazing. Well, pine, of course, with needles.)

The name of which fruit in English consists of two words in one - “ pine" and "apple"?

(Pineapple - pineapple, pine - pine, apple - apple.)

The word “pump” is an anagram of the name of which coniferous tree?

(Pine .)

Not only the drill in the dentist's car, but also pine forest.

(Bor.)

Name the chemical element coniferous forests.

(Bor.)

Which road sign shows coniferous tree?

(On the road sign “Resting Place.”)

What do a brawler boy and pine trees?

(Bumps.)

Which, regardless of the thrown seeds, grows in any furrow?

(Pinery - boron ozda.)

Say in one word the phrase “One pine forest”, if this word is the surname of a Russian composer.

(Bor -one is Borodin.)

How they dressed up Christmas tree during A.S.’s childhood Pushkin?

(The Christmas tree in Russia began to be used as a New Year's tree from the middleXIXcenturies, the future poet did not have a New Year tree during his childhood.)

Who wrote the story “The Boy at Christ’s Christmas tree»?

(F.M. Dostoevsky.)

(V. Odoevsky.)

What fairy tale was written by G.Kh. Andersen: “Spruce”, “Pine” or “Fir”?

(« Spruce ».)

What tree did Mikhail Lermontov write about “It Stands Lonely in the Wild North”?

(Pine .)

Name the children's writer and storyteller who came up with the Planet of New Year's elo To.

(Gianni Rodari.)

It was in January
stood Christmas tree on the mountain,
And near this one Christmas trees
Evil wolves roamed.

(A. Barto.)

In 1903, Russian writer Raisa Adamovna Kudasheva wrote the poem “ Christmas tree" Quote the first two lines, known to absolutely everyone.

("Born in the forest herringbone …»)

that wooden man was planed from Italian pine trees That's why he had that name. Which?

(Pinocchio. Pinia - Italian pine , a coniferous tree with an umbrella-shaped crown.)

"In Italian pine the cones are prickly and heavy, the size of a small melon. To get hit on the head with such a bump is so oh-oh!” Who did Pinocchio fight off with such bumps?

(From Karabas Barabas.)

Which ballet begins with a scene at the Nativity Christmas trees: “Cinderella” or “Nutcracker”?

("Nutcracker".)

Fill in the missing word in the Russian proverb: “Far pine it’s standing, but it’s making noise for its own.”

(boru.)

What do they say about someone who cannot find a way out of a simple, uncomplicated situation in life?

(In three pine trees got lost.)

How many pine trees stood on the Murom path in the famous Russian song?

(“On the Murom path there were three pine trees , my dear said goodbye to me until next spring.")

What did the characters call their walls in the song from the cartoon “The Town Musicians of Bremen”?

(Pines -giants. “Our walls are giant pine trees...”.)

(« Christmas trees -sticks.")

What does the phraseological unit mean now? Christmas trees-sticks"?

(This expression means annoyance, bewilderment, admiration.)

Which coniferous did the tree give its name to the method of skiing up a slope?

(Spruce - “Christmas tree”.)

What trees are depicted in Shishkin’s painting “Ship Grove”?

(Pines .)

The morning in which forest did Shishkin depict in his famous canvas?

(“Morning in pine forest.")

What trees are depicted in Ivan Shishkin’s painting “Rye”?

(Pines .)

What is the name of the place where New Year's gifts are sold? Christmas tree: green market, Christmas tree bazaar or coniferous supermarket?

(Christmas tree bazaar)

NEW YEAR'S QUIZ

1. What winter holidays do Russians celebrate twice: according to the old and new styles?
(Christmas - December 25 and January 7. New Year - January 1 according to the new style and January 14 according to the old style. The phrase old New Year is our domestic invention and Russian tradition.)

2. In Rus', when the whole family gathered at the New Year's table, the children tied the table legs with a bast rope. What did this New Year's custom symbolize?
(This meant that the family would be strong in the coming year and should not be separated.)

3. Why did Russians celebrate the New Year twice with an interval of four months in 1699-1700?
(In 1699, a few months after the Russians had already celebrated the New Year on September 1, they had to repeat the celebration. Because on December 19, Peter the Great issued a decree on calendar reform in Russia. According to this document, the New Year began to be celebrated on January 1 and Christian chronology was adopted - from the Nativity of Christ. The first January New Year in Russia was celebrated very widely for almost 24 hours.)

4. When issuing a decree on the celebration of the New Year, Peter I wrote that on this day, January 1, “decorate houses from trees and branches of pine and spruce. Each one should start shooting in his own yard, but there will be no heavy drinking and massacres on this day...” Why did he forbid drinking and fighting on this day?
(According to Peter, “other days are enough for this.”)

5. In pre-Petrine Rus', fresh apples were a traditional New Year's treat for the festive feast. Why?
(After all, before the calendar reform of Peter I, the New Year was celebrated on September 1 - at the time when apples were picked.)

6. In Japan, the arrival of the New Year is announced by 108 strikes of the bell; in the UK, the New Year's midnight is struck by London's Big Ben clock. But in Russia?
(Moscow Kremlin chimes.)

7. Why didn’t the future poet Pushkin have a New Year’s tree during his childhood?
(The Christmas tree in Russia began to be used as a New Year's tree only from the middle of the 19th century.)

8. With the advent of Soviet power, the custom of decorating a Christmas tree for Christmas was abolished as religious. And when was it restored?
(Only in 1935, they began to decorate the Christmas tree for the New Year.)

9. When did January 1 become a non-working day in Russia?
(The decision to do this was made in December 1947.)

10. Residents of which countries are the first on Earth to celebrate the New Year?
(Residents of New Zealand and the state of Fiji. This is explained by the fact that these territories are geographically located closest to the date line.)

11. What advantage do the residents of the Chukotka village of Uelen have over other Russians?
(They celebrate the New Year first. Whalen– the easternmost village of Russia. It is located near Cape Dezhnev in the Chukotka Autonomous Okrug. Its residents celebrate the New Year 8 hours earlier than in Moscow.)

12. Residents of which region of the Russian Federation celebrate New Year later than all other Russians?

(Kaliningrad region, the westernmost region of Russia. New Year comes to them an hour later than to Moscow.)

13. How many times can you celebrate New Year in Russia?
(Now, in accordance with the new law “On the Calculation of Time,” there are 9 time zones passing through the territory of Russia. Therefore, in Russia, the New Year can be celebrated 9 times. And more recently, there were 11 time zones, and therefore the number of New Year celebrations in our country decreased by 2.)

14. What gymnastic trick does the Earth perform at the time of the next New Year?
(Verso.)

15. At what strike of the Kremlin Chimes does the New Year begin in our country?
(According to the rules of the exact time service, the new hour begins with the last sound signal, including the last strike of the clock.)

16. Who were the first people on Earth to celebrate the New Year in space?
(These are Russian cosmonauts Yuri Romanenko and Georgy Grechko, in orbit of the Salyut-6 station on January 1, 1978.)

17. For Americans he is a saint, for the French he is a father. And who is he to us, Russians?
(In America, Santa Claus brings gifts to the Americans, Père Noel - Father Christmas - to the French, and Grandfather Frost gives gifts to little Russians.)

18. Which ancient Russian city is considered the birthplace of Father Frost?
(Veliky Ustyug, Volgograd region.)

19. In what month does our Grandfather Frost celebrate his birthday?

(In November, more precisely - November 18. What is the age of the winter wizard is not known for certain, but it is certain that he is more than 2000 years old. The children themselves came up with the date of birth of Father Frost, since it is on November 18 on his estate - in Veliky Ustyug - that the real one comes into its own It’s winter and frosts are hitting.)

20. In what region of the Russian Federation is Veliky Ustyug, the patrimony of Father Frost, located?

(In the Vologda region. Veliky Ustyug is one of the oldest cities in the Russian North. It was officially named the birthplace of Father Frost in 1999.)

21. When did the Russian Father Frost have his granddaughter Snegurochka?
(More recently, it was invented by the Russian playwright A.N. Ostrovsky, who in 1873 wrote a play in verse - the poetic “spring fairy tale” “The Snow Maiden”.)

22. Which Russian city is the historical birthplace of the Snow Maiden?

(Kostroma. In Kostroma, the Snow Maiden has both a tower and a living room, where she cordially receives and entertains her guests of any age.)

23. When did the song “Yolochka” (“A Christmas tree was born in the forest...”) appear, which is sung by all children and adults in our country during the New Year holidays?
(The poem “Yolochka” was first published in 1903 in the children’s magazine “Malyutka” with a two-letter pseudonym. Composer L.K. Bekman wrote music for the poems. Only in 1941 was the real author of the words identified - Raisa Adamovna Kudasheva, Russian writer.)

24. Which beauty dresses up once a year?
(Christmas tree.)

25. Which country is the historical birthplace of the Christmas tree, and then the New Year tree?
(Germany.)

26. Name the children's writer and storyteller who came up with the Planet of Christmas Trees.
(Gianni Rodari.)

27. What is the name of the Russian ancient, but ageless dance at the New Year tree?
(Round dance.)

28. Name the performer of the lullaby for the Christmas tree.
(Blizzard.)

29. What is the name of the New Year's two-faced ball?
(Masquerade, carnival.)

30. New Year's drink for risky people is... Which one?
(Champagne.)

31. What is the name of the most peaceful New Year's warhead?
(Clapperboard.)

32. What do New Year's crackers begin with?
(Confetti.)

33. Not only a winding road in the mountains, but also a Christmas tree decoration. What is this?
(Serpentine.)

34. What was the name of the village in which amazing events took place on Christmas night, which N.V. told us about? Gogol?
(Dikanka.)

35. What were the names of the boys from the story of Arkady Gaidar, who came to their father in the distant taiga to celebrate the New Year with a geological expedition?
(Chuk and Gek.)

36. From which film by Eldar Ryazanov did the catchphrase fly out: “There is an attitude to have fun celebrating the New Year”?
("Carnival Night".)

37. Name our most New Year's film, showing which on New Year's Eve has become a real Russian tradition, which is already more than 30 years old.
(“The Irony of Fate, or Enjoy Your Bath,” director Eldar Ryazanov, 1976. They joke that in order to tactfully find out a woman’s age, you need to ask her how many times on New Year’s Eve she watched this film. The number of views will be equal to her age.)

38. But Santa Claus harnesses not reindeer, but reindeer to his Christmas sleigh! What proves the truth of such a statement?
(The presence of antlers. After all, male deer shed their antlers in the fall.)

39. Why can’t you repay existing debts on New Year’s days?
(So as not to have to deal with this all year long. You need to repay all financial debts in advance; taking on old debts on New Year’s Day is not recommended.)

40. In Greece, on New Year's Day, guests place a stone on the owner's threshold, wishing him that this thing will always weigh no less. What is this thing?
(Wallet.)

41. What is it customary to wash your face with on New Year’s Eve in Hungary in order to be well-off all year?
(Literally with money!)

42. Why in Hungary on New Year’s Eve are they not served ducks, chickens, or geese?
(So that “happiness does not fly away from home.”)

43. Why on the evening of December 31 do Italians only walk strictly in the middle of the pavement?
(They are afraid to walk along the edges of the pavement for safety reasons, since Italians throw old trash and furniture out of windows on New Year’s Eve.)

44. In Germany, these seasonal workers must be at least 180 cm tall, have a thick head and a beard. They are given special clothing free of charge. What color is she?
(Red, these are Santa Clauses.)

45. In which country, during New Year's street processions - the most exciting part of the holiday - thousands of lanterns are lit to illuminate the path to the New Year?
(In China.)

46. Which island state has this custom: before the New Year, people fill all the dishes with water, and at the moment when the clock strikes twelve times, they create a real flood, at the same time pouring water out of the windows, wishing themselves that life would be the same in the coming year light and clear, like water?
(At Cuba.)

47. In what month does the New Year begin according to the Eastern lunar calendar?
(In February.)

48. In what month in the history of Russia was the New Year NOT celebrated?
A. March. V. September.
B. January. G. November.

(The ancient Slavs celebrated the New Year on March 1 with the onset of warmth and the beginning of field work. In 1492, the beginning of the year in Rus' was officially moved to September 1. Since 1699, the New Year began to be celebrated on January 1.)

49. When did you celebrate the New Year in pre-Petrine Rus' of the 18th century?
A. January 1st. V. March 1st.
B. June 1st. G. September 1.

50. What is the affectionate name for Santa Claus in some Russian fairy tales?
A. Freezer. V. Morozko.
B. Morozets. G. Jellied meat.

51. What is the name of Santa Claus' "magic wand"?
A. Scepter. V. Rod.
B. Staff. G. Palitsa.

52. What kind of headdress does our Russian Santa Claus wear?
A. Kolpak. B. Boyarka hat.
B. Turban. G. Pot.
(And Santa Claus walks around in a red cap.)

53. Where does Father Frost get gifts for Russian children on New Year’s Day?
A. From the chest. B. From the bag.
B. From the safe. G. From a sock.

54. What is the name of the fairy tale by V.F. Odoevsky?
A. “Moroz Ivanovich”. V. “Kholod Petrovich.”
B. "Kolotun Nikolaevich." G. “Cold Semyonovna.”

55. What fairy tale was written by G.Kh. Andersen?
A. "Spruce". V. "Pine".
B. "Fir". G. "Cedar".

56. What is the name of the place where Christmas trees are sold?
A. Green market. B. Christmas tree market.
B. Green auction. G. Coniferous supermarket.

57. Which Kremlin tower appears on TV screens on New Year's Eve?
A. Borovitskaya. V. Nikolskaya.
B. Spasskaya. G. Kutafya.

58. What item does every Japanese consider it his duty to acquire in order to rake in the coming year new happiness?
A. A shovel. B. Fishing net.
B. Bamboo rake. G. A straw basket.

59. Under the guise of a representative of which profession does the Mongolian Santa Claus appear on New Year's Eve?
A. Cook. V. Shepherd.
B. Steelmaker. G. Cosmonaut.

60. At what time of year do they celebrate New Year in Australia?
A. Summer. B. Autumn.
B. Winter. G. Spring.

What else to read

Abstract: History of the development of hygiene 1. The development of hygiene in primitive and slave societies. The emergence and development of hygiene has a centuries-old history...

Formation of estimated liabilities and reserves for vacations As in 1s 8 Hello, dear blog readers. Lately, in my consulting work, I have quite often...

Puff khinkal in a pressure cooker Puff DAGESTAN KHINKAL Puff khinkal is often prepared in Dagestan. A very tasty, but high-calorie, masculine dish....

The history of the Christmas (New Year) tree from the 16th century to the present day. Coniferous quiz Which country is considered the historical birthplace of the Christmas tree?

The Ancient Origins of Christmas Traditions

The Legend of Saint Boniface and the Christmas Tree

Christmas tree of the 16th century: Christian symbolism

Is Celeste the birthplace of the Christmas tree?

Late 16th - 17th centuries: Protestant traditions of decorating the Christmas tree

XVIII-XIX centuries: Christmas - children's holiday

The Christmas tree comes to France and the UK

Christmas tree decorations of the New Age: the invention of the glass ball and other innovations

Christmas tree in Catholic countries

The Ancient Origins of Christmas Traditions

The Legend of Saint Boniface and the Christmas Tree

Christmas tree of the 16th century: Christian symbolism

Is Celeste the birthplace of the Christmas tree?

Late 16th - 17th centuries: Protestant traditions of decorating the Christmas tree

XVIII-XIX centuries: Christmas - children's holiday

The Christmas tree comes to France and the UK

Christmas tree decorations of the New Age: the invention of the glass ball and other innovations

Christmas tree in Catholic countries

What else to read

THE LAST NOTES

Categories