The history of Christmas/New Year’s-tree decorations in Russia is a history of the country.
The history of Christmas/New Year’s-tree decorations in Russia is a history of the country. Before 1917, there were candies and Christmas balls topped by the Star of Bethlehem. After the revolution, these were replaced by paper aircraft, Red Army soldiers, and the Red Star. During WWII, Christmas trees were decorated with paper snow-flakes and Christmas balls adapted from burned-out light bulbs. The 1960s ushered in glass figurines of cosmonauts and clocks showing five minutes to midnight.
Christmas balls, the most popular Christmas and New Year decoration, are making a comeback.
A painter for the Yelochka Company at work on Christmas-tree decorations.
The decorations are hand-painted.
First the glass ball is made.
The glass-blowing process requires special skill.
A portion of the glass pipe is left to make the painter’s job easier.
The painting shop at the Yelochka Company’s plant in Klin, Moscow Region.
Christmas-tree decorations manufactured by Yelochka in Klin, Moscow Region.
The Ariel Factory’s products: Christmas ball with a rustic landscape.
Christmas-tree decorations from the Ariel Factory: “Owl.”
A shop at the Ariel Factory in Nizhny Novgorod.
An Ariel painter.
