Three centuries of the Russian Christmas tree. Christmas tree toys - History Olga Sinyakina Christmas tree toy collector

Muscovite Olga Sinyakina collected a unique collection of New Year's toys of the period 30-60s of the last century

Ticket to childhood

On the desktop in the theater, a new opera at Olga Sinyakina is a small Christmas tree. On the branches - glass harp, hares with drums and even a basket of colors that give artists after the concert. All toys - the era of the middle of the last century. All of them, one way or another, are associated with the theater and music. And this, including a rare cotton Santa Claus, only a small part of a unique collection collected in the apartment in the south-west of Moscow. There were more than 4 thousand exhibits related to the most beloved children's holiday. The youngest exhibits dated the mid-sixties of the last century - since then has begun the massive edition of the Christmas decorations. And all that was done earlier - did, mostly, manually. And these toys, who remember the warmth of our great-grandmothers-great-grandfathers, unique and unique.

Photo: Olga Sinyavskaya

"Bear with a soccer ball"

The first exhibit in the Muscovite collection appeared so. On the Christmas tree with friends, Olga came to visit, sat amazing bear - with harmonus and in red shorts.

This was an amazing toy - from my childhood. - remembers Muscovite. On vacation, I stayed at home alone, I took a toy from the Christmas tree, wrapped, played, hung back. And this bear, whom I saw from friends, was from there, from childhood. Even the scratched was the same! This bear is first associated with a new year and that huge Christmas tree that the parents dressed me. And after a few decades, I met him! I began to think: "But where is the one, my bear, from childhood? I have the most adult children, long ago there are no living parents, and the houses of the parent, already not. Who got all those toys? ".

Photo: Olga Sinyavskaya

Airsholes were in fashion very long time.

In the same year, Muscovite fell to the exhibition organized by the collector of Soviet toys Kim Balashak. This American submissal has lived in Russia for many years - heavily fascinated by the history of Soviet toys and gathered a stunning collection. From the first exhibition, which Olga Sinyakina visited, women had a sympathy and became good friendlies.

She was very wealthy lady and collecting professionally - she had exhibition glass cabinets, lighting, special stands for postcards, "Muscovite says. - The richest collection, what to say! Professional agents worked on her replenishment, which purposefully went on exhibitions and flea markets, buying toys. But, naturally, our story and fabulous folklore Kim did not know. For example, she once called me to tell me that she finally managed to buy a "bear with a soccer ball." I invited to see what kind of "soccer ball". I come - and these are the heroes of the fairy tale "Kolobok"!

So, that visit to the Christmas tree to the guests and friendship with Kim Balashak became the starting point for Olga Sinyakina - these two events and promoted it to start collecting their collection.

Photo: Olga Sinyavskaya

Toys from the fairy tale "Chippolino"

The first in the house was settled that the Bear in the Red Cowels - His Olga bought from some kind of cute granny in the flea market. Now Muscovite has such bears seven - the same figures are the same, but, since everything is painted manually, then each teddy bear has its own color of panties, accordions and, of course, their own unique facial expressions.

Out of time, Olga collected all the toys from his children's Christmas tree. But it turned out that there are many other interesting toys. So they began to move from trays on the venice and flea markets in the Moscow apartment in the south-west.

Photo: Olga Sinyavskaya

Dr. Aibolit

The puppet world lives in its laws, there is its own hierarchy, rules for decorating a tree. - tells the collector. - My most favorite - wadded, periods of 30s. But a lot of me and glass. In each ball - the declaration of history. The events of the year necessarily reflected in the subject of New Year's toys.

Photo: Olga Sinyavskaya

Cheburashka - one of the symbols of the era

Oil tower, cotton, corn, satellite, rocket, airships - illustrated every milestone. In the era of the development of the North, a lot was released by white bears skiing. I have a collection of flyers.

Christmas trees war

Separate exhibits in the Olga collection - toys with military trees. They are definitely non-frosted, almost everyone is made by hand and "on the run", but from this the most valuable. The enemy stood under Moscow a few kilometers, and people still dressed up the Christmas trees and believed - peacetime, christmas trees, mandarins will definitely return!

Photo: Olga Sinyavskaya

I watched a documentary film, there in the bomb shelter children water dance and written "Happy New Year 1942." - Muscovite says. - The enemy on the approach, Moscow in disguise, here there is some kind of truck on the street and lucky christmas tree! Many Wire Military Toys is the Moskabel plant, which supplied products for the front, made toys, mainly snowflakes from pruning the wire. There are toys from officer skies. Snowflakes made of metallized foil from which kefir tubes did - there are the same owls, butterflies, parrots. Decracted manually. They sold them or they did at home for themselves - I do not know.

Photo: Olga Sinyavskaya

But human destinies are also associated with these toys. One day one family approached me at the exhibition. Descendants of the Faith of Dougall, Artists of the Bolshoi Theater, her husband is also a artist. They were then sent to evacuation. Vera herself, which she lived somewhere in Arbat's alleys, remained. And daughters with children left, including the granddaughter of Lena, which was called the Christmas tree. Here they later handed me a diary, where "Mom Vera" told about the days of the New Year Military Moscow, as even, surprisingly, restaurants worked. How the fur collars on the products changed and covered the New Year tables.

Photo: Olga Sinyavskaya

Then the hungry times came in Moscow. But in the province of products in the markets were. Only things that changed the products are already over. And the grandmother sends a cardboard chicken in a letter before the new year, Happy New Year. The children were surprised to give such a gift, shrugged - hung on the Christmas tree. And then again the letter: "Girls, how did my chicken helped you?". And the girls guessed: opened the cardboard chicken, she inside was a hollow - and there is a gold chain! "How we lived on this chicken, which products were able to refline!" - I remembered the already matured Christmas tree.

The letters opened, they read their military censorship - send something in the open, was risky. And on the chicken cardboard, which inside the hollow, no one paid attention. So the chicken, saving from hunger the whole family and a little girl Christmas tree, first hung on the Christmas tree in the family of artists, and then it turned out to be in the collection of Olga Sinyakina.

Photo: Olga Sinyavskaya

The second life of the repristed bears

We still have a former artist named Mrigorievna in the music library. - tells the collector about one more unique exhibit. "She was 80 years old when she came to me with the words" Olekka, I know you have a big collection of Christmas bears, I have a gift for you. I am an old man, I'm afraid, my grandchildren after my death will throw him away. " And stretches the old-old bear. On-clogged in a rag, dirty, greasy, there is no muzzle - instead of a black stocking and buttons instead.

I was presented to me for 1932, "the elderist explained and told her story.

Dad her in dashing years fell under repression. Fortunately, a man was not shot - they referred to his family in Vorkuta. In 1953, the family was rehabilitated. Squirt Skarb rode for a long time in the cargo car back to the capital. In Moscow, they opened and frown - the rat was the whole face on the road on the road. The face-kissed face turned out to be the most delicious and sweet place for rodent.

It was the most expensive toy, I cried and could not throw it. - I remembered the old woman. - She slept, as she could - sewed a black stocking, buttons instead of eyes.

Olga Sinyakina attributed a bear to the restorer toy Sergey Romanov. He identified the toy - in his collection was the same! Carefully resorted the shaggy, took the surviving fabric from the legs and under the rush, sewed the muzzle from these flashes, according to the twin sample from his collection. On the paws dressed pants. Made rag nose, eyes.

I then came with this renovated Mishka to Ruslan Grigorievna, warned that she would sat down and take it from the bag, says Olga Sinyakina. - Ruslana Grigorievna Ahunla: "He was so!" - And from the feelings wept.

Teddy bear, no matter how much Olga asked his colleague to take his child's friend back, nevertheless remained at the collector - now in the company of other bears, periodically goes to the exhibition and "lives a good life." In total, Muscovite in the collection of more than eighty bears. And this is the New Year attribute! - After all, by tradition, many decades under the Christmas tree were not put by Santa Claus, namely the teddy bear.

I then at the exhibitions Muscovites, whose childhood had to be at the thirties, they said that before the war, Santa Claus was never under the Christmas tree, only the bear was still a pre-revolutionary tradition. - tells Sinyakina. - Yes, and Santa Claus in red fur coat was then associated only with Red Army. And for many with this form, during the years of repression there were bad associations.

Christmas tree from mop

At one time, the celebration of the New Year in the USSR was banned. In the mid-20s, there was an active campaign against the denial of the "Popov holidays" - the Komsomol schitresses are included, the new power is ridiculed by New Year's and Christmas customs, plus the calendar change has affected. Officially, the new year returned the status of the holiday only in 1935.

Photo: Olga Sinyavskaya

Clock - you can hang or mount on the clothespin

But people still continued to celebrate in the years of prohibition. Although it was possible to receive a real time for the dressed Christmas tree. - tells Olga Sinyakina. - One elderly lady came to me on one of the exhibitions, who lived in the 30s in the legendary house on the embankment. In the 30s, the inhabitants of this house still on the old manner rinsed underwear in the Moscow River. And they have a perspective with the local janitor. He brought her Christmas tree in advance from the forest, disassembled her to the boottle and hid not far from the coast. And in each entrance at the exit, it was an hour - he checked each incoming-leaving. And so, after the conventional signal, the residents walked with pelvis and linen to the river. Showed at the output of the watch basin. On the shore found these accumulated twigs, hid underwear. Entered home. At home they took Musvabra. In it, the husband drilled holes in advance. The twigs were inserted into these holes. For several "styrices", quite a pretty "Christmas tree" was gathered - she was dressed in sweets, tangerines and homemade toys.
But the holiday then wore a religious character.

Photo: Olga Sinyavskaya

Ancient tear-off calendar

Pearls and children's tears

Traditional pre-revolutionary New Year's gifts - Bonbonniells. In them, for Christmas and the day of the angel were invested in the pearls. The girl was collected to the majority of the girl.

Then, already under Soviet power, twenty-five years in a row, a classic New Year's gift was the plush bears. Children they really treasured them. Sometimes truly fantastic stories took place with such gifts. The hero of such a story, teddy bear, now lives in the apartment collector. Toys have an amazing biography.

In 1941, a three-year-old Fed, who lived in Leningrad, presented a bear for the new year. - tells Olga Sinyakina. - The boy loved this toy very much. In the summer of the 41st father of the boy went to the front. Not returned. Blocade began - Mom and grandmother died from hunger in front of Fedi, and a child, a semi-shit, similar to a skeleton, with thin handles-legs, were taken into evacuation. All this time, the kid was dead by a dead grip for a bear - to pick up the toy from the boy was impossible. But no one, seeing the child to be treated with them, and did not insist. So they, Fedya and Misha, went to Perm. From there the boy later, already in Moscow, the long-distance capital of relatives took. The child came with that very toy. It was the only thing that he had from his family. Already adults, Fedya kept this bear as the most important value. After death, relatives handed to the toy as a gift.

Photo: Olga Sinyavskaya

Doctor of Philological Sciences E. Doshekkin. Material for print prepared L. Bersenev. Illustrations for the article kindly provided the Moscow collector O. Sinyakina.

The dressed fir tree, standing in the house for the new year, seems to us so natural, for granted, which, as a rule, does not cause any questions. Suitable for the new year, and we have been assimilated from childhood habit set it, decorate and rejoice in Him. Meanwhile, this custom has been formed about us relatively recently, and its origin, his story and its meaning undoubtedly deserve attention. The process of "grafting of the Christmas tree" in Russia was long, contradictory, and evenly painful. This process in directly reflects the mood and addiction of various layers of Russian society. During the conquest of the popularity, the Christmas tree felt delighted and rejection, full of indifference and enmity. Tracking the history of the Russian Christmas tree, it is possible to see how the attitude towards this tree is gradually changing, as in disputes there arises, it grows and argues his cult, as the struggle against him and for him and how Christmas tree, finally won a complete victory, turning into universal The favorite, the expectation of which becomes one of the happiest and commemorative experiences of the child. Children's Christmas trees are imprinted in memory for life. I remember my first Christmas tree that Mom has arranged for me and my older sister. It was at the end of 1943 in evacuation in the Urals. In difficult military time, she still found it necessary to deliver this joy to their children. Since then, in our family, no new year meeting was held without a Christmas tree. Among the jewelry that we hang on the Christmas tree, several toys have still been preserved since more long ago. I have a special attitude to them ...

The story of the conversion of ate in the Christmas tree

It happened on the territory of Germany, where spruce in times of paganism was particularly revered and identified with the world tree. It is here, in the ancient Germans, she became early by New Year, and later - a Christmas symbol. Among the German peoples, there was a custom who was custom for New Year in the forest, where the fir tree chosen for the ritual role was covered with candles and decorated with colored rags, after which the corresponding rites were performed near or around it. Over time, the spruce trees began to lie down and bring to the house where they were installed on the table. Grilled candles were attached to the tree, apples and sugar were hung on it. The emergence of a cult of fir as a symbol of non-angry nature contributed to the evergreen cover, which allowed it to use it during the winter holiday season, which was the transformation of the long-term custom, to decorate at home by evergreen plants.

After the baptism of the German peoples of customs and rites, related to the veneration of ate, began to gradually acquire Christian meaning, and they began to "use" as a Christmas tree, establishing in homes no longer for the New Year, but on Christmas Eve (Christmas Eve, December 24), Why did she get the name of the Christmas tree - Weihnachtsbaum. Since then, the Christmas Eve has become a festive mood in Germany to be created not only by Christmas chains, but also a Christmas tree with candles burning on it.

Petrovsky Decree 1699

In Russia, the custom of the New Year tree is beginning with the Petrovsky era. According to the Tsarskoy Decree of December 20, 1699, henceforth, it was prescribed to lead the chores not from the creation of the world, but from the Nativity of Christ, and the Day of Novoisya, until that time he noted on Rus on September 1, "Following the example of all Christian peoples to celebrate on January 1. In this decree, recommendations on the organization of the New Year holiday were also given. In his commemoration on the day of the New Year, it was ordered to let rockets, to light the lights and decorate the capital (then else - Moscow) of the Cheese: "On the big streets, with deliberate houses, to put some decorations from the trees and branches of pine, fir and Mozyvuel against samples What are made on the living room ". And "people are scanty" suggested "to each, although in the antifreeze or branch on the gate or over the chronie to put it ... And stand on the decoration of January on the first day." This is a little careful in the era of stormy events. Detail and appeared in Russia by the beginning of the three-time history of custom, install the Christmas tree for the time of winter holidays.

However, by the future Christmas tree, the Decree of Peter had a very indirect attitude: first, the city was decorated not only with spruce, but also by other coniferous trees; Secondly, in the decree, it was recommended to use both the whole trees and branches and, finally, thirdly, the decorations made of needles were ordered not to install not indoors, but outside - on the gate, roofs of restaurants, streets and roads. Thus, the Christmas tree turned into a detail of the New Year's city landscape, and not a Christmas interior than it later became.

After Peter's death, his recommendations were thoroughly forgotten. The royal prescriptions have been preserved only in the decoration of the peteed establishments, which before the new year they continued to decorate the Christmas trees. On these chips (tied to the cola installed on the roofs or also stuck at the gate), the Kabaki was identified. The trees stood there until next year, on the eve of which the old trees replaced new. Arriving as a result of Petrovsky, this custom was supported during the XVIII and XIX centuries.

Pushkin in the "History of the village of Guliukhina" mentions "an ancient public building (that is, the Kabak), decorated with Christmas and the image of a double-headed eagle." This characteristic item was well known and from time to time reflected in many works of Russian literature. D. V. Grigorovich, for example, in the story of 1847 "Anton-Gorryka", telling about the meeting of his hero on the road to the city with two tailors, notes: "Soon all three travelers have reached a high hut, an autumn Christmas tree and a squawn, standing on the outskirts Roads when turning to the village, and stopped. "

As a result, the kabachi in the people began to call the "Christmas trees" or "Ivan Eykovy": "Let's go to Elkina, for the holiday of drink"; "It can be seen, Ivan Elkina was visiting that from side to be shaken." Gradually, the whole complex of "alcoholic" concepts acquired "Christmas" Duplegets: "Christmas tree to raise" - to drink, "go under the Christmas tree" or "Christmas tree fell, let's go to raise" - go to the Kabak, "Be under the Christmas tree" - to be in the Kabaska, " Elkin "- the state of alcohol intoxication, etc.

In addition to the external decoration of the Peteing establishments in the XVIII century and throughout the next century, the Christmas tree was used on the rolled roller coats (or, as they also spoke. On engravings and chest of pads of the XVIII and XIX centuries depicting riding from the mountains on the holidays (Holly and Maslenitsa) in St. Petersburg, Moscow and other cities, you can see small Christmas trees installed on the edges of the hill.

In St. Petersburg, the Christmas trees were also referred to the ways of winter transport on the sleigh through the Neva: "In the snow shafts, - writes L. V. Uspensky about St. Petersburg the end of the XIX - early XX century, - cheerful shaggy christmas trees stumbled", and on this path " Skates "transported sleds with seedlings.

Christmas tree in Russia in the first half of the XIX century

In Russia, the tree as a Christmas tree appeared at the beginning of the nineteenth century in the homes of the St. Petersburg Germans. In 1818, on the initiative of the Great Princess, Alexandra Fedorovna was arranged a Christmas tree in Moscow, and the next year - in the St. Petersburg Anichkov Palace. At Christmas of 1828, Alexander Fedorovna, by that time the Empress, organized the first holiday of the "Children's Christmas tree" in his own palace for the five children and nieces - the daughters of the Grand Duke Mikhail Pavlovich. The tree was installed in the Big Dining Room.

Also invited children of some courtesy. On the eight tables and on the table, set for the emperor, set Christmas trees decorated with candy, gilded apples and nuts. Gifts were laid under the trees: toys, dresses, porcelain belts, etc. Gifts to all those present children, the hostess herself was distributed. The holiday began at eight o'clock in the evening, and at nine hours the guests were already reversible. Since then, following the example of the royal family, the Christmas tree began to establish in the houses of the Higher Petersburg nobility.

However, judging by the numerous descriptions of the sinic festivals in magazines of the 1820s-1830s, at this time the Christmas tree in most Russian houses has not yet been set. Neither Pushkin, nor Lermontov, nor their contemporaries are mentioned about it, while the shints, the soda masquerarads and balls are described at this time constantly: the Svetlana's salty gadania is given in the Ballad of Zhukovsky "Svetlana" (1812), the shints in the landlord Evgeny Onegin chapter (1825), the Wormick on the poem Pushkin "House in Kolomna" (1828), the drama Lermontov "Masquerade" (1835) is confined to the shocks (winter holidays). None of these works about the Christmas tree says not a word.

Published by F. V. Bulgarian newspaper North Bee regularly printed reports on past holidays, about children issued to Christmas for children, about Christmas gifts, etc. The Christmas tree is not mentioned in it until the turn of the 1830s-1840s. The first mention of the Christmas tree in the newspaper appeared on the eve of 1840: it was reported on the sold "charming and painted lanterns, garlands, wreaths" Christmas trees. But during the first ten years, the St. Petersburg residents still perceived the Christmas tree as a specific "German wont."

Set the exact time when the tree first appeared in the Russian house, until it is possible. In the story of S. Auslander "The shinties in Old Petersburg" (1912) it is said that the first Christmas tree in Russia was arranged by the sovereign Nikolai I at the very end of the 1830s, after which, following the example of the royal family, it began to install it in the houses of St. Petersburg nobility . The rest of the population of the capital for the time being either relate to it indifferent, or did not know about the existence of such a custom. However, there is little little christmas tree conquered other social strata of St. Petersburg.

In early January 1842, A. I. Herzen's wife in a letter to his girlfriend describes how a Christmas tree was arranged in their house for her two-year-old son Sasha. This is one of the first stories about the christmas tree in the Russian House: "All December I was done by cooking a Christmas tree for Sasha. For him, and for me it was for the first time: I rejoiced it with expectations. " In memory of this first Christmas tree Sasha Herzen, an unknown artist made watercolor "Sasha Herzen at the Christmas tree", which is kept in the Museum A. I. Herzen (in Moscow).

And suddenly in the mid-1840s an explosion occurred - "German wont" begins to spread rapidly. Now Petersburg was literally covered by the Christmas Troops. Custom entered the fashion, and by the end of the 1840s, the Christmas tree becomes a well-known and familiar piece of christmas interior in the capital.

The passion for the "German innovation" - the Christmas tree was supported by the fashion for the works of German writers and, above all, on Hoffman, "Christmas-tree" texts "Nutcracker" and "Bloch Lord" were well known to the Russian reader.

An essential role in the distribution and popularization of the Christmas tree in Russia was played by commerce. From the beginning of the 19th century, the most famous specialists in the confectionery business from Switzerland, belonging to a small alpine nation, retorter, famous for the entire European business masters, became the most famous in St. Petersburg. Gradually, they seized the confectionery case of the capital and organized from the end of the 1830s sale of the Christmas trees with lanterns, toys, gingerbread, cakes, sweets. It was worth such Christmas trees very expensive ("from 20 rubles by assignments up to 200 rubles"), and therefore only very rich "good mothers" could buy them for their children.

Trade in the Christmas trees began since the late 1840s. They were sold at the seating courtyard, where the peasants brought them from the surrounding forests. But if the poor could not afford to buy even the smallest Christmas tree, then the rich capital of knowing began to arrange the competition: whose tree is more, thicker, elegant, richer decorated. As a Christmas tree decorations in wealthy homes, real jewels and expensive fabrics were often used. The end of the 1840s dates back to the first mention of the artificial Christmas tree, which was considered special chic.

By the middle of the XIX century, the German custom firmly entered the life of the Russian capital. The tree itself, previously known in Russia only under the German name "Weihnachtsbaum", began to be called first "Christmas tree" (which is a trash from German), and later received the name "Christmas tree", which he has been fixed for him forever. The Christmas tree began to be called and a holiday, suitable for Christmas: "Go to the Christmas tree", "arrange a Christmas tree", "invite to the Christmas tree". V.I. Dal noticed about this: "Having changed, through Peter, from the Germans Custom to prepare children to christmas decorated, illuminated Christmas tree, we call so sometimes the very day of the Christmas tree, Christmas tree."

Russian Christmas tree in the second half of the XIX century

The development of the Christmas tree in Russia is striking by his swiftness. Already in the middle of the century, the tree becomes quite commonplace for residents of many provincial and county cities.

The reason for the rapid entry of the St. Petersburg innovation to the life of the provincial city is clear: refusing the old folk custom of celebrating the density of the density, the townspeople felt some ritual vacuum. This vacuum was not filled with anything, causing a feeling of disappointment due to vain festive expectations, or compensated by new, purely urban entertainment, including the christmas tree.

The estate of Christmas tree won with great difficulty. Here, as the memoirists testify, the shints for many years continued to be celebrated in the old manner, with observance of folk customs.

Nevertheless, little, the St. Petersburg fashion began to penetrate into the estate.

If until the middle of the XIX century in the memoirs dedicated to the shocks in the landlord estate, the christmas tree is not mentioned, then after ten years the position changes. On the Christmas holidays of 1863, the Sobetaenitsa Leo Tolstoy T. A. Kuzminskaya, who lived in a long time in a clear paradise and considered it with his "second parent home", recalls: "We got some fun: theater, evenings, tree and even skating on Troika. " Two years later, on December 14, 1865, in a letter to Sofye Andreevna Tolstoy she reports: "Here we are preparing for the first holiday a big Christmas tree and draw different lanterns and remembered how you know how to do these things." And further: "There was a magnificent tree with gifts and yard children. On the lunar night - the roller on the troika. "

Winter holidays in the Casual Polyana were a rare example of the organic joining of Russian folk dens with the Western tradition of the Christmas tree: here the Christmas tree was an annual celebration. " The device of the Christmas tree was led by Sofya Andreevna Tolstaya, who, according to his people who knew her, "knew how to do it," while the writer himself was the initiator, judging by the memories and on literary works, which perfectly knew the customs of the people's Russian densities (remember although would correspond to the "war and peace" fragments).

All the children of Lion Tolstoy, in the description of the Yasnocation, the Church talk about the parish of the trees of peasant children. Apparently, the presence of peasant children on the manor Christmas tree becomes the usual phenomenon. The parish on the Christmas tree of rustic children is also said in the story of A. N. Tolstoy "Childhood of Nikita" and in other texts.

Festival of Christmas tree

At first, finding in the House of Christmas Tree was limited to one evening. On the eve of Christmas, a fir tree secretly from the children jested to the best room at home, in the hall or in the living room, and installed on the table covered with a white tablecloth. Adults, as A. I. Tsveyev recalls, "hid from us [Christmas tree] exactly with the same passion, with what we dreamed of seeing it."

Candles were attached to the branches of the tree, a delicacy, jewelry, decorated with gifts, who, like the christmas tree, were folded under it, who, like the christmas tree, were preparing in strict secretion. Finally, in front of the inlet of children in the hall on the tree, candles were lit.

Included in the room where the Christmas tree was installed, it was strictly strictly prohibited to a special permission. Most often, for this time, children were taught in any other room. Therefore, they could not see what was done in the house, but in different signs they sought to guess what was happening: listened, spy to the keyhole or to the door slot. When finally, all the preparations ended, the conditional signal was filed ("the magic bell was heard") or someone from adults or servants came for children.

The doors in the hall opened. This moment of disclosure, opening the doors is present in a variety of memoirs, stories and poems about the feast of the Christmas tree: he was for children a long-awaited and passionately welcome moment of entry into the "Christmas Space", their compound with the magic tree. The first reaction was a stupor, almost stable.

Representing the children in all its glory, the tree was deserted "on the very brilliant way" the tree invariably caused amazement, admiration, delight. After the first shock took place, shouts began, ahi, screeching, jumping, clapping in your hands. At the end of the holiday, the children received a Christmas tree at their full order: they broke the sloant and toys from her, destroyed, broke and completely destroyed the tree (which gave rise to the "robberry christmas" expressions, "pinching the Christmas tree") . From here there happened and the name of the holiday itself: the holiday "Talking the Christmas tree". The destruction of the Christmas tree had the psychotherapeutic value of discharge for them after the long period of voltage experienced.

At the end of the holiday, the devastated and broken tree was taken out of the hall and thrown into the courtyard.

The custom of installing the Christmas tree on Christmas holidays inevitably underwent changes. In those houses where the funds allowed and there was enough space, already in the 1840s, instead of a traditionally small Christmas tree began to put a large tree: highly valued, to the ceiling, christmas trees, wide and thick, with a strong and fresh cheese. It is quite natural that high trees could not be kept on the table, so they began to be attached to the cross (to "mugs" or "legs") and installed on the floor in the center of the hall or the largest room in the house.

By moving from the table to the floor, from an angle in the middle, the Christmas tree turned into a center of a festive celebration, providing the opportunity to have fun around her, drive away dances. B.

The center of the room tree allowed to inspect it from all sides, to look for on it both new and old, familiar toys. It was possible to play under the Christmas tree, hide behind her or under it. It is possible that this Christmas tree dance was borrowed from the ritual of the Trickyna of the day, whose participants, holding hands, went around birch with the singing of ritual songs. Sang an old German song "About Tannenbaum, O Tannenbaum! Wie Griim Sind Deine Blahatter ("About Christmas Tree, About Christmas Tree! Like a green krona"), which has long been the main song on the Christmas trees in Russian families.

The changes that took place changed the essence of the holiday: Gradually, he began to turn the Christmas tree for children of familiar and relatives. On the one hand, it was the consequence of the natural desire of the parents to extend the "unearthly enjoyment" delivered to the Christmas tree to his children, and on the other hand, they wanted to boast of other people's adults and children of their wood, the wealth of his decoration, prepared gifts, treats. The owners tried with all his might that the "Christmas tree went to fame," it was a matter of honor.

On such holidays, the names of children's Christmas trees, in addition to the younger generation, adults were always present: parents or accompanying children's children. Children of governess, teachers, servants are also invited.

Over time, the festivals of the Christmas tree and adults began to be arranged, for which parents left alone, without children.

The first public tree was organized in 1852 at the St. Petersburg Ekateringo station, erected in 1823 in Ekateringof country garden. A huge spruce installed in the station station "one side ..." inserted to the wall, and the other was decorated with multicolored paper flap. " Following her, public trees began to arrange in the noble, officer and merchant meetings, clubs, theaters and other places. Moscow did not lag behind the Nevsky capital: from the beginning of the 1850s, the festivals of the Christmas tree in the hall of the noble Moscow meeting also became annual.

The Christmas trees for adults did not differ much from traditional soda nights, balls, masquerades, who received distribution since the XVIII century, and the deserted tree was simply fashionable and with time a mandatory detail of the festive decoration halls. In the novel, "Dr. Zhivago" Boris Pasternak writes:

"From time immemorial Trees, Sventytsky was arranged for this sample. At ten, when the defortion was driving around, they lit the second for young people and adults and having fun until the morning. Only the elderly all night have been cut into the cards in a three-time Pubeyskaya living room, which was a continuation of the hall ... At dawn dined with all the society ... by the hot breathable Christmas tree, gone into several rows with a flowing shine, rustling dresses and advancing each other on his feet, was moving black Wall of strolling and talking not busy dancing. Inside the circle fleece dancers. "

Threaters around the Christmas tree

Despite the ever-increasing popularity of the Christmas tree in Russia, the attitude towards it from the very beginning did not differ in complete unanimity. The adherents of the Russian Starry saw in the Christmas tree the next Western innovation, encroaching on national identity. For other Christmas tree, it was unacceptable from aesthetic point of view. It was sometimes spoke about her dislike as about "clumsy, german and non-fiction," surprised how it is a spiny, a dark and raw tree could turn into an object of reverence and admiration.

In recent decades of the XIX century, in Russia, the voices in protecting nature and above all forests began to be distributed. A. P. Chekhov wrote:

"Russian forests crack under an ax, dying billions of trees, the dwellings of animals and birds are devastated, melted and dry rivers, irrevocably wonderful landscapes disappear ... Forests are less and less, the river dry, game was transferred, the climate is spoiled, and every day the land becomes Everything is poorer and ugly. "

In the press, the "anticoral campaign" was passed, the initiators of which fell into a loved custom, considering the cutting of thousands of trees before Christmas as a real disaster.

A serious enemy of the Christmas tree as an ingenic (Western, unrealistic) and, moreover, the Orthodox Church became a pagan in its origin. His Holiness Synod until the revolution of 1917 issued decrees that prohibited the device of the Christmas trees in schools and gymnasiums.

Did not take the Christmas tree and in the peasant hill. If the Christmas tree was desirable for the urban poor, although often inaccessible, then for the peasants, she remained purely "Bark fun". The peasants went to the forest only for the Christmas trees for their Lord or in order to distort them for sale in the city. And the "old man", according to the famous song, who quit "our Christmas tree under the most root", and Chekhov Vanka, who has a Christmas tree with his grandfather in the woods behind the Christmas tree, brought it not for themselves, but for the Lord children. Therefore, it is not at all reflecting the reality Christmas cards of the beginning of the 20th century, accompanied by the inscription "Frost Grandfather goes, / You are carrying gifts" and depicting Santa Claus with a peasant hut with a Christmas tree and with a bag of gifts behind the shoulders, where children are looking at him with amazement.

And yet the Christmas tree came out the winner from the fight with his opponents.

Supporters of the Christmas tree - many teachers and writers - stood on the defense of the "beautiful and high-eethic custom Christmas tree", believing that "in the forest you can always cut down a hundred-other young trees without much harm to the forest, and often even with benefit." Professor of the St. Petersburg Forest Institute, the author of the book about the Russian forest D. M. Kaigorodov, regularly published on the pages of the Christmas numbers of the newspaper "New Time" Articles about the Christmas Articles, confidently stated: "With the forest, nothing will become, and denying children of pleasure to play near the Christmas tree cruelly ".

The new custom was so charming, charming that it was not possible to cancel it during these years.

(Ending follows.)

Why billionaire Grigorishin does not sell anything from his collection of paintings
Office Konstantin Grigorishin. On the wall - Bas-relief Laefoto Eugene Dudin for Forbes
The owner of the "Energy Standard" group has created a collection worth $ 300 million, which is not ready to sell any painting
In 2008, the businessman Konstantin Grigorishin (No. 70 in the list of richest Forbes, a state - $ 1.3 billion) gave a dinner in his mansion. Three tens of guests - Members of the Board of Trustees of the Guggenheim Museum, with whom Grigorishin cooperates, and American collectors, for the sake of this flew to Moscow. The museum regularly organizes such closed dinners in collectors' homes from different countries. The billionaire proudly showed pictures of the Picture of the Personal Collection. And he really has something to be proud of. Three dozen works are hung on the walls of the house, from the tested Lucas Town of Sprinkle to the fashionable Roy Liechtenstein.
One of the guests learned on the wall of the work of the Russian constructivist Ale Lisitsky: "She always hung at my friend in Palm Beach!" A little later, he sent Grigorishin an old photo from a friend's home - to show how the "house" looked in the interior. A businessman immediately noticed Fernana leing on the fireplace of the American and began negotiations on the purchase. "For the price not agreed. But we keep this thing on the radar. We need such legee, "says a 46-year-old businessman in the Forbes interview.

The owner of the "Energy Standard" group, which includes the largest Ukrainian manufacturers of equipment for energy, bought the first picture back in 1993. His Kiev familiar Eduard Dymshitz, a curator of a collection of one of the Ukrainian banks, offered a businessman to hang on the wall instead of the calendar landscape Mikhail Klodt. "It seemed to me that this is the right thought," recalls Grigorishin. Moreover, the price of the question was not critical - about $ 20,000. And now in its collection of 238 works "canvas-oil" and about 500 sheets of graphics. The total cost of the collection year ago was evaluated by Lloyd's insurers at $ 300 million.
Unlike Peter Avena, collecting artists of the "world of art" and "Bubnoy Vnet", or Dasha Zhukova, collecting only modern art, Grigorishin has everything. And old masters, and even Aivazovsky - "big, beautiful." The only unifying principle - in all directions, only top names are presented in the collection. "In everything must be perfectionism. If you buy, then the best, "says businessman.
His first passion was avant-garde. Grigorishin, all the assets of which are located in Ukraine, gathered, in particular, the most complete collection of the Kiev Cubal feast of Alexander Bogomazov. One of the theorists of avant-garde art, in the civilian sketched agitos in the Red Army, was banned in Soviet times, but the work retained the widow. In 1966, on the wave of Khrushchev thaw, she was able to organize an exhibition in Kiev, and the next one took place only in 1991. One of its organizers was the same art historian Dymshitz. Interested in with his filing by the works of Bogomazov, Grigorishin found out the names of all collectors who had the works of the artist, and gradually bought what he wanted: not only colorful canvases, but also about fifty sketches to the paintings.
"At full, our meeting, probably, can be compared only with the museum. All of the best works are, but to get the goals to ore, collect everything, I have never set it before, "says Grigorishin. But immediately admits that he also would like to have a "tram" - this work is in the meeting of the famous Moscow collector Valery Dudakov, who is not going to part with it. Grigorishin personally did not communicate with him, but no longer the first year throws a fishing rod through intermediaries.
The art of the beginning of the 20th century Grigorishin bought, without thinking about whether this investment is promising - in addition to the "Irisov" Natalia Goncharova, for example, he has its early work, a dauvanangard period. For the first ten years, he collected according to the principle of "hanging on the wall", and the only guideline was "feeling inside." In 2003, Grigorishin generally stopped buying art - several experts one after one doubted the authenticity of some works from his collection. "It was not sorry for money, it's unpleasant," a businessman admits.
Examination of authenticity is a nontrivial task. There are no questions when they buy an archive from relatives - just in 2003, the businessman acquired about 100 sheets of graphics of avant-garde scan of Olga Rozanova, wives of the poet twisted, directly at her brother. The creativity of such artists such as Goncharov and Larionov, who, leaving Russia, were well studied and described, who, leaving Russia, brought all their work to the West (that is why the western banks are secured by the collectors who are secured by the western banks). With most names, the story is more difficult.
Troubles occur even with leading auction houses. Once Grigorishin bought on Sotheby's work of Nikolai Pimenko, and when he began to execute documents, it turned out that neither the Treasika nor the Grabar Institute was taken to confirm the authorship: there are no experts specifically for this artist. Support with auction for several tens of thousands of dollars businessman did not. All this helped Grigorishin realize that a professional curator needed for a serious collection.
Hunting picture

For the past eight years, his collection is engaged on an ongoing basis by Olga Kashlin. In the photo on the right at the 250th anniversary of the Hermitage.

In the house with the family and friends and friends of the father's station. 1986.

I got acquainted by chance when we flew into St. Petersburg for the birthday of common acquaintances - Igor Rotenberg. The reason for the conversation about the art and authenticity of the works was the gift of a birthday room - a surrealistic sculpture. It turned out that Olga herself collects modern artists. And since childhood .....

Olga Vacchilina with his father Nikolai Vacchilina in a house on Kronverksky Prospekt, 61 in St. Petersburg

The offer of the businessman she thought about the year and eventually agreed.
The primary task is to check and confirm the authenticity of the work already in the collection. "Provenance, experts, technological examination: X-ray, chemical analysis. We should be 100% sure, "says Kashlin. Despite the passionate desire to have in the collections of Kazimir Malevich, Grigorishin was forced to abandon one of the options for "Suprematic composition" and other works - there was no confidence in authenticity.

Olga Vacchilina with his father Nikolai Kashchilin in his house in St. Petrburg in Kronverksky Prospekt, 61. 1996.

All the paintings of Grigorishin holds in Russia and in Ukraine ("I live here, and not in the West"). Delivery of paintings purchased abroad is expensive: a special box, supervision of the place of purchase to the airport, armed guard, etc. Such a service provides auction houses, for transportation from the USA to Moscow will have to pay $ 40,000-50,000. But if To contact the contractors directly - the curator does, then the delivery will cost at least five times cheaper.
One of the main tasks of the curator is to look for work that is interesting to collector. Grigorishin, for example, has long been hunted by Nude Wizhuo Modigliani - Give Natalia's wife. How much will have to wait - it is unknown, but the curator is already working on it. Total moduliani drew 32 naked. Of these, as they managed to establish the catalogs of various exhibitions and from communication with collectors and experts, in private hands today is seventeen. And only seven of the potentially affordable works are interesting to Grigorishin. Olga Crupes collected information about each owner: who, from which country, with whom it cooperates, is not bred, with finances, etc. It seemed that good luck was close - one of the works was discovered in the collection of Arab investment fund, ready to part with it . But the owner requested $ 70 million for his moduliani, Grigorishin took a delay. And in the meantime, the Foundation has sold work through auction.
The collection has a "Portrait of Picasso" - a small job on cardboard. Recent luck is a female portrait that managed to purchase only because the rich New York family, who has known them since 1962, started a divorce, but both spouses loved moduliani so much that they could not share it.
Museum exhibit

When the collection was systematized, the authenticity of the work was confirmed by solid experts and they began to include in the ratings of the reason (full directories of a particular artist. - Forbes), the largest museums began to apply to the Grigorishin. Now 60% of his collection leaves for international exhibitions during the year. "This is not to increase the cost - if a good job with a good provanance, then it is even more expensive if they write" nowhere "did not take it," says Grigorishin.
On held in 2006 in the GMII. Pushkin Personal exhibition Graphs Vasily Chekrygin more than half of the works were from the Gregoryshin collection. Chekrygin in his youth was friends with David Burlyuk and Vladimir Mayakovsky (issued his first book "I"), but more famous for the Makovets group, the main ideologist of which was the priest Pavel Florensky. In 1922 the artist died under the wheels of the train, and almost forgot him. In the collection of Grigorishin more than 200 of his work, including the painting atypical for him. All - from the family, bought from the daughter and granddaughter of the artist.
In 2008, the Russian Museum held an exhibition of works by Alexander Bogomazov from the Gregoryshin meeting, in 2011 - the exhibition of Vasily Yermilov in the Arsenal exhibition complex in Kiev (one of the works provided, by the way, from his collection Viktor Pinchuk, with whom Grigorishin communicates more often Business issues or Ukrainian politics). In the summer of this year, the personal exhibition Ermilova was held in Moscow - in Multimedia Art Museum.
In September, he returned home from exhibitions in the USA and GMI, the most expensive exhibit of the Gregoryshin collection - the work of Juan Miro. "I worry, of course," - a businessman admits. His wife is experiencing even more when the exhibitions are asked to work from among those presented to her, it always asks in detail for what time when Gregoryshin says exactly, says.
But the businessman is confident that cooperation with museums, which can not always afford the purchase of works, as in private collections, is the right thing. "Sleeping" Tamara Lempitskaya from his collection and her "lady in a black dress" from the collection of Alexander Chistyakov, who participated in the recent exhibition "Portraits of collectors" in GMII, were first shown in Russia to the general public with the works of this cult art Ar Deco, this is celebrated In the museum itself.
"Grigorishin is a rare example of an international type of collector," says Marina Khoszn, Art director "Maneja" and the co-founder of the "ProNE" gallery, the corporator of the exhibitions Yermilov. - It is open to various educational projects and ideas, understands that art needs to be supported. And it does not for the sake of his own pian. "
Such behavior is not typical for billionaires, collecting art. Few people saw the collection of Georgian billionaire Bijin Ivanishvili (№153 in the Global List forbes) or Roman Abramovich (No. 9 in Golden Sota). About the collection of Dmitry Rybolovlev (№13 in the "Golden Sota") became known only from the claim of his wife when divorced. There are rumors that there is Van Gogh, Degas, Monet, Picasso. Grigorishin is open to the world.
He communicates with many world galleryrs, curators, collectors. For example, director of the GMIA, the legendary Irina Antonova, used Grigorishin at a party. A billionaire says that communication with people from the world of art is pleasure. "With business, especially Ukrainian, it is difficult to communicate - conversations about politics, money and business are rapidly bored," a businessman admits.
What to collect

In part with Olga's filing, which constantly brings him books and catalogs with new names, Grigorishin began to buy contemporary art. It communicates with Russian galleryrs, but it prefers to buy in the West - there is a level of work, in his opinion, much higher.
Eight years ago, I noticed the work of Roy Liechtenstein "Head" in one of the books. The curator found it in the exhibition catalog of American galleryist Larry Gagosyan. I sent a request - is it possible to learn the coordinates of the private owner. Surprising interest from Russia, Gagosyan helped. Now they communicate constantly - Gagosyan Grigorishin bought, for example, Francis Bacon, when he was not yet so expensive, as now (the record established Roman Abramovich, who paid in 2008 for his work on Sotheby's $ 86.3 million).
The work of Columbian Fernando Botero, drawing fat people, Grigorishin, personally, saw her on the cover of one of the books, he himself called the artist and even got a discount under the argument "You are not yet in Russia". "There is a lot of things that like in contemporary art, but often the price confuses," says Grigorishin. - Gagosyan has good young artists. From the last thing I saw, I liked the abstractions of Sashili Brown, the work of Clifford Stilla. But he turned out to be so expensive that I did not risk. "
The loud names of modern stars and the auction records for Grigorishin do not work - it is still focused on its own emotions. "I saw a lot of Damien Hirst - Angara whole collectors showed. In Teit Modern recently, Hurst was again. But I don't feel anything when I see it, "the prize

I have a new year all year old, - Olga Alekseevna laughs.
Christmas quintet's foyer is exhibited in the theater: Christmas tree with toys of the beginning of the twentieth century, Christmas tree 1935 - 1940, a military tree, Christmas tree 1950 - 1960s.
Christmas decorations have its own history. Toys came to Russia at the end of the XIX century from Germany. Before that, the Christmas trees were decorated with alone. Already then the apples began to replace with glass balls, sweets - clappers, and nuts were covered with a gold foil. Toys of the beginning of the century are made of papier-mache, cardboard, wool. Images of people laughed on human figures and snowflakes. Under the Christmas tree stood a Christmas grandfather with rogues in one hand and gifts in another, to everyone assumed to merit. He was alone, without Snow Maiden. The fabulous granddaughter appeared already in Soviet times, with the filing of Ostrovsky's playwright.
In 1924, Christmas as a religious holiday was banned, but people still celebrated him: the Christmas tree brought to the house and decorated with homemade toys. In 1936, it was decided to restore justice and re-celebrate the holiday, but, naturally, it was already about the new year, and not about christmas. In the "Children's World" began to sell toys. Christmas markets were opened.
Christmas decorations, if seriously, also reflect the political processes occurring in society. They had a Soviet symbolism, coat of arms, stars. The Christmas tree was decorated with a polar polar star and a polar flyer, airplanes and airships. On branches were danced boys in national costumes, pioneers played on the drums. Then the first electric lighting appeared. To this Christmas tree decorated small candles.
During the war, christmas decorations were produced in solid factories in the shops of shirpotreb. At the cable plant from the remains of wire and foils made primitive apples, snowflakes. The lamp plant blew balls, which are the same light bulbs, but without base. And the plant, which produces a plumber, made a faience grandfather of frosts.
The middle of the twentieth century was marked by extremes. In the fifties, plastic christmas trees were spread, which could be put on the table. They decorated their toys size literally with marigolds. At the same time, the festive Christmas trees in the Kremlin became popular. Accordingly, large decorations should have been hanging on the big trees. In the sixties, the Christmas trees were decorated with astronautics. And the star on the top replaced the stylized rocket.
Olga Sinyakina's items are looking for Olga Sinyakina on the venissions, flea markets, in antique shops. Saturday she has a professional day dedicated to the search for exhibits.

The country's history can be studied, among other things, in the New Year's christmas decorations, asserts collectors, in the meeting of which - unique New Year's decorations of different eras of the dough, glass, faience, stamped by millions and created in a single copy.

"No end, no edge" from glass and wool. Olga Sinyakina has already completed - not to collect all toys. There are no episodes nor descriptions or documents. But there is no such year, era, or family, which she will not be able to recreate.

Olga Sinyakina, Collector: "Christmas tree before the revolution - I want to go around it slowly, singing other songs, in general - another mood, in other clothes."

Before the revolution, the gifts for the tree were not hidden, but closed in suitcases and sacques the size of the palm. In one of the families in a similar cache, each year of his daughter gave the pearl - a gift without a surprise. But the necklace was collected to the 18th anniversary. All in the candlelight, in toys from the dough, but the main thing is the symbol of christmas.

Whatever era of the tree was - on it you can always find a Christmas symbolism. The Kremlin Star is actually Bethlehem. The birth of the Savior is announcing everything that glows - garlands, rain and tinsel.

Gifts of Magi - this is the second symbol. Fruits - pears, and mostly apples - transformed into glass balls. And you can come with gingerbread. This is the third character longer than everyone remained really edible.

The church tradition itself was spied at the Germans. In St. Petersburg, Europeans put coniferous bouquets on the table. The idea was taken over with a Russian scope.

Elena Dresshekina, doctor of philological sciences, Professor SPbSU: "Since we have gave the forests, therefore, the higher the better, than just did not decorate."

For several years, the toys have become not needed. In 1929 banned and Christmas, and Santa Claus, and Christmas trees. On the frames of the newsreel, it can be seen that instead of coniferous trees - silhouettes of palm trees.

In 1936, the holiday suddenly returned one decree. Enterprises under the New Year urgently refilled. Dmitrovsky Faians Plant Plumbing Stamped Santa Claus instead of shells and toilet bowls.

Olga Sinyakina, Collector: "This product is somehow visible here. The toy is very heavy, coarse hole, black dots."

Christmas tree toy is always a time symbol. In the 70s, the factory stamping on the scale of the country replaced manual work. For value collectors, it no longer represents. But even an outstanding ball as if he returns to the time when the Christmas trees were big, the New Year's Eve is magical, and Grandfather Frost is real.

Correspondent Yana Subzybuba