For the residents of our country, the New Year is not one holiday or even a day, but a whole month of preparation, expectation and nostalgia. The former - childish - love of celebration most often we feel when looking at old Christmas tree decorations. The owner of the Letopis antique store in Ufa, Roman Konnov, dedicated us to the history of festive decorations. In multinational Russia, winter holidays merge into one big celebration: we have New Year, Christmas and even Old New Year. Previously, the main event was Christmas, and the tree was its symbol. According to Roman Konnov, the first Christmas tree decorations began to be created in Germany in the 17th century. There was no own production in tsarist Russia, and toys appeared in the camp from abroad, and only real rich people could buy them. “Then there was no such beauty as it is now, and cotton wool, various fabrics, jewelry, sweets, apples were hung on the tree. And then children's toys were different and in short supply - this product was rare for the elite, "- says the source. At the end of the 19th - beginning of the 20th centuries, glass garlands and various flags were hung on the Christmas trees. At the same time, toys have always clearly reflected the trends of the era: for example, state symbols were depicted on flags. And yet, during this period, production in Russia was still meager, and the main toys - glass - were brought from Europe. At this time, little figures began to appear, as well as horses, houses, dolls, and so on - they were already created from cotton wool, paper and matter. “And after 1917 there was devastation, the communists came to power and canceled the trees altogether. After all, the Christmas tree was associated with the Nativity of Christ, and these were the years of atheism - there was a union of atheists. " Christmas trees began to return to the homes of Russians around 1935-1937. At the same time, the first Soviet toys began to be produced - as a rule, cardboard ones and the same cotton ones. They keep in themselves the values of that time: we all remember the figurines of collective farmers, workers, sickles and hammers. In addition, stars were always hung on New Year's trees - a symbol of Soviet power. At the same time, everything that could resemble the tsarist regime was instantly eradicated. “Every trend in the Soviet Union was reflected in toys as well. The cosmonaut flew - they began to make rockets. The first Earth satellite was launched in 1957 - also a toy satellite. Under Nikita Khrushchev, there was a repetition of patriots. He was dizzy with corn, and the familiar toy vegetables were created. Also, for example, a toy with a clock - five minutes to 12 - the theme is taken from "Carnival Night". In the 1940s-1960s, icicles and animals preserved in many were created - then the fairy-tale theme was relevant. Around the same period, toys were often attached to clothespins, and not to a thread - if you see such figures, it means that they appeared in the post-war period. In addition, one can often find old toys made of bugles these days - they have come down to us from the 30-60s. “Here is a wadded Santa Claus - this is, so to speak, the reincarnation of toys from the beginning of the century, only in an enlarged form. So they did it - only small ones and on strings. " With the development of technology, the materials from which the decor was created changed. Cotton wool, for example, is combustible, and glass is fragile, so manufacturers have come to plastic products that are familiar to everyone. However, the trend for retro is growing every year - in stores today you can find "antique" toys, but more and more people are interested in "originals" - and are looking for the very old ones. The novel calls the collecting of Christmas tree decorations the mainstream in the world of collecting, but claims that it is not collectors who are increasingly interested in this, but people nostalgic for childhood. “People get more sentimental over the years. Nowadays, many are looking for old toys, ones that resemble childhood. The demand for them is growing every year. Modern toys are mostly consumer goods, but people want something rare,”explains Roman. The specialist also said that now toys from the past can be purchased at different prices - from 100 to 1500 rubles. At the same time, large wadded figures of Santa Claus and Snow Maiden can cost much more - up to tens of thousands of rubles. The price depends on the demand for a particular toy, on its rarity, age and preservation. The editors of GorObzor.ru congratulate their readers on the Christmas holiday - may there always be a place for childhood memories on your trees. Dear Readers! We invite you to join the discussion of the news in our groups on social networks - VK and Facebook
