Christmas ornaments are still passed down from generation to generation. We cherish old decorations—glass, cotton, foam, cardboard—they hold the memories of our childhood and remind us of who we are. But they also have their own story.

The first Christmas tree at the Ekateringofsky Station in St. Petersburg was adorned with colorful scraps of paper. There was a time when homemade and edible ornaments were the only decorations on family trees, which were "plundered" at the end of the celebration.

In the 1920s, Christmas trees and their ornaments were suddenly banned. When they returned, they came with new symbols: pioneers instead of angels and a red five-pointed star replacing the Bethlehem eight-pointed one.

Join us as we trace the history of Christmas ornaments, explore how they reflected their era, what influenced their style, and how the festive decoration of the beloved New Year's tree evolved over time.

Speaker: Elena Panisheva – cultural historian, literary scholar, and curator of exhibition projects at the Moscow State Literature Museum.

Friends, we look forward to welcoming you to the lecture to immerse ourselves in the magical spirit of the New Year while enjoying a fragrant mulled wine!