Russia First! New Year’s Decorations in Moscow Take on Proud Folkish Theme
Today, the festive decorations of Russia's main Christmas tree were completed. This honorable task was assigned to the best students of the Suvorov college. This year, the decoration theme is a Russian fair. The decorations were specially commissioned to Russian craftsmen.
Tamara Nersesian reports from the Cathedral Square in the Moscow Kremlin.
Golden cockerels, blue horses, cracknels, Matryoshkas, Khokhloma spoons were made by Russian craftsmen on special commission. 3,500 toys and 1 km-long garland were used to decorate Russia's main Christmas tree.
Elena Krylova, press-secretary of the Department of Presidential Affairs: "This year, the theme of Russian fairs appealed to our experts. Traditionally, they used to be the main festivities on the eve of the New Year holidays. And today, New Year and Christmas fairs are held in cities all over Russia."
The main task was to change the look of the tree by using maximum decorations from previous years. Over 2,000 Christmas balls from last year were used again. It took three days for the employees of the Department of Presidential Affairs to decorate the tree. 6th-graders from the Suvorov military college were chosen to make the last touch.
Students:
- It is a great honor. It's the first time I am participating in this event.
- I enjoyed it too. I would like to come here again next year and hang the balls on the tree. It's a great honor for me.
The fir-tree for the Cathedral Square in the Moscow Kremlin was chosen from 26 candidates. Each of the forestry sections in the Moscow area offered its candidate. A beauty from the Domodedovo district won the race.
It is 27 meters high, the diameter of the trunk is 60 cm. The spread of the lower branches is 10 m. The main selection criteria were the richness of the fir color and the pyramidal form. Beautiful and now decorated, it will remain on the Cathedral square until the Epiphany on January 19.
Tamara Nersesian, Artyom Grigoryan, Stanislav Sverchkov, Vesti