By decree of December 30, 1699, Peter I ordered to decorate the main streets, as well as the nobility’s houses with coniferous trees and branches, and to put the rest of the inhabitants of the capital “on a tree or branch over the gate or over his mansion”. For the sample, it was proposed to use spruces installed in the Gostiny Dvor. The king adopted this custom from the Europeans who lived in the German settlement.

The townspeople had to congratulate each other, burn bonfires in the streets, shoot rifles and muskets, launch rockets. On Red Square, where the main celebration was held, by order of the king, fireworks, cannon and gun salutes were organized. New Year’s Eve lasted seven days.

#thegardensoftheRussianMuseum #summergarden #Mikhailovskygarden #newyear #Russianmuseum #igardens