For the first time, living spruce on the Kremlin’s Cathedral Square was established in
December 1996 at the initiative of Russian President Boris Yeltsin (in 2001-2004 it was replaced with artificial frost due to severe frosts). The main New Year performance — the All-Russian tree, which is also called the «presidential», is held in the State Kremlin Palace. More than 5 thousand children from all regions of the country visit it annually. Among them are winners of contests and competitions, pupils of orphanages and boarding schools, children whose parents died in «hot spots», etc. More interesting news chicandamazing.com.
On New Year’s Eve, the President of the Russian Federation addresses the residents of the country with congratulations. After the head of state’s speech, television and radio broadcast at exactly midnight the chime of the Kremlin’s Spasskaya Tower, marking the beginning of the new year. Then the national anthem of the country sounds.
The dates of the official New Year holidays in Russia have repeatedly changed. January 1 was a public holiday only in 1948, in accordance with a decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR of December 23, 1947. Christmas January 7 received the status of a public holiday after 43 years by order of the Supreme Council of the RSFSR of December 27, 1990.