The first miracle is a Christmas tree, beautiful, green, fragrant and elegant, which came from a fairy tale and promises a fairy tale. The greatest happiness is the expectation of happiness, because it has already taken place.

In our house, they always put up a Christmas tree.

The mysterious New Year's bustle began in advance, the children came up with something, made something, arranged it, even in the yard with a laugh they sculpted whoever could out of the snow.
the tree was installed in the corner of our room. The tree did not fit in the center of the room, but this did not bother anyone.
The time came and they took out a box with toys, opened it with bated breath and rejoiced at each decoration, as if it was Bozhi Dar descended to us from the beds, where it was kept until the holiday.
These sensations live in memory and are so hot that they burn as soon as you touch them.

Here it is, already beginning.
Granny doesn't touch the tree, she has a lot to do in the kitchen. For all the guys that come to the Christmas tree, she prepares some food. He bakes blueberry buns with blue eyes, small buns, cheesecakes with a curd heart - a lot to have enough for everyone.
Granny smeared the concoction with a beautiful rooster's feather, dipping it in a cup with an egg, and it turned out to be rosy, appetizing.

Each year brought something new to our New Year's ritual, but the main thing was preserved - the anticipation of happiness and the joy of the holiday.
On the appointed day in the morning, the gate was locked - for mystery, and by lunchtime it was thrown wide open, the chain dog locked itself in the booth, the great exodus of the boys from the village, everyone who knew and wanted, began to our courtyard. There was a queue to the broom, which was used to sweep the snow from the felt boots - the only requirement of the owners.
The guys in the village knew each other, and the fun quickly became universal, because fun, games and nursery rhymes were invented in advance and with their participation too.
At first, my mother looked after, then everything went by itself.
When it was getting dark, the grandmother in the hallway lit a lamp, put large cups of food on the table, and you had to see how quickly the guests' hands worked. There was enough food for everyone.
The holiday took place and the expectation of the next one began, when it is imperative that a miracle of miracles will certainly happen, not yet seen, but already expected.

I remember how tired and well-fed in the twilight we sat down at the tree on the floor, did not want to leave, dragged on for time with different stories and horror stories. Mom's sisters Anna and Nina, who came home from work, dined with their grandmother in the kitchen, the house was warm, cozy and no misfortune even dared to look at us.
I remember this.

It is difficult to write about children's holidays, it is difficult to highlight the main thing, I want to write this, I definitely need this, more and more. Everything is so important and cute, but this, for example, simply must not be forgotten, and here is some kind of mysticism that has not yet been solved.
And how does all this fit in that little cherished corner of the memory of children's holidays?

Once, on New Year's Eve, Aunt Anya poured a whole package of amazing things on the table in front of us. Red, yellow, white candies invitingly shone on the oilcloth, an unimaginable luxury for us. Just think, these were not just candies, but colorful fish, bunnies, elephants, or maybe hippos, rings and stars. The shock was complete, such beauty seemed incredible, and yet it was also sweet.
they said that we would tie strings to these figures and decorate the tree with them. It is impossible to pluck the figures until the old New Year, when we will disassemble the tree and the amazing sweet toys will comfort us when we say goodbye to it. Yes, the strings were tied, delicious toys were hung on the branches, but they turned out to be very insidious and constantly teased us.
You can't pluck the figurines, but there is no prohibition on licking, and i licked these sweet figurines first slowly, and then, openly. The adults laughed and didn't get angry - yes, licking was not forbidden. Bunnies and elephants turned catastrophically pale, lost weight, but bravely did not leave the branches.
Probably, it was one of the most delicious and fun Christmas trees from childhood. Never in my life have I come across such wonderful Christmas tree decorations, only the memory has remained forever.

Note.
Recipe for New Year's bunks with eyes.
A palm-sized cake made of yeast dough is greased with butter, sprinkled with sugar and folded in half, three cuts along the rounded edge - legs and a head with a mane, an eye of any color from a berry.
Nice and tasty, persistent smell of childhood.
Bon Appetit!