Smolensk region's New Year tree: towers of the Kremlin and characters of Russian fairy tales

The Smolensk region presented everything that the region is famous for on the fir tree. In the branches of the New Year tree the towers of the Smolensk Kremlin - the largest Kremlin in Russia - are cozily nestled.

Smolensk fortress is built in the image of Moscow, Kolomna, Zaray, Tula and Nizhny Novgorod. But the walls here are higher than the rest. The length of the walls is 6.5 km, of which 3.3 km are preserved. The length of the walls of the Moscow Kremlin, for example, is 2.2 km.

For New Year decorations the region's craftsmen made colorful figures of animals and fairy-tale creatures: the Sirin bird, characters from Russian fairy tales.

Such crafts as vine weaving and embroidery are also represented here. The Smolensk region is one of the places where the most ancient Russian ornaments and patterns have been preserved. Since ancient times this land has been influenced by many nations from the West and the East, and this has affected the artistic motifs of folk art.

The oldest Smolensk ornament is geometric. Most often ancient Smolensk ornaments had the shape of a rhombus, cross, five and eight-pointed star, and circle. These geometric patterns also became part of the New Year decoration of the fir tree.

The Smolensk Embroidery enterprise, the only enterprise in the region that has preserved the traditional ornaments and techniques of the Smolensk region, produces home textiles and also decorates the costumes of the region's folklore ensembles.

On the Main Alley of VDNH visitors are greeted by New Year fir trees, each representing a region of the country.

The RUSSIA EXPO is open from Tuesday through Sunday, Monday is a technical day. The best time to visit is in the mornings and weekdays, but the exposition is open to everyone on weekends as well. All expositions and events are free of charge.