ASHGABAT’S MAIN NEW YEAR TREE CLAIMS AGAIN TO BE THE HIGHEST ONE

From the minute the main New Year tree was light up, зажглись огни на главной ёлке, традиционно установленной в Ашхабаде на площади square in front of the Alem cultural and entertainment center, the marathon of festive events started in Turkmenistan.

A green beauty in a luxurious sparkling robe, 38.5 meters high, topped with an eight-pointed star with the numbers 2022. Ayaz baba and Garpamyk engage guests in exciting theatrical performances filled with colorful musical numbers, surprises and gifts.

On the eve of the exciting moment when the striking of the clock will herald the beginning of the new year, adults, like children, begin to believe in miracles and the fulfillment of desires. They are immersed in pleasant chores, choosing and packing gifts, exchanging culinary recipes for a special menu, and the magic of approaching magic is in the air.

With the onset of dusk, the city turns into a fabulous snow-covered world sparkling with a scattering of multi-colored lights. Impatient children drag their parents to the transformed corners of the capital, each time choosing a new area for an evening walk. On the way, they look at the windows of residential buildings decorated with New Year's decor, and argue among themselves about who has the best, more elegant and original festive composition.

And we decided to take a walk on the Internet and see how our closest neighbors are preparing for the New Year, in particular, those with whom Turkmenistan borders on land and the water expanses of the Caspian, which has added to its many names the proud title of the sea of friendship and harmony. ...

Celebrations in the capital of Russia on New Year's Eve will traditionally take place on Cathedral Square, the oldest square in the Moscow Kremlin. The New Year tree installed here is decorated in the style of the "Morozko" fairy tale. She came from Shchelkovo near Moscow, ahead of 37 trees in the competitive selection in terms of height, branch span, volume of needles, condition of paws, appearance and age. As reported in the media, the height of the 90-year-old tree reaches 28 meters, the trunk diameter is 56 centimeters, and the span of the lower branches is about 10 meters.

From his residence, located in Veliky Ustyug, Father Frost will come to the holiday with his granddaughter Snegurochka.

The central New Year tree of Kazakhstan is installed in the capital Nur-Sultan in the area of EXPO exhibition. The 25 meters high forest beauty rises in the square in front of «Nur Alem» sphere. Its diameter is 10 meters, weight - 4048 kg.

With a wave of the staff Ayaz Ata (this is the name of Farther Frost here) in an instant more than 1600 New Year's balls, almost 300 large and small snowflakes were lit on the tree. The magical grandfather, who moves on a sleigh, is accompanied by a young companion Akshakar.

Over the past year, the main New Year tree of Uzbekistan has not grown at all, stopping at around 35 meters. But it changed location and this time “registered” outside the city in the “Yangi Uzbekiston” (“New Uzbekistan”) park in the Kibray district of the Tashkent region. Here you can listen to performances by popular artists, buy souvenirs at the fair, and try ice on a skating rink built specifically for the holiday.

Father Frost and Snow Maiden are called in Uzbekistan Kor Bobo and Korgyz. In a robe made of national Uzbek fabric and in a national red skullcap, Kor Bobo rides around on a magic donkey. Riding it on New Year's Eve is like grabbing luck by the tail.

The main New Year tree of Azerbaijan is installed in Baku city in the Azneft square. Shakhta baba and his snowy granddaughter Karkyz welcome the children and adults. According to legend, Azerbaijan’s Shakhta baba lives in the icy mountain tops. The children belive that if rare snowflakes appear over the city, it means that Shakhta baba descends to wish everyone a Happy New Year.

These days, heartfelt congratulations «Yeni iliniz mubarek» are heard everywhere! Besides, on December 31 another holiday is celebrated in the country - the Day of Solidarity of Azerbaijanis from all over the world.

Our south neighbors – Iran and Afghanistan celebrate the new year not as in most countries on January 1 according to the Gregorian calendar, but on March 21, on the day of the vernal equinox. And the chronology is dated from 622 - the time of the resettlement of the prophet Mohammed from Mecca to Medina. So the traditions of the holiday in these countries are completely different.

Preparing to the New Year holiday everywhere finishes. it may be assumed, that the Ashgabat’s New Year tree, like several last years in a row, claims to be a ranking leader in terms of height among the green beauties installed in the capitals of CIS countries.