deck the halls
Nothing says Xmas like a glittering evergreen. Follow element’s Polina Pushkina through a Winter Wonderland of lights, tinsel and goats.
TEXT POLINA PUSHKINA feedback
The main question I faced after researching this article is whether element’s style guide allows the use of the word “shit.” Moreover, is it politically incorrect to taint everyone’s favorite holiday with the “S”-word? These thoughts swirled through my mind after a day spent dodging the horrors that Moscow shops call Christmas tree decorations. Lucky for you I’ve done the dirty work, and at four weeks till Xmas, you still have plenty of time to find trimmings worthy of any tree. Izmailovo market may not sound like an obvious place to start, but it’s a goldmine if you’re in the market for Soviet-era Christmas ornaments. The oldest items, made of cotton before WWII, are the most expensive. I spotted a fabulous cat in red boots on sale for 1,350 rubles, which Sasha the salesman suggested I grab, since mint condition pieces are rare. Newer items are significantly cheaper — glass cosmonauts in shiny pink overalls go for 300 rubles, and old-fashioned glass tinsel is a real bargain. I then tried the Ikea at Khimki, which for some unfathomable reason boasts a bigger Christmas selection than its counterparts around town. Sadly, the visit merely proved my theory that only crap is cheap here, while the items that actually improve decor are pricey. A set of two hand-painted, red glass bird ornaments is a hefty 249 rubles but has a vintage look. There were also sets of snow goat ornaments (149 rubles), although I’m at a loss to explain where and how goats fit into the Christmas experience. Since you’re in the neighborhood, pop into house and garden center Obi. This German store’s collection of Christmas lights has ruled supreme for years. Three meters of indoor lights starts at 199 rubles, while the outdoor variety go for upwards of 6,000 rubles. My next stop was Stockmann’s. Don’t repeat my mistake: all I found there was a two-piece collection of glass angels for 398 rubles, red glass tinsel for 925 rubles, and cinnamon-scented candles for 249 rubles. Those were the highlights — stay away from the rest unless you want a Madonna-style tree decorated with tiny copies of her Jean Paul Gaultier corset. Finally, there’s Interoptika, for those with intentions of amassing a serious Xmas collection. There, you’ll find handpainted and cystal-covered glass ornaments. Shiny train carriages (1,560 rubles) and miniature St. Basil’s cathedral (1,840 rubles) are tempting, but keep their size in mind — the ornament shouldn’t outshine the tree, after all. My humble conclusion? Moscow offers plenty of Christmas, ahem, shit to go around, but there are also some good deals to be found out there. | 
