MOSCOW, December 9. /TASS/. Russia’s main New Year’s fir for the Kremlin’s Cathedral Square was cut down in the Moscow Region, the Ministry of Transport and Road Infrastructure of the Moscow Region reported on its Telegram channel.
"Russia’s main New Year’s tree, which will decorate the Kremlin’s Cathedral Square, was solemnly cut down near the settlement of Znamenka, not far from Mozhaysk. This is a 90-year-old fir, 30 meters high," the publication reads.
Specialists from Mosavtodor organized an access road 180 meters long and arranged a site of 5,000 square meters (nearly 54 square feet) for the event, the ministry specified.
"The tree was selected from over 25 'candidates.' The beauty of the Moscow Region will be delivered to the Kremlin on December 11. Several young spruce seedlings will be planted in the place where the tree was felled," the ministry added.
Chairman of the Forestry Committee of the Moscow Region Evgeny Agulov recalled the main requirements for choosing the ideal tree: it should be at least 25 meters tall (approximately 82 feet) and no older than 120 years. "As a result, the Moscow Region’s beauty was found on the territory of the Mozhaysky district," the Forestry Committee of the Moscow Region wrote on its Telegram channel, citing Agulov’s words.
The chairman added that students from local forestry organizations contributed to the search for the perfect tree.
Cutting the spruce
The Forestry Committee noted that soloists from the Gorodok choreographic group, Kalinka dance ensemble, and vocal groups from the Moscow Region took part in the cutting ceremony.
The main New Year’s tree has been delivered to the Kremlin only from the Moscow Region since 2007. This is the third time Mozhaysk has provided the country with the perfect main New Year’s fir. Previously, it was in 2009 and 2019. Foresters spotted this year’s spruce over 10 years ago.