The winter holidays are a time of magic and tree ornaments – complex little decorations that are more than just beautiful shimmering figures. Each one has a special meaning and is from its own era, reminding us of how fleeting time is and of the fragility of human happiness. The technology used to make these ornaments has changed over the years: they have evolved from flat shapes made of cardboard and paper figures stuffed with cotton to shiny designs made of glass and true technological miracles. One can even trace Russia’s history by examining the images used for tree ornaments over the years: polar bears and polar stations began appearing during the exploration of the Arctic, while satellites and rockets made their debut on trees with the dawn of the space age.