Christmas tree rush: decorations for the New Year have risen in price by 13%

The minimum set of Christmas trees and decorations for the New Year holidays will cost an average of 5.2 thousand rubles this year, analysts told Izvestia. This is 13% more expensive than last year. Christmas tree toys are rising in price the fastest — by 16%, while demand for them is growing, especially for expensive and durable ones. This year, Russians began to prepare for the New Year back in October, despite the warm weather. Decorating a house for a holiday is an important ritual that helps to relax and reboot, psychologists say. See the Izvestia article about which trends in preparing for the New Year's celebration have become popular this year.

How Russians prepare for the New Year

The price of a New Year's set of Christmas trees and decorations increased by 13% in 2025, analysts told Izvestia. On average, you can spend at least 5.2 thousand rubles on holiday paraphernalia.

— The dynamics of sales of New Year's paraphernalia in autumn continues to depend on the weather factor, in particular, on the formation of early snow cover, — said experts from the analytical center "Check Index" of the company "Platform OFD". — Nevertheless, against the background of the low base of last year, this autumn, despite the absence of snow, there was no decrease in consumer activity.

In addition, Christmas products appeared en masse in many stores and online platforms earlier - at the end of September. This contributed to an earlier start of sales, experts add. According to the Megamarket marketplace, decorations accounted for 47% of sales in the Christmas goods category at the end of September, while traditional Christmas tree toys, garlands and light curtains accounted for 55% of total autumn demand.

"In 2025, Russians began preparing for the New Year two weeks earlier than a year earlier: the holiday shopping season started on September 29," they said. — During this period, consumers actively purchased basic decorative goods — window stickers, decorative branches, artificial snow and beads for the Christmas tree."

By October, interest had shifted to lighting: the share of garlands and light curtains had grown to 35%, taking the leading position this month. In November, pyrotechnics came to the fore — its share in the New Year's category reaches 20%, marketplace analysts added. Christmas tree toys, light curtains and electric garlands remain the most popular holiday products among Russians — they account for about 55% of sales in the category of festive goods in the autumn period. At the same time, the demand for artificial and live Christmas trees remains consistently high.

Inna Kondratieva, Director of the Category management department at Fix Price, added that there is also a steady demand for various stickers, figurines, and lamps. In addition, there is an increased interest in gift packaging: wrapping paper, ribbons, fillers for gift boxes.

— And we can conclude that congratulations on the winter holidays are a serious ritual for many: people enjoy this atmosphere and the opportunity to do something with their own hands, for example, to pack a gift they bought, thus putting their soul into congratulations, — she said. — The top sellers are retro—style glass Christmas tree toys, three-dimensional paper Christmas trees with magnets, candles.

In addition, artificial Christmas tree halves designed for placement in small apartments have become one of the trends this year. Many of these ads have appeared on marketplaces. The price is about 8 thousand rubles.

A special Russian holiday is the old New Year: why is it called that, the date is in 2026, how is it celebrated

How much does it cost to prepare for the New Year

The average price of artificial spruce this year is 3.6 thousand rubles, which is 15% higher this year than last year, the Check Index added. Garlands have also become more expensive — you will have to pay 593 rubles for them, an increase of 13%. The cost of a set of Christmas tree toys increased by 16%, to 497 rubles, a Christmas tree star — by 6%, to 305 rubles, and tinsel — by 8%, to 159 rubles.

"This fall, there is a tendency to choose more expensive and durable artificial fir trees, as well as to purchase large sets of decorations, which naturally increases the average bill. With snowfall and the approach of December, under the influence of the pre—holiday hype, continued growth in purchases in the more budget-friendly, mass segment is expected," the analysts noted.

The Megamarket reported that in the "New Year's Trees" category, the price decreased by more than 2.5 times over the year — from 8 thousand rubles to 2.8 thousand rubles in 2025. The average receipt for pyrotechnic products, on the contrary, increased by 62% and reached 5.6 thousand rubles. At the beginning of the season, average receipts for lighting and decorations also decreased, while prices for accessories for Christmas trees remained virtually unchanged.

"Despite the growing popularity of minimalism in the interior, traditional Christmas decorations retain a stable position in the preferences of Russians," they noted. "Tinsel, rain, beads, and string garlands are still ahead of modern decorative solutions such as New Year's projectors and themed compositions."

According to Cooper, the average price for a package of tinsel is about 186 rubles. The main parameters that affect the cost of this jewelry are length, diameter, design and material.

"It is worth mentioning the ready-made New Year's sets, which include several sets of tinsel, from three to five pieces. Their average cost is 400 rubles. The average price of a 6-10 m long garland will be about 380 rubles," the press service added.

Moscow forms the largest volume of sales of festive paraphernalia — the capital accounts for 35% of purchases, St. Petersburg ranks second with a share of 12%. The top 6 regions also included Krasnodar Krai, Sverdlovsk and Nizhny Novgorod regions, as well as the Republic of Tatarstan.

An increase in prices for Christmas decorations in the range of 13-15% is a logical consequence of the inflationary processes that are observed in the Russian economy in 2025, said Denis Goldman, an economist and independent PR consultant.

"The Russian market of Christmas decorations is more than 99% dependent on imports, with China taking the main share," the expert added. — The lag effect is triggered here: the goods that are currently being sold were purchased and delivered back in the summer and autumn, when the exchange rate was less favorable. In addition, the cost is affected by logistics and customs clearance costs, which do not decrease following the strengthening of the ruble.

The longest weekend in 2026: how Russians will spend the New Year holidays

Employers and HR departments should arrange vacation and payment schedules in advance.

How preparation improves the psychological state

Home decoration remains an important ritual of preparing for the holiday — a way to gather the family and prepare for the New Year, said family psychologist Maria Todorova. Parents do not just want to hang balloons, but to create a festive, comfortable and safe atmosphere for children.

— New Year's magic is created not so much by colors as by attention and communication among the closest ones, — added Maria Todorova.

Parents most often choose decorations made of durable materials, pay attention to the absence of small details in toys for younger children and to secure fasteners for Christmas trees, she said.

— Versatility is another trend, — the psychologist explained. Preference is given to sets that can be used year after year, as well as stylized sets that can be easily combined with interiors and children's holiday clothes. That is why there is a growing demand for more expensive but reasonable purchases.

In addition, rituals such as decorating the Christmas tree help to cope with anxiety, said Olga Kushnareva, a family psychologist and psychotherapist.

"When there is a lot of uncertainty in the world, such habitual actions create a sense of stability and order," she said. — In difficult times, family remains the most reliable source of support. Shared traditions remind you that there are people who will always be there for you, who love and appreciate you. For example, when at least one new toy is bought every year, over time it becomes a kind of family diary. Each one is a memory of a particular year, of what you went through together. It's very close.

New Year's traditions are not just a habit, but an important tool that helps to maintain mental balance and intimacy with dear people, experts emphasized.