The history of Christmas/New Year’s-tree decorations in Russia is a history of the country. Before 1917, there were candies and Christmas balls topped by the Star of Bethlehem. After the revolution, these were replaced by paper aircraft, Red Army soldiers, and the Red Star. During WWII, Christmas trees were decorated with paper snow-flakes and Christmas balls adapted from burned-out light bulbs. The 1960s ushered in glass figurines of cosmonauts and clocks showing five minutes to midnight.