GD Maria Pavlovna talks about Christmas in her book EDUCATION OF A PRINCESS pps 14-15:
"At Christmas he," [her father], "was particularly joyous, and Christmas was the peak of our year. Days before, the trees would be brought out and set up. Then the doors of the great reception ahll would be closed; then mysterious prepartations...."
"As Christmas Eve appraoched our excitement became so intense that it required all the vigilance of our nruses to keep Dmitri and me from stealing a look behind those closed doors. To clam us they would take us driving, but Christms lights and decoratiosn and the gay holiday spirit of the crowds that throung around our carriage in the streets only excited us the more."
"Finally the great moment came. When we were dressed father came for us. He led us to the doors of the closed reception hall and made a sign. The electric lights...were snapped off, the doors thrown open. Before our enchanted eyes appeared, in the immese dark room, the magic trees, ablaze with candles. Our hearts tepped beating, and tremblingly we entered after our father. He made another sigh; the darkness vanished; along the walls appeared tabled covered with white cloths and on these tables were gifts."
There was a table with gifts for her, her brother and father... The other tables held presents for the servants. Each gift ws handed to the servent...
When the candles on the tree were no more, her father exploded fire-crackers within this room....
They were able to choose one present which they cold take with them to their bed....
AGRBear