What is the connection between traditional mandarins on Russian New Year’s table and the Romanovs?

New Year celebrations are arguably the most major holidays in modern Russia. One of the traditional treats on a Russian New Year’s table are mandarin oranges. This fruit was not native to Russia – it was introduced only a few years prior to the Russian revolution – by a member of the Romanov family Grand Duke Peter of Oldenburg, a great grandson of Tsar Nicholas I and first husband of Grand Duchess Olga Alexandrovna, sister of Tsar Nicholas II. In 1912, the brother in law of Nicholas II  founded the first resort in Abkhazia: Gagry. There he began planting various foreign trees that thrived in a warm climate : eucalyptus, palm and tangerine trees. This experiment proved to be very successful. Within four years, the local newspaper wrote: “The experiment has confirmed that the whole of the Caucasus, the Black Sea coastal strip is quite suitable for cultivating mandarin oranges, lemons and oranges.” Mandarins were considered a special treat, and hence became one of the staples on celebratory tables all over Russia – especially on New Year! So this New Year, have a mandarin in honour of the Romanovs, who created this lovely tradition. Thanks for watching! I welcome your comments and observations here, which will help my channel get noticed on YouTube. Please support my channel and help it grow by subscribing and liking 👍 List of my books: Instagram: @in_the_steps_of_the_romanovs Facebook page: IN THE STEPS OF THE ROMANOVS Facebook discussion group: