In a large green forest, a small fluffy little fir tree was born. It grew amongst other trees and each year it watched as their leaves turned all the colours of the rainbow in autumn, then fell away in winter and white, light snow settled on the branches. But the little fir tree loved it most when spring came and small, delicate buds appeared on the trees, from which young green leaves sprouted.
And she, the little fir tree, was green both in winter and summer. But the little fir tree didn't envy the other trees, because they had never once been to a New Year celebration, whilst Grandfather Frost always took her—green, fluffy, and beautifully dressed—to the celebration with him.
Frost wraps the little fir tree in snow and tucks her in to sleep. He speaks to her tenderly:
Sleep, little fir tree, hush-a-bye.
And the Blizzard sings lullabies:
Sleep, little fir tree, my dear, mind you don't freeze!
The little fir tree loves Frost and the Blizzard for their care and kindness.
One day before New Year, Grandfather Frost says to the little fir tree:
Little fir tree, beauty, tomorrow the children have a celebration, you'll come to it dressed up and beautiful. We'll decorate you with colourful baubles and hang beautiful beads on you. But you need to rest well today and get a good sleep.
Very well, Grandfather Frost, I'll go to bed early, and tomorrow I'll be the most beautiful at the celebration and bring joy to all the children!
Evening came. Just as the little fir tree decided to cover herself with snow and go to sleep, a little grey hare ran past and asked the little fir tree:
Green little fir tree, why are you going to bed so early? Let's play! I'll hop around you, and you can try to catch me with your branches.
Oh, little hare, I'd love to play with you, but I promised Grandfather Frost that I'd rest early—tomorrow there's a nursery school party, I need to get some sleep.
It doesn't matter, then I'll just run and play around you while you rest.
All right, but please don't make too much noise, little hare.
And so they agreed. Barely had the little fir tree closed her eyes and sleep come to her when she heard the hare hopping and singing songs. She didn't manage to sleep at all until the hare got tired and went home.
The hare ran away, and the little fir tree was just about to doze off when she heard an angry wolf running past with a fox:
You cunning fox, you'll dance to my tune yet! — growls the wolf.
What's wrong, grey one, I don't understand why you're so angry with me? — replies the trickster.
You don't understand, is that so? And who sent me after the hare on a false trail? — says the wolf more loudly and tries to grab the fox by the tail.
Forgive me, grey one, I need to eat too! Ow! — squealed the trickster as the wolf came a little closer to her.
Could you please be a bit quieter, — the little fir tree spoke up, — I need to get a good sleep before tomorrow, and you're disturbing me.
Oh, sorry, little fir tree, it's all the wolf's fault! — said the fox and, taking advantage of the pause, ran away.
I'll catch you! — cried the wolf and ran after her.
The little fir tree tried to fall asleep again, but heard footsteps nearby. It was a man coming with an axe over his shoulder. It looked as though he wanted to chop down the little fir tree right to the root. The green tree was frightened and cried out to him:
Don't chop me down, man, Grandfather Frost promised to take me to the celebration tomorrow.
Little fir tree, little fir tree, you're so beautiful, I'd love to take you home with me!
But I'm supposed to appear at the nursery school party tomorrow, otherwise the children will be upset!
All right then, I'll go home and buy an artificial fir tree instead.
And please don't make noise here, I need to get some sleep.
The man with the axe left, but the little fir tree still couldn't fall asleep. A woodpecker on a nearby tree decided to make a hole, then a strong wind started to howl songs. Only towards morning did the beauty manage to doze a little, and she told Grandfather Frost honestly:
Grandfather, I didn't sleep all night, I was worried, but I'll still go to the celebration, I can't let the children down.
Thank you, my dear, I hope you'll get some sleep next year, but now it's time to get dressed up!
And the little fir tree became even more beautiful. She put on her festive decorations and went to the celebration with grandfather. And she brought so much joy to all the children!
