Although the Shah did not erect a Christmas tree in the European style, it is recorded that palace workshops experimented with decorations inspired by Western motifs: glass beads, tiny mechanical birds, gilded walnuts, and ribbons imported through the Caspian trade routes. December became an unofficial “season of diplomacy” in Tehran. Embassies would schedule receptions between late December and early January, not only to celebrate Christmas but also to mark the New Year. These gatherings allowed the Shah’s ministers to meet foreign dignitaries in a setting that blended ceremony and conviviality.
Musicians sometimes performed European compositions alongside Persian classical pieces, highlighting the cultural exchange of the era. The Shah himself, when visiting embassies, was known to observe Christmas decorations with interest, making remarks about their craftsmanship and sometimes sketching objects for later reproduction in palace workshops.
