Python's turtle module is a simple yet powerful way to create graphics using code. In this article, we demonstrate how to draw a Christmas tree, display a "Merry Christmas" greeting, and animate falling snow using Python Turtle graphics.
This example combines recursion, text rendering, and basic animation to create a festive scene.
Approach
- Set up the Turtle screen with background color and title
- Draw a Christmas tree using recursion
- Display a "Merry Christmas" message on the screen
- Create multiple snowflake objects
- Animate snowfall using an infinite loop
Complete Python Code
import turtle
import random
# Screen setup
screen = turtle.Screen()
screen.setup(width=1.0, height=1.0)
screen.title("Merry Christmas - Python Turtle")
screen.bgcolor("midnight blue")
# Tree configuration
tree_length = 120
turtle.speed("fastest")
turtle.left(90)
turtle.penup()
turtle.backward(tree_length * 2)
turtle.pendown()
turtle.color("dark green")
# Draw Christmas tree using recursion
def draw_tree(depth, length):
if depth == 0:
return
turtle.forward(length)
turtle.left(30)
draw_tree(depth - 1, length * 0.75)
turtle.right(60)
draw_tree(depth - 1, length * 0.75)
turtle.left(30)
turtle.backward(length)
draw_tree(10, tree_length)
# Write greeting text
pen = turtle.Turtle()
pen.hideturtle()
pen.penup()
pen.color("gold")
pen.goto(-250, -250)
pen.write(
"Merry Christmas!",
font=("Arial", 36, "bold")
)
# Snowflake setup
snowflakes = []
def create_snow():
for _ in range(40):
snow = turtle.Turtle()
snow.hideturtle()
snow.penup()
snow.color("white")
snow.shape("circle")
snow.goto(
random.randint(-400, 400),
random.randint(-300, 300)
)
snowflakes.append(snow)
def snowfall():
for snow in snowflakes:
snow.goto(
random.randint(-400, 400),
random.randint(-300, 300)
)
snow.dot(6)
create_snow()
# Animate snowfall
while True:
snowfall()
Output:
Explanation:
- turtle.Screen() initializes the drawing window, while setup() and bgcolor() configure the screen size and background.
- turtle.left(), penup(), backward(), and pendown() position the turtle at the base of the tree.
- draw_tree() uses recursion to draw branches, where depth controls tree complexity and length reduces at each level.
- turtle.forward(), left(), and right() create symmetrical tree branches.
- A separate turtle (pen) is used with write() to display the Merry Christmas greeting.
- create_snow() generates multiple snowflake turtles at random positions using random.randint().
- snowfall() repositions snowflakes and draws dots to simulate falling snow.
- while True: keeps the snowfall animation running continuously.