In Šiauliai, the festive miracles will begin on December 2

In 2023 of December 2, waiting for the most beautiful holidays of the year will officially begin in Šiauliai, because on the first Saturday of winter, the highlight of the Christmas and New Year events - the Christmas tree - will be lit in Resurrection Square. It is hoped that this year's city decoration will create a sense of community and remind you of the comfort of home. The festive period in Šiauliai, which will last more than a month, will be enriched by various concerts, exhibitions, campaigns, education and other initiatives offering meaningful free time, which will be presented to Šiauliai residents and city guests by city institutions and organizations.
The organizer of Christmas and New Year's initiatives - Šiauliai City Municipality, the organizer - Šiauliai Culture Center.

This year Šiauliai will welcome the holidays by spreading good mood and giving high emotions. The entire festive period in the city will be full of activities that will diversify the anticipation of Christmas for the people of Šiauliai and the city's guests, and will help create a sense of community. "The organizers of Christmas and New Year's events throughout December will offer to spend the cold winter days in creative events," says Daina Kinčinaitienė, head of the Culture Department of the Šiauliai City Municipality Administration.

Šiauliai, having decided to decorate a live, non-shaped Christmas tree this year, turn to authenticity and naturalness. The main decoration of the city did not come from distant forests or foresters, but from Šiauliai itself. The Christmas tree, long grown, cherished and loved by the townspeople, will become the decoration of the holiday, attracting, hopefully, thousands of curious people. For several years, the Šiauliai Cultural Center has been taking care of the decoration of the city's main Christmas tree. Its director, Deimantė Bačiulė, notices that the Christmas trees of all cities are the most beautiful and impressive, so the constantly held contests for the most beautiful Christmas trees are worthless. "After all, they are all winners! Every city tries its best to please the residents, to give them unforgettable moments, the most impressive events and the most beautiful Christmas trees. I would like less competitions, and more friendship and compliments for our winter queens", D. Bačiulė shares her thoughts. The head of the culture center adds that the Šiauliai Christmas tree, decorated with various ornaments, resembles the tree of every home, under which both young and old find various gifts on Christmas morning. "We can discover not only material things, but also joy, faith, peace - everything that a person needs," says D. Bačiulė.

The majesty of this year's Christmas tree will be highlighted by golden, silver and white bubbles of various sizes and a twinkling garland over 2000 meters long. 26 wrapped Christmas presents of various sizes will be used to create the overall composition of the tree. The gift paper was created specially, it is decorated with Šiauliai symbols, which will be easily recognized by the townspeople admiring the Christmas tree. Next to the Christmas tree, a "forest" of many smaller trees decorated with light garlands will be placed, which will not only complement the composition of the square, but will also create a magical, festive environment.

The most anticipated event of the winter holidays is the Christmas tree lighting ceremony. This year, a musical light show is planned for it, in which the rhythm group "Ritmas kitaip", performers Živile Gedvilaitė and Mantvydas Riškus will participate. The performance lasting a quarter of an hour will be filled with unconventional sounds and bright colors, giving the miracle of expectation and faith, and the Christmas tree shining during the event will sow the seeds of festive hope and love in the heart of every participant of the festival.

The live song of the band "Biplan" will invite you to continue the evening, not to get cold and to move rhythmically to the newly lit Christmas tree. The warm and cozy performance will invite the audience to listen not only to songs that have become hits, but also to Christmas songs that will help the residents of Šiauliai and the guests of the city to create a festive mood. The organizers of the event are also waiting for compatriots living in other cities of Lithuania, whose curiosity is expected to be maximally satisfied after seeing the most prominent highlight of the festive period of the city of Šiauliai.

It has already become a tradition to place the Christmas post office in Resurrection Square during the festive period. This year, the post office, which will be open until December 14, will be waiting for the little residents of Šiauliai who want to share their dreams and wishes, which will be in their own drawn or written Christmas letters. Prepared letters can be dropped into a special box located in the main town square. Santa's helpers note that the exact address must be written on the envelope - this way each child will receive a reply from Santa Claus with the warmest wishes.

As every year, a prelude depicting a biblical event - the birth of Jesus Christ - will be placed in the square near the Šiauliai City Municipality. Throughout the festive period, it will be possible to see plaster statues of Jesus Christ, Mary, Joseph, shepherds and sheep in the forecourt.

Christmas trees will be lit in other parts of the city of Šiauliai: the Christmas tree will shine on Vilniaus gatvė boulevard near Kaštonų aleja, in the southern district of the city near the Northern Lithuanian College, as well as at the Arts and Beauty Services Department of the Šiauliai Technology Training Center and at the Medelynas pro-gymnasium. This year, on December 8, everyone who wants to travel to a real winter kingdom is invited to Rėkyva, because during the Christmas tree lighting celebration, the townspeople will be treated to "Olaf's Adventures" and a meeting with Santa Claus, as well as a festive performance for the small audience. Šiauliai Cultural Center's choreography studio "Impresija" (artistic director Inga Širvienė).

The events that started on the first weekend of December will continue until Three Kings. Šiauliai residents and guests of the city will be able to participate in the festive evening of awarding the culture and art awards of the city of Šiauliai, enjoy colorful concerts that give the Christmas mood, tours, excursions, exhibitions, educations, promotions and other initiatives. The entire program of events can be found on the websites of Šiauliai Cultural Center (www.siauliukc.lt) or Šiauliai City Municipality (www.siauliai.lt).

Informational sponsors of Christmas and New Year's events: Lithuanian National Radio and Television (LRT), "Miestos naujienos", "Saulės radijas", Šiaulių apskrities televizija, daily newspaper "Šiaulių krastas", Owexx.

The information is provided by Edita Smindriūnaitė, Deputy Head of the Event Organization Department of the Šiauliai Culture Center, mobile. +370 656 13 886, e-mail edita.smindriunaite@siauliukc.lt.

Photo by Roland Parafinavičius and Kamilė Lionikaitė.