This year's approximately 11-metre-tall Caucasian fir Christmas tree was erected on Bratislava's Main Square (Hlavne namestie) on Tuesday and will be officially lit up on November 28, when Bratislava's Christmas market is scheduled to open, according to the Bratislava Cultural and Information Centre (BKIS). They added that stalls will be open a day earlier, on 27 November.
"The most popular winter festivities, lasting 40 days, will once again combine traditions, a music programme, charities and a community spirit. What's new this year is that the main Christmas market will reopen after a two-day Christmas break on 26 December," said Zuzana Bleho Francuzova from BKIS, adding that the main Christmas market will remain open until Epiphany (6 January).
A total of 74 stalls will be set up, including 45 food stalls and 25 stalls with handmade ornaments, beeswax products, ceramics, leather goods and other traditional crafts. The remaining four stalls will present the work and projects of nine non-profit organisations.
For the third time, a 'Friendly Zone' will be set up, providing a covered, barrier-free space for families with children, seniors and vulnerable groups. It will be located near the Christmas Forest section with 40 trees adorned with handmade decorations created by pupils from primary, artistic and special schools. Before Christmas, the trees will be donated to charitable organisations, social care facilities, associations for the homeless, and to struggling families.
The cultural and music programme will feature more than 40 concerts and other activities running every Friday, Saturday and Sunday, including folk ensembles, choirs and music bands performing Christmas songs.
Source: TASR
