Lithuania’s ten biggest cities spent a total of 623,000 euros on central Christmas trees in 2022. At one end of the spectrum is the biggest spender Vilnius, splashing more than double on its tree this year. At the other extreme, Klaipėda has managed to have a tree without spending a dime.
Read more: Lithuanian towns and cities light Christmas trees – photos
LRT.lt takes a look at the most expensive Christmas decorations in Lithuania this year.
1st place – Vilnius
For the past few years, Vilnius and Kaunas have spent similar amounts on their main Christmas trees, but this year the capital city has splashed out, spending 231,000 euros on its tree.
An additional 60,400 euros was spent on the tree lighting event. The total budget for the 6-week Christmas in the Capital programme approved by the City Council amounts to 393,000 euros.
The municipality noted that this year’s Christmas tree composition, shaped like a birthday cake, is an invitation to celebrate the 700th anniversary of Vilnius.
“It is 25m high and 22m in diameter, in the form of a three-tiered elegant cake, made of luminous Baroque-style decorations: rhythmic columns and decorative chandeliers. All three tiers are decorated with Baroque ornaments in luminous white, topped with the symbolic 700 candles. At the centre of the artistic composition is a Christmas tree decorated with golden pendants and sparkling garlands. The top of the tree is adorned with a cake candle flame in the form of a fountain,” says Municipality spokesman Gabrielius Grubinskas.
There has also been some controversy around the Christmas budget, with the Financial Crimes Investigation Service (FNTT) probing the circumstances of Vilnius City Municipality’s spending on the tree and other festive attributes.
Read more: Vilnius launches holiday season with cake-shaped Christmas tree – photos
2nd place – Kaunas
After spending 160,000 euros on the Christmas tree last year, Kaunas will welcome Christmas this year on a similar budget (including the decoration of the Town Hall Square where the tree stands).
An additional 170,000 euros has been earmarked for the tree lighting event.
According to Agnė Augonė, head of the Culture Department of Kaunas City Municipality, this year the Town Hall Square resembles a sparkling winter fairy tale inspired by the works of Mikalojus Konstantinas Čiurlionis.
“Visitors to the Christmas Town are greeted from afar by a 24-metre spruce. Over 500 handmade decorations and constellations cover its festive mantle. Alongside are additional decorations commemorating the work of Čiurlionis and frames to capture the festive mood. The aim is to create an aura of peace, cosiness, and hope in the square,” says Augonė.
Read more: Kaunas lights Čiurlionis-inspired Christmas tree – photos
3rd place – Mažeikiai
In third place, as last year, is the town of Mažeikiai, which spent 48,400 euros to the Christmas tree (78.6 thousand euros in 2021).
The preliminary estimate for the tree lighting ceremony on December 2 was around 15,000 euros.
According Mažeikiai Municipality, the spruce tree in front of the Church of St Francis of Assisi is 18 metres tall. Its base is made of a metal frame covered with natural fir branches.
It is decorated with huge luminous ribbons of light gold, gold and silver bubbles, garlands of warm light and flashes of light. The spruce is enveloped in a glowing shroud 30 metres in diameter.
“Mažeikiai is unique because the Christmas decorations last from the beginning of Advent (when the Advent wreath, almost 5 metres in diameter, is blessed and the first candle is lit in the Old Town, in Burbos Square) until the middle of December. On 15 December, as last year, the Christmas Town will be opened in the Old Town, with a festive fair and Santa’s residence,” reads the municipality’s comment.
4th place – Panevėžys
After spending 46,800 euros on the Christmas tree last year, Panevėžys is spending slightly less this year, 40,900.
The Christmas tree lighting event took place on December 2 and cost 12,000 euros.
“This year’s Christmas decorations in Panevėžys resemble a collection of precious stones. The Christmas tree has several branches that stretch out into the square. There is also a Christmas post office next to the tree, where if you drop a letter into a special box, the tree starts playing Christmas music and sparkling with extra colours,” comments Panevėžys City Council.
5th place – Marijampolė
Marijampolė has allocated 40,000 euros for the 2022 Christmas tree, 10,000 euros less than last year.
The Christmas tree lighting ceremony was budgeted at 10,000.
The municipality says that inside the 19-metre tree there is a romantic space and a Christmas post office, and the tree is constantly changing its colours.
“Marijampolė celebrates Christmas in a romantic way – this is the motto of the capital of the Sudūva region,” the municipality informs.
Special mention – Klaipėda
For the past few years, Klaipėda City Municipality has spent a minimal amount on the Christmas tree, but this year it created a Christmas miracle for its residents without spending a cent.
“In the context of Lithuanian cities, Klaipėda stands out not only because of its traditionally lively Christmas tree and its classical decoration, but also because of the cost of all the works related to the tree’s installation, which is zero,” says Eglė Šulskė, director of Klaipėdos Šventės.
The costs of cutting down, delivering and decorating the spruce tree were covered by private companies.
“It is also important to mention that the tree will be decorated with LED garlands, which use very little electricity, so that the total monthly electricity costs will amount to only 403 euros until January 10,” says Šulskė.
This is the seventh year that Klaipėd invited people to donate a tree to the city. This year, Klaipėda was choosing from among 23 offers. It comes from the Botanical Garden of Klaipėda University.
“The impressive Norway spruce was among the two favourites after the announcement of the vote of the citizens of Klaipėda. The decisive factor was that, in just a few months, the construction of an educational centre will begin on the site where the Botanical Garden’s spruce tree used to grow, so the tree would have had to be cut down anyway. According to specialists of the Klaipėda Botanical Garden, the spruce is 16-18 metres tall. It is about 30 years old,” according to Šulskė.
The budget for the tree lighting event, including the performers, the necessary equipment, installation and filming, amounts to 24,000.
The total budget for the Klaipėda Christmas-New Year’s Eve series this year will amount to 89,900 euros.
Read more: Klaipėda lights up for Christmas – photos
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