As the festive season approaches, Christmas trees have been lit in towns and cities across Lithuania – each brighter, more striking and more inventive than the last.
LRT.lt invites readers to take a tour and see how different corners of the country are welcoming the holidays.
Kaunas, true to tradition, was the first major city to launch the festive period, lighting its Christmas tree on November 22. This year’s tree is once again natural, shimmering with gold and decorated with art-deco details.
Klaipėda switched on its main fir tree a week after Kaunas, beating the capital by just a couple of hours. As is customary, the tree was donated by local residents and adorned with five kilometres of fairy lights.
Vilnius – named this year’s European Christmas Capital – opened the season in Cathedral Square, illuminating its evergreen tree with thousands of lights and sparkling baubles. The tree stands on an elevated platform that visitors can climb for a closer look at the Christmas market and the festive panorama.
Kretinga decorated a tree donated by the community, draped in 20,000 lights, LED flashes and 200 gold and silver baubles, creating a fairytale scene.
Radviliškis based its artistic concept on the myth of Pegasus: according to legend, when Pegasus became a constellation, one of its feathers fell to earth, sparking the light of creativity. In Radviliškis, the fallen feather became a symbol of the town’s creative impulse – a spark reborn each winter as the Christmas tree.
In Panevėžys, the Christmas tree is bathed in a glow of starlight.
Reaching the fir tree in Širvintos means walking through a light maze towards a large horseshoe installation. Visitors are encouraged to think of a wish while navigating the maze and symbolically entrust it to the horseshoe beside the tree.
Trakai’s 12-metre tree is decorated with gingerbread ornaments, wooden rocking horses, dreamy reindeer and a cascade of lights. A glowing “light tuft” crowns the top.
Elektrėnai’s Christmas tree marks the town’s 65th anniversary – a cosmic tribute inspired by the works of M. K. Čiurlionis (who is celebrating his 150th anniversary this year), blending music, light and the beauty of the universe.
In Anykščiai, the tree comes alive after dusk, illuminating the town with a warm festive glow.
Šiauliai’s yule tree, standing in Resurrection Square, is decorated with the city's heraldic symbols – the bull, the bear, the all-seeing eye, the princely cap and a new addition – the sun motif.
In Švenčionys, the tree shines with thousands of lights and an impressive gown of garlands.
Utena invites visitors into a Christmas tale with a tree wrapped in thousands of lights and topped with a star.
Druskininkai’s leisure square sparkles with a regal, crown-topped Christmas tree.
Molėtai’s traditional tree, features hundreds of thousands of lights and delicate decorations evoking a cosy winter village.
Jonava’s tree glows in white and red, surrounded by woodland creatures – deer, foxes, owls and more – creating a fairytale scene by day and a magical light garden by night.
Alytus has unveiled a dazzling tree with a playful secret: hidden among the lights is a single green bulb that blinks only for those who truly believe in Christmas magic.
Ukmergė’s main tree – 10 metres tall and 5 metres across – is crafted from at least 700 natural pine branches arranged on a frame.
Last but not least, Pakruojis’ Christmas tree is adorned with golden stained-glass birds, echoing the centenary tribute to artist Stasys Ušinskas. The birds were created by local artist Laimutė Veličkienė.
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