GETTING IN THE FESTIVE MOOD: Christmas lights switch on all over Belarus

The traditional Christmas lights switch-on events involved music, theatrical shows and Christmas characters. Gomel and Grodno were the first cities to stage the event on 10 December. The holiday lights transformed the downtown districts into an immersive, festive experience. Minsk celebrated the lights switch-on event at nightfall on 15 December when thousands of colorful lights and garland decked the country’s main Christmas tree on Oktyabrskaya Square.

At 17:16 sharp another 117 kilometers of colorful garlands, 18 holiday-inspired art installations and more than 30 Christmas trees came to life in various districts of Minsk!  The new art installations include a huge pair of skates mounted at the Chizhovka Arena, figures of twelve animals representing the Chinese zodiac signs near the Chelyuskintsev Park and the Sports Palace, shining swans that ‘settled down’ near the water park.

Christmas illumination in Minsk will be on until 14 January. The lights will switch on together with street lighting, and turn off at midnight. On Christmas (25 December and 7 January), New Year’s Eve and Orthodox New Year – the lights will be on until the sunrise.

Enjoy the best images of Belarusian cities sparkling with lights in our report!