The Holiday season in Tbilisi
Christmas and New Year celebrations all over the Georgia start on December 25 with the lightning of the big New Year Tree at the Old Parliament building on the Rustaveli ave. in Tbilisi. Photo by N. Alavidze.
Santa and Georgian Tovlis Papa (Snow Grandfather in word by word translation from Georgian) arrived to the opening of the ceremony on this sled. Photo by N. Alavidze.
Most of Georgians celebrate Christmas according to Orthodox tradition on January 7, but December 25 is usually starting day for the celebration events in the country. Photo by N. Alavidze.
The army of Santa Clauses started the journey from this New Year Tree to the 64 regions of Georgia to congratulate the children all over the country. Photo by N. Alavidze.
5. Over 1000 Santa Clauses will travel all over the Georgia for this special celebration of the New Year in buses and will congratulate the little Georgians in every village. Photo by N. Alavidze.
According to the Ministry of Culture, the scale of this project is unprecedented and aims to give the opportunity of celebrating New Year to the entire population of Georgia. Photo by N. Alavidze.
Tovlis Papa (that means Snow Grandfather) is the Georgian version of Santa. In traditional Georgian costume, he also greets the children on Rustaveli ave. in Tbilisi. Photo by N. Alavidze.
Chichilaki is the traditional version of the West Georgian New Year Tree from ancient times. Photo by N. Alavidze.
Khoncha, a decorated board tray with bread, sweets, pomegranate, nuts, wine, and ritual breads originated in eastern Georgia during the New Year celebration. Photo by N. Alavidze.
The monument of Saint George, who is considered to be the patron Saint for Georgia, is surrounded by the Christmas lights at Freedom Square in Tbilisi. Photo by N. Alavidze.
Windows of the shops in the down town area also are decorated in Christmas style. Photo by N. Alavidze.
The tradition of Christmas street fairs is quite new for Tbilisi, but during last years, the New Year festival on Shardeni Street has become one more place to spend the Christmas weekend. Photo by N. Alavidze.
You can find hundreds of variations of the New Year trees, from the textile little ones… Photo by N. Alavidze.
–… to the original big ones, presented by the designers and companies for the Contest of the most original New Year Tree of the year. Photo by N. Alavidze.
The charity Christmas fair was held at Sheraton Metekhi Palace to help homeless children and single mothers in Georgia. Photo by N. Alavidze.
The international foods, souvenirs, accessories, hand-made items and cloths were presented by 20 Georgian companies, 25 embassies in Georgia, and more than 200 individuals at the exhibition. Photo by N. Alavidze.
Here you can find the most beautiful handmade Christmas toys in the city and everything from international food … Photo by N. Alavidze.
…to the Red Cross cupcakes. Photo by N. Alavidze.
The exhibition-sale has been a 15-year tradition in Georgia. Photo by N. Alavidze.
One more place to go on New Year weekend is the open air skating rink. This place is very popular among Georgian teenagers because ice skating is quite exotic for the mild climate of Tbilisi. Photo by N. Alavidze.
The Cathedral of Our Lady in the old historical part of Tbilisi provides mass mainly in Georgian. Photo by N. Alavidze.
The Catholics in Tbilisi are mostly Georgians and Armenians, as well as a small Assyrian community of the Chaldean Rite. Photo by N. Alavidze.
Guseppe Pazzoto was appointed as Bishop of Georgian Catholic Church in 2000. He now is fluent in Georgian. Photo by N. Alavidze.
Marry Christmas and Happy New Year to all of you! Photo by N.Alavidze.