Christmas Alilo march held in Tbilisi today
With roots dating back to the 5th century, Alilo was resurrected as a public celebration in 2000 by the Catholicos Patriarch of Georgia Ilia II and has been held annually across the country. Photo: Salome Tsereteli/Agenda.ge
Tweet 
Share
Georgian citizens in the country’s capital Tbilisi held the traditional celebratory Christmas march Alilo, a customary event involving children singing Christmas carols and walking through the streets, gathering presents to be later donated to charity.
Photo: Salome Tsereteli/Agenda.ge
The participants of the theatrical march, dressed in religious costumes, walked from the First Republic Square to the Holy Trinity Cathedral, passing through the main avenues of the city.
Photo: Salome Tsereteli/Agenda.ge
The children portrayed angels and shepherds, as according to religious belief, angels were the first to receive news of the birth of Christ.
Photo via Shalva Papuashvili press office
The marchers stopped at several locations receiving Christmas presents from the Parliament Speaker Shalva Papuashvili and MPs, as well as from the representatives of Tbilisi City Hall, City Assembly and the Presidential Administration.
Photo via Shalva Papuashvili press office
Citizens also gathered to hold an Alilo march in Georgia’s Black Sea city of Batumi, western cities of Kutaisi and Zugdidi, as well as central Gori city and Kakheti region.
Photo: Salome Tsereteli/Agenda.ge
With roots dating back to the 5th century, Alilo was resurrected as a public celebration in 2000 by the Catholicos Patriarch of Georgia Ilia II and has been held annually across the country.
Photo via Shalva Papuashvili press office
The Georgian Orthodox Church is celebrating Christmas today along with other members of the Orthodox world, due to the two-week difference between the Gregorian and Julian calendars, to the latter of which Georgia adheres.
Georgian President Salome Zourabichvili on Sunday congratulated “every Georgian and every Orthodox family worldwide” on Merry Christmas, wishing well-being and love for Georgia and all the families celebrating Christmas today.
The world has always been contradictory, but today's conflicts and wars pose “a real danger of turning into a global catastrophe and destroying all of humanity”. That is why we should all care for peace, the Catholicos Patriarch of Georgia Ilia II said in his annual Christmas epistle ahead of Christmas mass last night.
Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili on Sunday congratulated “all of Georgia” on Orthodox Christmas, wishing his compatriots and their families happiness, joy and progress.
Vehicle traffic will be restricted on certain streets of Georgia’s capital Tbilisi on Sunday to allow the holding of the traditional celebratory Christmas march Alilo, a customary event involving children singing Christmas carols and walking through the streets, gathering presents to be later donated to charity, Tbilisi City Hall announced on Saturday.
The BBC on Sunday published a photo report of January 7 celebrations marking the Orthodox Christmas around the world, with the selections featuring Alilo, the annual march of children across Georgia who sing carols while walking through streets to gather presents for charities.