Each year, the square in front of the Municipality becomes the focal point for all festivities, always bringing joy and a touch of beauty to tourists and locals alike.
As we have mentioned in one of our older articles, it is believed that the custom of decorating Christmas trees in Bulgaria was introduced from Russia. The first Christmas tree in the country was decorated in Plovdiv in 1878 by Alexander Stolypin, the General-Governor of Eastern Rumelia. At the time, Stolypin and his wife, Natalia Gorchakova, organized a celebration for distinguished students at their home. Due to his contributions, Stolypin was declared the first honorary citizen of Plovdiv.
Gradually, the tradition entered every household, and today Christmas trees can be found in almost every private home, numerous public buildings, and as part of urban holiday decorations. They shine with lights and are an essential part of the festive spirit.
Here’s what you might not know about Plovdiv’s Christmas tree, proudly standing in the city’s heart:
Up until 10 years ago, a natural pine tree was decorated for Christmas in the garden in front of the Municipality building. It had been planted in the 1970s to celebrate the birth of Plovdiv's 300 000th resident. This continued until 2014, when a summer storm in June uprooted the tree.
After a few years of experimentation, a brand-new Christmas tree was introduced in 2017 built over the Fountain of the Pelicans. It is a "foliage coniferous tree" produced by GRIPS, the only Christmas tree manufacturer in the Balkans.
The tree is made up of several rings, each over 70 centimeters tall.
The tree stands at 13.5 meters tall, and the installation process can be dangerous at times.
The tree itself weighs 1 ton, with an additional 500 kg of the decorations.
It features over 4000 branches, available in two colors: solid green and frosted. Each branch is carefully unpacked, fluffed, and passed up to the top in a "human chain."
Assembling the tree and adding decorations on it at the same time takes several days. The ornaments include red, white, and silver globes, while all the lights use LED technology in a warm spectrum with dynamic effects. A large star shines at the top.
The decoration of the tree is harmonious. It features medium and large stars combined with red and silver ornaments. A glowing garland wraps around the tree, while cold light illuminates the lower portion, about a meter above the base. The rest of the tree shines warmly in the evening and night, with a twinkling light at the top.
Since 2019, the placement of lights and decorations has been reimagined. Stars are now positioned lower and closer to the base, ensuring that more of the decorations are visible when people take photos in front of the tree.
Eleven people from the factory are involved in assembling and decorating the tree. It arrives disassembled in 40 boxes and requires several vans for transportation.
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