Important information
Can a Christmas Tree Send a Social Message? It Can in Vilnius
A Christmas tree unveiled in Vilnius this week looks nothing like the shiny decorated trees usually associated with the holiday. Wrapped in a giant plastic bag, the tree at the Independent Christmas Town located at the Vilnius Railway Station serves as a reminder of the hyper-consumerism that tends to take over the holiday season, encouraging a more local and authentic approach to Christmas instead.
“We wanted to express the idea of excessive consumerism with our Christmas tree, which we have done with a modern art project,” said one of its creators, Dominykas Čečkauskas, who is also behind the famous street mural in Vilnius depicting presidents Trump and Putin embracing each other. “We have wrapped the tree in an Off-White-inspired plastic bag and attached clinical breathing masks – we would really like to show the world how we perceive problems with the economy of manufactured demand and hype culture”
Along with the tree, over a dozen pop-ups representing Vilnius’ flourishing street food and craft beer scene, as well as a slew of performance artists, fashion designers, and industrial techno musicians have taken over the Lithuanian Railway Museum and station area to create a Christmas Town unlike any other.
Local street food pioneers Turgus 2.0, together with Lithuanian Railways, the Municipality of Vilnius, and the city’s development agency Go Vilnius, have combined forces to bring this market to life. The initiative, which will run until 2 January, is an experimental Christmas Market aimed at promoting the best of Vilnius’ youth culture, and providing an alternative to the malls and traditional-style Christmas Markets that are commonplace across the world. This Independent Christmas Town also serves to support local artists, electronic musicians, and the best of the city’s art, street-food, and micro brewing scenes.
“The Independent Christmas Town is an initiative that looks to the future instead of past traditions,” continues Čečkauskas. “The festive season has too long been about unreasonable levels of consumerism. This is why we are promoting more conscious Christmas presents by urging visitors to buy unique gifts from local street artists, designers, and second-hand merchants.”
Vilnius Mayor Remigijus Šimašius has granted this next-generation Christmas town freedom, saying, “The Independent Christmas Town represents the values of liberty, tolerance, and openness that Vilnius is built upon. Thanks to this initiative, our city’s most exciting artists will be able to come together and hopefully show other creatives from across the world that Vilnius is open to their talents and that they are welcome during Christmas or any other time of year.”
Traditional market stalls have been traded for the old train cars, including the market’s main bar, which is specialising in local festive hot chocolate and chocolate beer. Other cars have been transformed into places to relax with family and friends. Moreover, an original past century dining car has been renovated to its original style, and is housing several pop-up food shacks, including an experimental fondue bar.
During the evenings, the train cars are being used as nightlife venues, playing the best in techno and industrial sounds from Vilnius. These beats also serve as the backing tracks to a series of Christmas-inspired theatre pieces put on by local performance artists of all ages.
Also read:
Vilnius calls Lithuania to celebrate the 16th of February
Vilnius invites to special events to celebrate the Statehood on the 16th of February: new and traditional events to celebrate the restoration of the State of Lithuania will be held in main squares and streets of the capital. In addition to the traditional events valued by all, the visitors will... ❯❯❯
2022-02-10
2023 Will Be Big for Vilnius: Capital Starts Countdown Till 700th Anniversary
Vilnius started year-round preparations for its 700th anniversary in 2023. The countdown till the grand birthday includes cultural, art, educational events, and a beloved Light Show. January 25, 2022. On January 25th Vilnius, the capital of Lithuania, started the official countdown till its... ❯❯❯
2022-01-27
Fusion of classical and modern works of light art on the route of the 4th Vilnius International Festival of Lights
On Tuesday, 25 January, Vilnius will celebrate its 699th birthday with the traditional lighting of the installations of the Vilnius International Festival of Lights. For five days until 29 January, an unprecedented number of light artists from around the world—France, the Netherlands,... ❯❯❯
2022-01-25
Counting of the days left to the 700th anniversary of Vilnius starts this 25th of January
As one year precisely is left until the capital’s anniversary, the symbolic clock will be set off in Vilnius. It will be calculating the days left until the 700th anniversary of Vilnius. We are going to celebrate the holiday of the entire country – the 700th anniversary of the Lithuanian... ❯❯❯
2022-01-13
Vilnius belfry is going to shine in video projections when year 2022 is welcomed
The belfry of Vilnius Cathedral Basilica is going to revive on the New Year’s Eve – the festive installation of video projections will invite you to take a journey in time that will shine symbolically during the conversion of years and time. Modern installation is already the third during the... ❯❯❯
2021-12-29
Final Days of December in Vilnius: a Comeback of a Marvellous Christmas Fairy Tale
On Christmas, after a year-long hiatus, Vilnius welcomes back one of its traditional events – Christmas Fairy Tale, shown on the Grand Stage at the Cathedral Stage. This year, spectators will see A Christmas Carol, based on a novella of the same name by Charles Dickens. ‘Each year we try to... ❯❯❯
2021-12-23