The capital city of Slovenia, one of the most picturesque cities in Central Europe, becomes a winter wonderland during the holidays. The magic lasts for the whole month of December until New Year's Day, when the city, tired from the festive fun, softly falls asleep.
Christmas in Ljubljana is wonderful; this year, the city is already dressed up for the occasion. By now, it is adorned with thousands of twinkling lights and decorations that attract numerous people who come to the city centre to soak up the merry atmosphere. More than 180,000 lights in 60 kilometres of light garlands were switched on simultaneously on 3 December at the traditional ''Let's Turn on the Light, People!'' ceremony. The event was dedicated to two Slovene literary giants: the national poet France Preseren, who was born on that day, and the most popular Slovene humorist of all time Fran Milcinski-Jezek, whose poem the organisers borrowed to name the event, which every year marks the start of the December festivities in Ljubljana.
The Festive Fair on the Banks of Ljubljanica River
The Festive Fair lining both banks of the Ljubljanica River is a must-see. Packed with locals and visitors to Ljubljana alike, it is the heart and soul of the holiday season. For those living in Ljubljana, it is also a perfect opportunity to bump into friends and acquaintances whom they may have not seen for a while. A stroll through the Christmas Markets is truly a delight for the senses. The jubilant stalls, designed specially for the occasion, lure the visitor with a wide selection of holiday foods and drinks: delicious mulled wine, warm honey schnaps, roasted chestnuts, hot tea, sausages, potica (the Christmas loaf), apple strudel, grilled meats, and other delicious snacks. A fine choice of non-edible products suitable for giving as gifts can also be found here, such as traditional handmade Slovene Christmas ornaments, or local arts and crafts. Some stalls offer various fashion accessories, including reasonably priced creations by young Slovene designers, most of which are not available in shops.
St. Nicholas Day in Slovenia
In Slovenia, the gift giving season starts on 6 December, which is St. Nicholas Day (Miklavz in Slovene). On this occasion, the bearded saint himself travels the streets of Ljubljana's Old Town, accompanied by a group of angels and devils, who distribute biscuits, sweets, and fruits to children. St. Nicholas is celebrated among Catholic and Orthodox Christians, and also remembered by various Anglican and Lutheran churches. His generosity and penchant for gift-giving has made him the model of the modern-day Santa Claus. It was the Dutch Protestants who carried a popularized version of his life to America in the 17th century. According to this tradition, children will leave out their shoes in anticipation of St. Nicholas's nightly visit. If they were well-behaved during the year, then in the morning their shoes will be filled with small gifts, such as fruits, nuts, and sweets. If they were naughty throughout the year, then St. Nicholas would treat them to a lump of coal. Today, children in Slovenia don't put out their shoes anymore; parents treat them to more elaborate gifts—even if they are very badly-behaved.
Festive Events in Ljubljana
Apart from fairs and St. Nick's Day, the holiday atmosphere in the city centre is always enhanced by a series of entertainment events intended for people of all ages and different tastes. The very good news is that all the events are always free of charge to attend. The traditionally rich programme will see many novelties this year: One of the main highlights is the Fairy Tale Town in Zvezda Park, which is aimed at children. Also new are the Festive Book Fair, choir evenings in the Zvezda Park Pavilion, and two stages— at Novi trg Square and at Kongresni trg Square, which will be hosting numerous renowned musical performers.
Special festive guided tours are also available from Ljubljana Tourist Information Centre. The sightseeing of Ljubljana with a festive touch also makes an unforgettable holiday gift. Who can show you around festive Ljubljana better than Father Christmas himself?
The highlights of the Merry December 2011:
- Festive Fair (Ljubljana city centre 03 Dec 2011 – 02 Jan 2012)
- Music Concerts held in Novi Trg Square (Novi Trg Square 16 Dec 2011- 30 Dec 2001)
- Festive Book Fair (Kongresni trg Square 16 Dec 2011 – 30 Dec 2011 at 10:00 – 19:00) The fair will be offering a variety of books by Slovene publishers on the beautifully rebuilt Congress Square. In 2010, Ljubljana was the proud holder of the UNESCO title Wold Book Capital. The city won the award against stiff competition from Lisbon, Vienna, St. Petersburg, Riga, Wellington, and Guadalajara. Did you know that Slovenia recently published more books per capita than any other country in the world?
- Fairy-Tale Town – programme of open-air events (Kongresni trg Square 16 Dec 2011 – 30 Dec 2011 at 10:00 -13:00, 15:00 – 19:00) Aimed at children, the programme will include puppet shows, creative workshops, and various games. Your children will love it.
- The Good Fairy (Mestni trg square 16 Dec 2011 – 30 Dec 2011 at 17:00 – 21:00) This year, the Good Fairy, a magnificent lady in white, will be visiting Ljubljana, and fulfilling wishes in front of the Town Hall to anyone who dares to approach her. The author of the project is the painter Zmago Modic.
- Christmas Concert (Mestni trg square 24 Dec 2011 at 17:00) The annual free Christmas Concert will offer you opportunity to enjoy performances by popular Slovene musicians.
- Music Concerts held in Kongresni Trg Square (Kongresni trg square 26 Dec 2011 – 01 Jan 2012) Congress Square will hold performances by young Slovene pop rock artists, such as Ayla, Tabu, and Siddharta.
- Grandpa Frost processions (Old City Centre 26 Dec 2011 – 30 Dec 2011 at 17:00) Grandpa Frost (Dedek Mraz), the Slovene counterpart of Santa Claus, will arrive in Ljubljana from the Far North. His carriage will be drawn by white Lipizzaner horses, and accompanied by a procession of creatures from various fairy tales and folk legends.
- Street theatre performances at Butcher's Bridge (Butcher's Bridge 26 Dec 2011 – 30 Dec 2011 at 19:00 – 21:00) The young and old will be able to enjoy performances by circus performers, street theatre troupes, and other artists.
- Concerts at Pogacarjev trg Square (Pogacarjev trg 27 Dec 2011 – 30 Dec 2011)
- New Year's Eve celebrations held in the city centre squares (30 Dec 2011) A few hours before midnight, join thousands of people on the streets of Ljubljana, and enjoy jazz, rock, etno, pop, and classical musical performances held at various stages in the city centre. Make sure to get a good view of Ljubljana Castle because one minute after midnight a fireworks display from the castle will set the skies above Ljubljana alight and announce the beginning of 2012.
Let's hope it will be a great one!
Source:
www.visitljubljana.si
Tanja Batista - Tanja Batista has a BA in English Language and Literature from the Faculty of Arts, Ljubljana, Slovenia.
