Mayor of Vilnius, Remigijus Simasius, offered to celebrate Christmas modestly and donate the money to Ukraine.
This is reported by Delfi, according to LB.ua.
"We will install the most modest Christmas tree (or just last year's one) on Cathedral Square this year. The rest of the money can be used to help Ukraine or to compensate for the winter season. Of course, the competition has already taken place, the contract has been signed, and money for initial ideas has already been allocated. But there will still be these bright holidays. Yes, we will also have a 700th anniversary-we will negotiate with the сoalition what to do – reduce the scope or leave everything as it is. Russian aggression should not stop life in the city and holidays, especially if they are celebrated once every 100 years," the mayor of Vilnius believes.
This year, the capital of Lithuania allocated about 250 thousand euros for the Christmas tree (three times more than a year ago).
"I just don't like that Christmas trees in Lithuania have become a kind of race, a competition – who has the best, more beautiful. We have a reason to stop it – this year, we have our first Christmas during the war. Christmas is a holiday of comfort. Let's go back to it," commented Shimashyus.