Art Deco: 100 Years Ago and Now
The modern Christmas traditions in Kaunas date back to the city’s golden age in the interwar period, when Kaunas became the Temporary Capital. The rapidly growing metropolis was flooded not only with new residents but also with the fashions of other European capitals.
When Kaunas became the country’s most important city, Modernist buildings began to rise, and the Art Deco style, which still captivates people today, became a feature of everyday life. The famous 1925 International Exhibition in Paris is considered the peak of this style. And it was precisely a hundred years ago that the residents of Kaunas began to decorate Christmas trees!
It is therefore symbolic that this year’s Christmas tree in the Town Hall Square will also be rich with Art Deco motifs. It promises to be exceptionally ornate, with sharply-defined decorations radiant with gold.
Amsterdam School museum photo
The Christmas Tree: A Gift from a Kaunas Resident
In the heart of the Old Town, a Christmas market will be bustling all season long, where flavours and aromas will tempt you to indulge in festive treats. On weekends, the Town Hall Square will buzz with Santa’s laughter, creative workshops, and concerts, while a free Christmas train will take everyone on a ride through the decorated nearby streets.
The city’s main Christmas tree is not just a festive attraction; it is a gift to the city with a touching story behind it. Just like last year, residents will be delighted by a real, green-branched tree smelling of the forest. After a long search, it was found in the Petrašiūnai district, and the symbol of Christmas is being donated to the city by a Kaunas resident, Irena Juškevičienė. This 65-year-old tree, which had “outgrown” its family home, was planted long ago by Mrs Irena’s mother, and several generations of the family have watched it grow.
The tree in the Town Hall Square will be lit on 22 November, accompanied by a festive concert and other surprises.
Another festive epicentre will be Vienybės Square. An open-air ice rink will be set up here. Before their skating session, locals and festive travellers are invited to visit the surrounding museums, galleries, and the Kaunas Artists’ House. And when the frost starts to nip at their cheeks, they can warm up with a cup of tea or hot chocolate in one of the nearby cafés.
Photo by A. Aleksandravičius
A Hundred Ways to Celebrate
The festive Kaunas is small enough to feel intimate, yet just as big enough for you to discover the full palette of holiday emotions. Inspired by both historical details and the city’s contemporary rhythms, Kaunas has prepared a hundred ways to experience the holidays this year.
Want to travel back in time? No problem. Switch off your phone and listen to the elegant stories at the Art Deco Museum. Or perhaps you will finally get around to exploring the palace where the poet Maironis lived, tasting gingerbread from all the Old Town bakeries along the way?
An unforgettable holiday experience is guaranteed at Žalgiris Arena, among thousands of like-minded people. Or… you could spend it in solitude, exploring the secrets of the Oak Grove after reading a book about Kaunas in the library. If none of these ideas appeal to you, roll up your sleeves, there are 94 more to go! So, prepare to write your own festive story. After all, the days until Christmas are getting shorter…
Photo by A. Aleksandravičius
