New Year’s is huge here.
Georgians celebrate Orthodox Christmas on January 7, so the New Year’s is the first in the string of holidays. The Old New Year is celebrated as well on January 13, a good remnant of the secular Soviet tradition.
To be sure, the city is already dressed up and elaborately lit up (I’ll take pictures later) so those who observe Christmas on December 25 will feel festive as well, but it is not widely celebrated.
Since I’m here temporarily I didn’t plan to decorate my rented apartment if it were just me. But my niece is visiting and my son will be coming right before the New Year’s so we decided to do something with low environmental impact.
I bought a small live tree in a pot for 50 lari ($19). The plan is to put it into ground in the spring so that when I leave there will be a Lana’s tree in Tbilisi. I’ve planted a lot of trees in my life, so it will be a good legacy. Maybe I should start doing it in every country I visit, plant a local tree.
This one is a little lopsided but it was the right size and the best of the two my favorite plant store had. I fell in love like you would with a slightly imperfect thing. And who knows, maybe it will even out when it grows.
And yesterday we went out to the flea market and bought decorations for it. Everything except for the lights is used, and the lights will be donated later. Oh, and the self-sticking crafts paper to decorate the pot is new as well. But we were not able to find anything like that in the flea market. Total cost of all decorations - 20 lari ($7.5), including the new lights and sparkling paper for 6 lari.
We also got a small artisan-made Georgian New Year’s tree made out of curled thin wood strings, for the dinner table.
When we got home, we immediately started to decorate the tree together. Just like in many families, decorating the New Year’s tree is a bonding tradition for us and I longed for my son to be here while doing it. It was a little challenging to offset the tree’s lopsidedness but I think we’ve achieved it. What do you think?
When we were done, I said, just like in my childhood,
“One, two, three!
Lights up on the tree!”
And plugged in the lights.
Magic!
About the Creator
Lana V Lynx
Avid reader and occasional writer of satire and short fiction. For my own sanity and security, I write under a pen name. My books: Moscow Calling - 2017 and President & Psychiatrist
@lanalynx.bsky.social
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Comments (9)
Such a charming story that gives us a bit of insight into Tbilisi. I’m so glad your son and niece will be arriving to help you celebrate the holiday. Sending wishes for an excellent one for all. 🤍🤍🤍
Merry Christmas, Lana <3 My girls and I decided we weren't doing Christmas this year, so no decorations here.
I love your little tree and I love the warmth that emanated from this piece from the respect for the tradition to the longing to do it with your closest family to the using of used items and the fact that that tree will live on. This made me glow!
I love the idea of you planting trees. It’s a great idea and you can take pictures every time you come back, if it works out that way. Regardless, knowing they are out there thriving is satisfying. Happy Holidays, Lana!
Your care for sustainability comes through naturally without preaching. Used decorations a potted tree, shared moments it all feels thoughtful and true.
Lana's tree is looking good! And a happy Yuletide to you and all of Tiblisi!
Awww, your tree is so adorable! Planting a tree at every place you go feels like a nice idea to me!
Thank you for sharing your Christmas in Tbilisi with us. I love the tree and it looks lovely, not at all lopsided or crooked. It knows you love it!!
January 7 is my mom’s birthday (no accident that she was born after the epiphany). Btw, my favorite Christmas poem is Eliot’s “Journey of the Magi.”