Paris officially begins Christmas season

Unlike last year, when only a few people attended the lighting ceremony due to Covid-19 restrictions, this year, the Champs Élysées area welcomed a large number of people and tourists. From now until January 8, 2021, 400 trees on the Avenue will be lit with energy-saving LED bulbs, which can be reused for about 3-5 Christmas seasons.

Along with Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo and other dignitaries, the famous singer Clara Luciani was invited to press the button to turn on the lights of the two rows of trees. According to the Paris government, Clara Luciani represents a generation that “holds its freedom, pride and independence”. Her song “Respire encore”, which is also the theme song of this year’s lighting ceremony, is described by the Organizing Committee as a “hymn of destruction and freedom regained”.

Not only Champs Élysées, but also Avenue Montaigne, George V, Place Vendôme and Avenue Haussmann are all lit up to welcome Christmas 2021. This is one of the most anticipated events this year, marking the return of “joy of life”, after a series of crises that France has experienced, from the 2019 strikes, the yellow vest protests to the Covid-19 pandemic crisis.

Through the 2021 light festival, the French government and people hope that the meaning of Christmas will return, and the Champs Élysées Avenue will regain its "form" of pre-pandemic years.

“I feel great. Every year, we are rewarded with this event. People rush to make small videos and send them to relatives and friends. I think it is great” - a Parisian shared.

The lighting ceremony on the Champs Élysées is also the opening event of the Christmas season around the world. The ceremony is followed and reported by hundreds of media outlets from many countries. The cost of this event is estimated at 1 million euros (equivalent to 26,500 billion VND).

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