Fragrant pines are vying for the title of the main Christmas tree in the Vitebsk region

December 3, Vitebsk / Olga Bogacheva - BELTA /. Fragrant pine beauties are vying for the title of the main New Year tree this year in the Vitebsk region. The leading engineer for secondary forest use and auxiliary agriculture of the Vitebsk Regional Production Forestry Association (PLHO), Oleg Gritskevich, told a BELTA correspondent about the latest New Year's fashion trend. The fashion trend of decorating homes on Christmas and New Year's Eve with pine bouquets has emerged in Belarus in recent years. "People are attracted by the rich coniferous aroma, the longevity of this tree species, and, to some extent, their alternative to the traditional holiday tree - the spruce," the interlocutor noted. Tough competition between pines and spruces will unfold at the Christmas tree markets, which open in the region on December 18. The battle will be fought on equal terms: the Vitebsk PLHO is preparing an equal number of representatives of the competing sides for buyers to choose from - 20 thousand pines and 20 thousand spruces. Their cost is also determined in the same price category. A tree up to 1 m will be available for Br10 thousand, 1-2 m - Br15 thousand, 2-3 m - Br20 thousand, 3-4 m - Br35 thousand, 4-5 m - Br60 thousand. Trees can also be purchased at forestry enterprises. A total of 60 Christmas tree markets will open in the Vitebsk region this year, including 15 in Vitebsk. Forestry enterprises in the region plan to sell 40 thousand trees, 200 pine and spruce bouquets (their cost will range from Br3 thousand to Br5 thousand), as well as 100 potted blue spruces grown at the Glubokoye Experimental Forestry Enterprise. -0-