About 500 pairs of Ded Moroz (Father Frost), Snegurochka (Snow Maiden), and 750 other fairy-tale characters took part in a parade in Vitebsk

This event is eagerly awaited by the youngest residents of the regional center, and adults are also willing to return to childhood and greet the main characters of the New Year holidays.

The sidewalks along the route of the costumed participants were filled with people. Some of the spectators also put on carnival masks to support those marching in the festive procession. And it was led by three winter months – December, January, and February. They were represented by horsemen, followed by the main Ded Moroz of the Vitebsk region and Snegurochka in a carriage. And the coachman was the symbol of 2017 – the Red Rooster.

The rhythm of the procession was set by a military brass band. The musicians also wore Ded Moroz costumes and played cheerful marches. Thus, with music, the column entered Victory Square, where the main Christmas tree of the region is installed.

A good tradition of the "Let's Light the Christmas Tree Together!" campaign is the honoring of talented youth of Vitebsk, those who have brought glory to the region with victories in various competitions, olympiads, and championships.

Among them are Alexander Atanov, holder of a first-degree diploma from the international multidisciplinary distance olympiad "Tengri" in chemistry and a third-degree diploma from the republican olympiad in biology; Elizaveta Kovchur, winner of the second stage of the republican olympiad in history and social studies, champion of Belarus and prize-winner of the European Championship in martial arts; Alina Kushnerova, an excellent student, winner of the song contest "Two Sisters – Belarus and Russia," the international folklore festival in Poland, and Art-Panorama Baltika – 2016, held in Latvia, Estonia, and Sweden, and others. All ten young heroes of the celebration received gifts.

The culmination of the evening was the lighting of the Christmas tree. Near

danced around the New Year's beauty, held contests, and the best creative groups and performers appeared on stage.

And the Ded Morozs gladly took photos with children and adults, and took selfies against the backdrop of the forest beauty, which sparkled with multi-colored lights.

Tatyana Pasternak. Photo by Dmitry Osipov. "Vitebskiye vesti".