The Batumi Christmas tree market, traditionally organized on Christmas and New Year's Eve, is a picturesque place where you can feel the real festive spirit. In recent years (2022-2023), due to the restoration of the Alley of Heroes and the construction of a pedestrian bridge, the bazaar was moved to a large parking lot next to the Adjarabet Arena football stadium. It is expected that in 2024 the bazaar will be located here.
The bazaar features exclusively natural Christmas trees, in contrast to artificial ones, which are sold in home improvement stores and specialty stores. The uniqueness of the Christmas trees at the bazaar lies in their composite structure: they are made from branches of live Christmas trees, cut and inserted into a wooden pole, which imitates natural growth. These trees look lush and realistic, their beauty depends on the skill and skill of those who make them. Therefore, buyers are advised not to rush into making a choice and consider options from different sellers.
Prices for Christmas trees are approximately the same for all sellers, and amount to about 50-80 lari for a human-sized Christmas tree. It is customary to bargain at the bazaar, especially if several trees are purchased at once.
In addition, at the bazaar you can find a traditional Georgian Christmas tree - chichilaki. This decoration is made from a walnut tree branch, from one end of which thin shavings are carefully planed, leaving them to hold on to the other end. Chichilaki is decorated with sweets and placed on the festive table. According to tradition, after the holidays, chichilaki are burned to get rid of the troubles and adversities of the past year.
The Christmas tree market in Batumi is not only a place to buy New Year's decorations, but also an opportunity to immerse yourself in the holiday atmosphere and enjoy local traditions and culture.
