7
Jan
OS Christmas
BRAMS Institute wishes all Orthodox Christians a very happy Christmas filled with love and joy.
Almost a century ago the last Christmas Ball was held in Georgia. The long-lived tradition of celebrating the annual Christian festival, which embraced about 1600 years in Georgia, was terminated after the Soviet occupation of this small Christian country. The forcefully established new regime did its best to erase both religion and history from the everyday life of the Georgians. Since traditions are hard to die for, after the country regained its independence, Georgia welcomed back everything banned by the occupiers, that once was considered long gone. Therefore, the Ministry of Culture, Sport and Youth of Georgia became the major supporter of the restoration of the Georgian Christmas Ball at the Dadiani Palace.
In the 20th century, the palace of Prince Niko Dadiani in Zugdidi city was turned into a museum. The building and the surrounding area remained without necessary care for over 70 years. The first stage of the reconstruction of the building and surrounding gardens has been completed in 2019 with the financial support of the Kartu Fund. The last preparations were completed as soon as the Covid-19 restrictions and bans were lifted. Finally, on 6 January 2022, the traditional Christmas Ball was back at the Dadiani Palace in Zugdidi, West Georgia.
The Georgian Art Palace – Museum of Cultural History prepared the scenario of the event according to the archive materials. It is known that with the initiative of Queen Catherine Chavchavadze and her heirs, a traditional Christmas Ball was held in the princely residence in Zugdidi. The Ball was similar to those held in the great palaces of Europe. The polka dedicated to Niko Dadiani by Johann Strauss Jr. – the Waltz King – used to be performed at the palace ball each time. This tradition was also revived and the Georgian dancers twirled around the grand hall of the Dadiani Palace under the Niko-Polka (Op. 228) melody. This Georgian Christmas Ball at the Dadiani Palace was considered the most beautiful event in Georgia in the 19th century according to the accounts or memoirs by foreign visitors. The grand ball used to be concluded with fireworks, attended by Queen Catherine, her children, and local nobilities and commoners.
The renewed Christmas Ball was aired by IMEDI TV on Christmas Eve. About 200 pairs of Georgian dancers presented the grand ball on the Dadiani Palace premises. The IMEDI TV hosts and several Georgian celebrities also participated, giving a brief recall of stories and events connected to the historical tradition of the Georgian Christmas Ball. Thea Tsulukiani, the Minister of Culture, Sport and Youth of Georgia, took part in the Christmas Ball restoration ceremony together with her daughter.
When the filming of the Ball was finished, the Christmas lights and decorations were left on for the next two weeks. From 29 December 2021 to 15 January 2022, the Dadiani Palace and its gardens welcome visitors to enjoy the historical estate decorated for Christmas again.
