Valencia will light the Christmas lights on December 4a few days later than expected, following the request made by traders. The city remains focused on responding to the emergency in the neighborhoods hard hit by the DANA disaster, which is not incompatible with stimulating economic activity in the neighborhoods and in the center of the capital, according to sources municipal. The lighting ceremony will serve as a tribute, they say, to the victims of the floods.
The Town Hall asked the Valencian company responsible for installing the Christmas decorations to stop their assembly after the tragedy. The work – estimated at 1.1 million euros – which began at the beginning of October and has already resumed.
The assembly of monumental nativity scene which can be visited every year in the Crystal Room of the Town Hall and Expojove will open its doors at Feria Valencia from December 26 to January 4.
Image of the assembly of the nativity scene in the Crystal Room of the Valencia City Hall
The train and carousel that the Association of Merchants of the Historic Center places on the Town Hall Square will begin operating on December 6. The first pieces of ice skating rink They won’t arrive until the 2nd, although they are expected to be ready for the Constitution long weekend.
“We must turn on the lights, install nativity scenes and Christmas trees, decorate store windows and dress the city with hope and solidarity. “Christmas should help transform the perception of tragedy into a story of overcoming,” underlines the entity in a press release.
“In the most complicated period that the province of Valencia is going through, we must face a titanic challenge, which consists of both preserving jobs and avoiding more closures of small businesses in view of the complex reconstruction of our future,” they explain.
“We are immersed in shared grief, we all need it to strengthen hope, accelerate economic recovery, confidence and to be able to once again look to the future with optimism,” they add.
“More than ever we need refuge spaces, cultural and recreational activities that offer respite in the midst of tragedy, to awaken optimism in children and adolescents”, they say.
To achieve this, they have planned several solidarity actions, such as helping the Three Kings collect books and toys for children in the Valencia neighborhoods affected by the floods. In addition, they will invite schools and young people from sports clubs and music groups in the municipalities concerned to enjoy their attractions.
