SETTNG UP THE STANDS: THE BEEHIVE IN THE CULTURAL CENTRE
One of the key components of Christmas in Europe is the exhibition by each school of the Christmas traditions of its country and region, with, if possible, some aspect particularly highlighted. The goal is that once the exhibition is open, the visitors will have the opportunity to perceive the richness of a region or country and an outline of its traditions. – Not always an easy task……….
The magnificent Cultural Centre was transformed for this occasion from and a venue for plays and concert into a hall of exhibition. The 13 schools from 11 different places had each received an identical space. From the arrival of the delegations, the preparations in each stand set up a wonderful flurry of activity.
It was necessary joy to see the great suitcases full of treasures, carefully packed to avoid breakage, carried, often under difficult conditions, by plane, by boat or by train but arriving – intact – in Kuressaare. It was necessary to see these young men and women, aided by their teachers using their ingenuity to decorate their stand to represent their country and school. It was necessary to see those schools, regular participants in the Christmas event, putting up their stands in record time, while the others here for the first time looked on, perhaps with a touch of envy, at their comrades earlier freedom.
Iit was remarkable that in the space of three hours each stand was ready. All was in place: the costume on the mannequin, the Christmas tree decorated, the specialities of all types, carried by hand and all the general decorative bits and pieces of the stands down to the last detail. – Truly a grand work well done by all. And all this, in an atmosphere of warmth and friendliness, complete with exclamations of pleasure or more rarely of impatience! The exhibition would be opened from this time on – as it had been each year since the inception of Christmas in Europe in 1992.
Each space is empty. Quickly, quickly – no time to waste….!
For the decorations – all is ready or in preparation.
Two hours later, the exhibition is taking shape.
Two hours later, the exhibition is taking shape.
