STANDS, INAUGURATION AND VISITORS
Christmas in Europe of Diekirch took place from December 2nd to 8th, 2015 on two sites in Diekirch on the one hand the Cultural centre, (Aal Seeerei) formerly a sawmill transformed in a masterful way, as well as the premises of the Lycée Technique Hôtelier Alexis Heck (LTHAH).
Almost all of the delegations were ready to get down to work on the morning of December 3rd to install the stalls, all of them identical and displayed in rectangular shape in the main room of the cultural centre in the middle of which a very original Christmas tree had its place of honour.
According to a well-established tradition, every delegation fussed in a merry hubbub to decorate its space and install various delicacies to interest the visitors for two days. With, as usual, the small problems that needed to be solved. Around midday, the main part was set up and it is in the space behind the scenes that the cooking team and service department of the LTH worked to satisfy all the starving participants.
the excitement of decorating the stalls
At 4:30 pm the ceremony of "cutting the ribbon" took place in front of all the participants among whom Christiane Keller, initiator of Christmas of Europe, Ana Paula Pais, president of the AEHT, Remco Koerts, vice-president, and Nadine Schintgen, general secretary of the AEHT. In a short speech Elisabeth Reisen, headmistress, was anxious to thank the technical teams of the city of Diekirch, Mr. Claude Haagen, mayor of the city, the teachers and especially Jean-Marc Dijou for their help and their commitment in the organization of Christmas in Europe. Ana Paula Pais reminded everybody that the event was placed under the spirit of Christmas and that additionally, “Christmas in Europe is the most significant AEHT event which is a true expression of the spirit of the AEHT”.
Then came the time to visit the stalls, which were particularly looked after and taken care of by the delegations, mostly wearing their regional costumes.
For two days, the exhibition was opened to the visitors. Friday, December 4th, was principally dedicated to schools with an uninterrupted parade of children and of teenagers of about twenty classes of Diekirch and its vicinity gleefully running around. Moreover, two leading figures and guests of honour, Iva Mrazkova, honorary consul of the Czech Republic, and Mr Michal Wittmann, honorary consul of Moldova visited the exhibition together with Nadine Schintgen, general secretary of the AEHT.
The following day, 5th December, the exhibition was also open for the inhabitants of Diekirch and its surroundings.
