Advent candles were lit in town squares and churches all over in Estonia on Sunday. In the church, you can already wish for a happy New Year, because according to the church calendar, the new year begins on the first of Advent. Every Sunday is now a step closer to Christmas and every Sunday a candle is added, which means more light, Tallinn's Dean Jaak Aus said.

Mayor of Tallinn Mihhail Kõlvart and Tallinn's Dean Jaak Aus lit the advent candle on the Christmas tree in Tallinn Town Hall Square.

This year, the Old Town square will be home to a 32-year-old 14-meter spruce tree. It is the shortest Christmas tree on Town Hall Square so far, but it is the first one to have grow up in re-independent Estonia.

The traditional candle lighting ceremony was accompanied by Christmas songs performed by a united choir from the congregations of the Tallinn Deanery.

Participants included the Concert Choir and Chamber Choir Canorus of the EELK Tallinn Kaarli Church, the mixed choir and chamber choir Aktiva of Jaani Church, the Chamber Choir of the Holy Spirit Church, the mixed choir Laudate Dominum of the St. Mary's Cathedral, the chamber choir of Peeteli Church, the Mission Choir, and the Tallinn Chamber Choir.

As part of the European Green Capital project, from December 1-3, light shows were presented in five locations in the old town: "Imagine" at 4:30 p.m. and 7 p.m. in the Commandant's Garden; "Raba" at 5 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. on Harju Hill Park; "Mets" at 5:30 p.m. and 8 p.m. in Hirvepark; "Blossom" at 6:00 PM and 8:30 PM in Toompark; and "Maakene" at 6:30 p.m. and 9 p.m. in the Towers' Square (Tornide väljak).

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