A beautiful New Year's tree with a height of 35 meters stands proudly on Independence Square, on a stage near which the commemorative concert was held.
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The New Year’s tree is made up of 450 small fir trees assembled on a 20-ton metal carcass. The New Year’s tree was decorated with garlands with a total length of 5 kilometers and about 300 toys, including globes, snowflakes, cubes, and various beasts, including bulls (2009 is the Year of the Bull in the eastern calendar). The commemorative concertbegan on Independence Square at 21:00 and ended at about 01:15. The Ukrainian pop groups Druha Rika and Tik as well as participants in the “Factory of Stars 2” project performed. Their performanceswere followed by congratulatory messages from the Kyiv municipal administration. President Viktor Yushchenko’s New Year’s message was broadcast at 23:50 on a screen erected near the stage. A firework display began after a chime of bells and the national anthem of Ukraine. The fireworkslasted 20 minutes and 9 seconds (which corresponds to the figures 2009). The concertsthen resumedafter the firework display. A performance by the Skif equestrian theater and appearance of a bull symbolized the New Yearwere alsoplanned as part of the concerts. The Kyiv municipal administration extended the operation of the Kyiv subway until 03:30 and the operations of overland public transport until 04:30 during the night between December 31 and January 1 in connection with the New Year celebrations. |
