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Georgia, the Eastern European wonderland in the Caucuses, will continue the festive winter holiday season with Christmas and New Year’s celebrations in the Orthodox tradition, taking place on January 7 and January 14, and with the festive season lasting until January 19, respectively.

ORTHODOX CHRISTMAS
Taking place in Tbilisi, the country’s capital and centre of contemporary culture, outdoor concerts, food and craft markets and nighttime fireworks will illuminate the city during Orthodox Christmas on January 7 and last through January 14. During Christmas, Georgians are known to bake a special Khachapuri, a traditional Georgian dish of eggs and cheese-filled bread, called Guruli Gvezeli. Also unique to Georgian Christmas is a dried hazelnut tree, known as chichilaki, which stems from the western part of Georgia and is adorned with dried fruits and flowers. It can be found in family homes across the country.
In Zugdidi, a city in the western Georgian historical region of Samegrelo just 30-kilometres from the Black Sea, travellers can experience a historical festive Christmas celebration replete with dancing and a light festival in the outdoor gardens of the Dadiani Palace, a Georgian national museum that is one of the oldest in the Caucasus region.
The country’s annual “Old New Year” celebrations will take place on January 14 and are anchored around local traditions of families hosting Supra dinners, a heritage experience based on lengthy dinners, traditional music and dancing that can last through the early morning hours. The special tradition of “Bedoba,” a holiday believed to determine one’s fortune for the entire year, is based upon a feeling of jovial celebration and neighbourly love. Bedoba is deeply ingrained in Georgian culture and serves as a welcoming experience for travellers.
Having originated in the Guria region of Georgia and taking place throughout the country, “Old New Year” is honoured with Mekvle, the first guest that comes to the family at New Year. A mekvle is believed to bring joy, success, happiness and prosperity to the host family, and is often a friend or a close relative of the family who comes as a guest on New Year’s Eve or at dawn. Georgian foods and sweets such as Satsivi, Khachapuri, Churchkhela, and Gozinaki are also essential elements for the Supra feast on the Old New Year.
WORLD-CLASS SKIING IN JANUARY 2022
In addition to Orthodox holidays, Georgia offers ideal conditions for skiing and snowboarding in January through the early spring season. In particular, the Bakuriani region has long been a sought-after destination for skiers of all levels. For centuries, skis have been used as a means of transportation by Georgian communities living in the mountainous regions. Locals utilized it to travel, explore new places, and hunt. During the 1930s, Bakuriani became the first resort with an infrastructure for the first generation of winter sports athletes in Georgia. Fast forward to today, and Bakuriani will host the World Championships of freestyle skiing and snowboarding in 2023, with the qualifying rounds taking place in February 2022.
One of Georgia’s most pristine and remote ski regions is Upper Svaneti, a UNESCO Intangible Heritage Site, home to Ushguli, one of the highest permanently inhabited settlements in Europe. Skiing in Svaneti is a dreamy experience that should not be missed while visiting Georgia.
The area offers fresh-powder slopes of various difficulties, and beautiful views, woodlands and the feeling of entering a world of natural fantasy. The region is unique with its untouched nature, resulting in powder snow and dreamy ski slopes in the beautiful forests or on modern, paved trails. Bakuriani, on the other hand, is known for its evergreen pine forests with majestic scents and healing powers. Skiing in Georgia through the centuries-old trees and across picturesque slopes connect adventurers with nature like no other place.
Having earned a reputation as a cultural wonderland with divine cuisine, a revitalized natural wine heritage and awe-inspiring landscapes that rival the world’s most spectacular destinations, Georgia has become a bonafide hotspot for travellers seeking immersive and memorable experiences. Before the pandemic, the number of tourists visiting Georgia reached a record high in international tourism, with more than 9 million international tourists visiting in 2019, a 6.8% increase compared to the same period the year before. As the tourism industry looks towards recovery, Georgia aims to continue its momentum and welcome more new travellers in 2022.
ORTHODOX CHRISTMAS, NEW YEAR’S CELEBRATIONS
Travellers seeking to fly direct to Tbilisi International Airport can do so from international destinations such as Amsterdam, Paris, Tel Aviv, Berlin, Istanbul, Warsaw, Dubai, Doha, and connecting flights from most international airports in North America, Europe and Asia. Georgia is also home to the newly opened Kutaisi International Airport, which offers direct flights from Barcelona, Vienna, Budapest, Milan, Berlin, Dortmund, Memmingen, Warsaw and Abu Dhabi.
For more information about travel to Georgia and to learn about the latest Covid19-travel regulations and procedures, visit https://georgia.travel/.
Edited by: Stephen Morton