There is a tradition at Lchashen village in Gegharkunik Province of Armenia. Every year the villagers prepare for the New Year with great fanfare, and this rural community is “flooded” with festive lights this year, too.

“Aside from festive lighting, we have installed two large Christmas trees; each one, 6 to 7 meters high,” said Lchashen village mayor Koryun Margaryan. “There is no such Christmas tree across the republic.”

As per Margaryan, despite a smaller budget this year, as compared with the previous year, the splendor did not “suffer.”

“Whoever enters the village is surprised that, despite being a rural community, we have made the village so beautiful and festive,” added the Lchashen prefect. “By magnificently decorating the village every year, we are trying to cut the villagers off a little from [their] worries, make [them] happy.”