Traditional Christmas Alilo march is being held in Tbilisi streets today. Alilo participants took start from the First Republic Square at 14:00 and are walking to the Holy Trinity Cathedral through Rustaveli Avenue, Freedom Square, Pushkin and Baratashvili Streets.
The march is theatrical. The Alilo participants symbolize the angels and the Zoroastrians who were the first to learn about the birth of Jesus.
Chairman of Parliament Archil Talakvadze and lawmakers hosted participants of the march at the parliament building. President of Georgia Salome Zurabishvili greeted participants of Alilo at Atoneli Presidential Palace.
President congratulated Georgian people on Christmas and wished peace for every family. “Let this year brings peace, kindness, happiness and health, health for children because this issue is the most painful one. Let this year also brings unity of the country,” President said.
During the Alilo march, the participants sing Christmas carols and exchange gifts to mark Christmas. All the gifts, sweets and other things gathered during the day will be donated to charity. The gathered items will be distributed to the socially vulnerable families, orphanages, elderly shelters and penitentiary facilities.
The tradition of Alilo takes origin from the 5-6th century. It has been marked in Georgia for the last several years.
