游客們成群結隊地去看立陶宛的一棵像棋子一樣的圣誕樹

游客們成群結隊地去看立陶宛的一棵像棋子一樣的圣誕樹

Every holiday season, the city of Vilnius — Lithuania's capital — welcomes the season by erecting an unusual, massive Christmas tree in the city's central Cathedral Square and Old Town area. Lit with 70,000 lights, this year's tree is 27 meters (88 feet) tall and was created from about 6,000 spruce branches. The branches weren't cut down just to form the tree; they were left over from workers who were doing general maintenance in the surrounding forests.

每到節(jié)假日，立陶宛首都維爾紐斯都會在市中心的大教堂廣場和老城區(qū)豎起一棵不同尋常的巨型圣誕樹來迎接這個節(jié)日。今年的圣誕樹有7萬盞燈，高27米(88英尺)，由大約6000根云杉樹枝制成。樹枝被砍下并不是為了形成樹;他們是在周圍森林做一般維護的工人留下的。

Photo: Saulius ?iūra

The sparkling blue-and-white regal creation resembles a chess queen. The actual chess figure used as a model for the tree was found by archaeologists in 2007 during excavations around the Ducal Palace in Vilnius. Dating to the 14th or 15th century, the piece was made from a spindle tree. Its center was carved with geometrical patterns and then topped by floral designs. The city's tourism agency says historians have found that chess was a favorite game played by Lithuanian nobility.

這個閃閃發(fā)光的藍白相間的皇家作品就像一個國際象棋皇后。2007年，考古學家在維爾紐斯公爵宮殿周圍的挖掘工作中發(fā)現(xiàn)了這棵樹的模型。這件作品可以追溯到14或15世紀，由一棵紡錘樹制成。它的中心被雕刻成幾何圖案，然后頂部是花卉圖案。這個城市的旅游機構說，歷史學家發(fā)現(xiàn)，國際象棋是立陶宛貴族最喜歡的游戲。

There is a Christmas market set up in the area surrounding the Vilnius Christmas tree. (Photo: Gabrielius Tamosiunas and Gabrielius Khiterer)

The dazzling tree isn't the only draw for visitors in Vilinius. A traditional Christmas market offers crafts, sweets and other holiday fare. Visitors also flock to the area for a Christmas train and an ice skating rink.

這棵耀眼的樹并不是維爾紐斯唯一吸引游客的地方。傳統(tǒng)的圣誕市場提供手工藝品、糖果和其他節(jié)日商品。游客們還涌向該地區(qū)乘坐圣誕火車和滑冰場。

This year, Brussels-based travel organization European Best Destinations named the Vilnius Christmas tree the most beautiful in Europe. The designation was based on votes from more than 14,000 travelers from 82 countries.

今年，總部位于布魯塞爾的旅游組織“歐洲最佳目的地”將維爾紐斯圣誕樹評為歐洲最美的圣誕樹。這一排名是基于來自82個國家的14000多名游客的投票。

"It is the most beautiful Christmas tree in Europe," the site declared. "The Vilnius Christmas tree is stunning! Get to the bustling streets, watch the Christmas tree and be amazed by the decorations in the Old Town."

該網站稱:“這是歐洲最漂亮的圣誕樹。”“維爾紐斯的圣誕樹太美了!”走到熙熙攘攘的街道上，看看圣誕樹，你會對舊城的裝飾感到驚訝。”