As the central authorities oppose the idea of celebrating Christmas on December 25, like in most places around the word, the Christmas tree in the National Assembly Square will be officially lit on December 30, Chisinau Deputy Mayor Lucia Culev told a City Hall meeting on Monday. Although this information hasn’t been officially confirmed yet, the deputy mayor said there were instructions not to erect any Christmas trees in the Square and “anyone who disobeys will be picked up by police”. While the central authorities should have discussed preparations for the winter holidays with the municipality a long time ago, the deputy mayor says the Government seems not to consider doing that. Chisinau Mayor Dorin Chirtoaca said he will wait for the confirmation of these rumours, and if they happen to be true, “will seek alternatives for the winter holidays to start before December 30”. At the same time, the mayor stated that he is inclined to avoid any arguments with the central administration on this matter and rather seek to come to an agreement as to the preparations of the city for the holidays. Personally, however, Mayor Chirtoaca thinks the Christmas tree in the National Assembly Square should be installed on December 15 or even earlier, taking the example of Brussels or Bucharest, where Christmas trees have been already lit. According to the head of the Culture Department, Leonid Gorceac, the representatives of the municipality have been invited at the Ministry of Culture and Tourism to attend a meeting addressing the programme for the upcoming winter holidays.