The Mayor and a group of dignitaries celebrated the Christmas lights switch-on at Place d’Armes on 23 November.
The Mayor was joined by members of the Communal Council, Patrice Cellario, Councilor of Government – Minister of the Interior, Didier Gamerdinger, Councilor of Government – Minister of Social Affairs and Health, Michèle Dittlot, Councilor National, Commander Marc Degabriel and Captain Jean Canu of the Fire Brigade Corps of Monaco and about twenty beneficiaries of the Home Maintenance of the Social Action Service of the Monaco City Hall and residents of A Qietüdine.
This year, a few days before the International Day Against Violence Against Women, the Communal Council wished to highlight eight Monegasque associations that work for women every day: Women World Leaders Monaco, She Can – He Can , Action Innocence, Zonta Club Monaco, Union of Monegasque Women, Soroptimist Monaco, Pink Ribbon and the Association of Assistance to Victims of Criminal Offenses.
In his speech, Mayor Georges Marsan underlined that the lighting of the city “mobilizes from the end of September the electricians of the Animation Service of the City who work in collaboration with the teams of the company Blachère Illumination in charge of ‘install some sets’. “Thanks to their work, the magic of Christmas is every year at the rendezvous,” he continued before recalling the commitment of the Mayor of Monaco for the environment and sustainable development: “In accordance with desired orientations by HSH Prince Albert II, the Monaco City Council continues its approach in favor of the environment and sustainable development. We therefore have decorations exclusively equipped with LEDs which allows to reduce the power consumption and to bring an additional luminous sparkle to the decorations “.
For the 2018 edition, 188 transverse motifs and 577 candelabra motifs were installed in the streets of the Principality. Among the highlights, note the return of the luminous ceiling to the roundabout of the Commercial Center of Fontvieille in addition to that maintained at the roundabout of the Canton. In general, the median and roundabouts are decorated with bright scenographies composed of gifts, Christmas trees, Christmas balls
At the end of the spotlight at the Place d’Armes, the elders benefiting from the Home Support of the Social Action Service of the Monaco City Hall accompanied by their assistants of life, the leaders of this section as well as elected officials were driven through the streets of the Principality to discover the sets in a vehicle provided free of charge by the Compagnie des Autobus de Monaco.
Until January 6, 2019, all areas of Monaco will be illuminated in the colors of Christmas. The district of Fontvieille will play extra time and will remain in the spotlight until February 3 on the occasion of the 43rd International Circus Festival of Monte-Carlo and the 8th New Generation Festival.