2020 Galerie Lafayette's Christmas tree will look like this ! And it's wonderful.

Galeries Lafayette's "Christmas journey" begins TODAY and here is what will look the 2020 Christmas tree edition ! 

2020 Galerie Lafayette's Christmas tree

Just a few days ago, Printemps Haussmann kicked off the end of year celebrations in the City of Light, unveiling its magical windows despite the confinement. This Thursday, 19th of November, it's Galeries Lafayette Haussmann's turn to lift the veil on its fabulous Christmas, preparing to inaugurate its windows and its brand new Christmas tree...

In 2019 in Paris, the Christmas windows of Galeries Lafayette were unveiled under a scintillating courtyard, shining brightly along Boulevard Haussmann. Through eleven magical paintings, fourteen characters inspired by bees put their heart to work to offer young and old a grandiose spectacle. On the occasion of the end of the year celebrations, the Galeries Lafayette literally transformed into a beehive, revealing a huge Christmas tree topped with Christmas balls and winter flowers, overlooked by the Queen Bee herself ...

@ThVoisin

Christmas in Paris: when the city shines to its brightest

During Christmas season, the city of lights truly lives up to its name. The magic of Christmas takes hold of the capital a few weeks before the holidays and until mid of January with its monuments and streets bearing their festive glittery costumes and giving the bystander the pleasure of an unforgettable sight. Of course, Paris’ famous boulevard Haussmann is definitely a sight to behold as it transforms into an incredible light show. Note that the illuminations are designed to consume the minimum possible amount of energy.

Originally, the Galeries Lafayette started illuminating their facade in 1912 for specific events. But it wasn’t until the 20s / 30s that it became recurring and spectacular. Today, the store’s Christmas decorations have spread inside out and, along with the façade illumination, the store exhibits epic Christmas trees and work-of-art window displays.
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As of 1945, the Galeries Lafayette will systematically set a theme and get talented designers and creators such as Raymond Peynet, Albert Dubout, Jean Eiffel, Pierre Pothier and many others, to unleash their imagination and talent to produce breathtaking installations to shine in the store and in the windows. In November, Galeries Lafayette unveils the new theme for the Christmas season to come and invites an artist to come and launch the illuminations.

The Galeries Lafayette’s Christmas tree tradition

The Christmas celebrations started in 1920 with the annual internal Christmas party. The employees were invited, with their children, to come and enjoy an on-stage show and admire the Christmas tree, both of which were placed just in front of the stately staircase, under the beautiful dome.
From there on, the Galeries Lafayette would dress up for the holiday season, looking dazzling inside out. And what once was an intimate Christmas party became one of the most visited spots in Paris. Every year, one can discover an ever so exuberant sparkling tree hanging from the glittering Art Nouveau dome. 

2018 Galerie Lafayette's Christmas tree

The incredible work-of-art of the Galeries Lafayette’s window displays

Nowadays, during Christmas, Galeries Lafayette has become a mandatory stop and is visited, every year, by more than ten million visitors eager to discover the Christmas windows! The planning and production of the displays take nearly a year from start to store with dozens of artisans working on bringing the conceptual sketches to life. It starts with choosing the theme and the story then of course, the different craftspeople working on the project: model makers, designers, decorators, carpenters, electricians, window dresser and the incredible puppet master! The huge momentum goes all the way to England where the sceneries are created. The windows, along with the Christmas tree, follow the theme set for the Christmas season to come and unveil treasures of imagination for the enjoyment of all, children and adults alike. Animated figures, imaginary scenes, magical settings, fantastic and enchanting worlds, the windows transform into outside theatre shows, so popular that it creates traffic on the boulevard Haussmann!

OUR HOTELS COLLECTION

VISION Destinations | November 20

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