Christmas Procession, Alilo

A religious procession, known as Alilo after a traditional Georgian Christmas carol, takes place every January 7, when Orthodox Christians celebrate Christmas according to the Julian calendar. Traditionally participants of the procession in Tbilisi march through the capital city’s main thoroughfare, Rustaveli Avenue, towards the Holy Trinity Cathedral, singing carols and collecting donations for orphanages. Alilo procession was banned under the Soviet rule, but was restored in 1990s.