Vilnius became the first city to launch an official currency based on emotions, continuing its role as the European Christmas Capital of 2025. The city's festive celebrations, focused on sentiment and authenticity, reached a peak on December 13. On that day, thousands of residents and visitors shared childhood memories in exchange for limited-edition notes, launched in partnership with Bank of Lithuania, the country's central bank, as part of the Vilnius Christmas Before Christmas event.
Christmas currency in partnership with Bank of Lithuania
A ceremonial "first minting" by the Governor of the Bank of Lithuania outside the central bank's Money Museum launched Vilnius' Christmas currency. The first units of the currency were pine cones, reminiscent of the tokens children swap with one another. Then, in exchange for completing a small task based on their childhood memories, visitors and residents were able to acquire the currency in note form at five locations across the city, including the Money Museum and Christmas market. The notes, which were valid only on December 13, could be swapped for a range of tasty treats like hot chocolate, tea, and sweets at over 40 participating cafes, restaurants, and venues.
Speaking at the ceremony, Gediminas Šimkus, Chairman of the Board of the Bank of Lithuania, said: "This is a rare moment that is simultaneously serious and playful, when the world of finance meets a city in festive celebration. I hope that this new currency will not only circulate today, but will also continue to spread good cheer and remind us that the most important things in life are not measured in numbers, but in warmth, attention, and togetherness."
Ongoing celebrations as European Christmas capital
The Vilnius Christmas Before Christmas event for which the currency was created is a new highlight in the Lithuanian capital's festive calendar. It was created to mark Vilnius being the European Christmas Capital 2025, and is expected to become a regular fixture for the city.
Although the event is now concluded, the festivities will continue in Vilnius, with Christmas markets, an ice rink, an artisan-built carousel, and the centerpiece Christmas tree all continuing to sparkle until the festive season concludes on January 6.
Over 200 voices unite in a choir, making Vilnius feel “like one extended family”
"On December 13, we wanted to show that Christmas can be both a family celebration and a city-wide one. Vilnius residents and visitors came together to celebrate as one extended family. From Cathedral Square to the TV Tower, the whole city came alive with the Christmas spirit, including the inspiring choir of over 200 participants. We hope this is just the beginning of a new Vilnius tradition, one which adds richly to the story of Vilnius as a city that brings people together at Christmas time," said Eglė Girdzijauskaitė, Head of Communication at Go Vilnius.
Giant sledge and other activities to reconnect with childhood memories
The unique currency and Christmas choir were just two of the many events that took place in Vilnius on December 13 for Vilnius Christmas Before Christmas. Another highlight was the transformation of Sirvydas Square into an International Christmas Square featuring 144 decorated fir trees. Each tree is dedicated to a different international community living in Vilnius, with every continent represented including communities from Mexico, Ghana, Ukraine, and many others. Visitors can scan a QR code to watch videos of community representatives sharing their childhood memories of Christmas and winter from around the world. The square also features a giant red sleigh that can hold many people, offering the perfect photo opportunity along with a chance to relive the playfulness of childhood winters.
Visitors and residents also took advantage of a free-of-charge postal service. They simply wrote their message, added an address, and posted the card at various stations around the city, and Vilnius' Christmas elves took care of the rest. Other cost-free events visitors enjoyed on the day included festive tours of the city, film screenings, carousel trips and skating on the ice rink.
Barcelona named European Christmas Capital 2026
During the Vilnius Christmas Before Christmas event, at a ceremony on the Town Hall Square ice rink, Barcelona was announced as the European Christmas Capital 2026. The jury cited the Catalan city's rich traditions in history and art, and its commitment to sustainable Christmas decorations and celebration of local traditions like Tió de Nadal and Els Pastorets, as reasons for its selection.
Europe's Christmas Capital 2025 within easy reach
Vilnius is easily accessible by direct flight from Frankfurt, Copenhagen, Helsinki, and other major cities across Europe, and also serves as a perfect base for exploring the region.
Special Christmas trains featuring fairy-tale-inspired carriages are running throughout the festive period, connecting travellers to Mockava, from where they can continue their journey by rail on daily services to Warsaw and Krakow. Enchantingly decorated train carriages can also be found on local services to Kaunas, Klaipėda and Trakai, and Vilnius also has convenient rail links to Riga and Tallinn.
