"We're entering December, the month of joy and celebration. My wish for all of you is to feel well. I wish you a successful year, full of complete and good understanding as well as friendly relations," told Ljubljana Mayor Zoran Janković in his short address to the crowd.

The event of turning the lights on was accompanied by a signing performance by pupils from primary schools in Ljubljana. After the short ceremony, the crowds took a walk around the city centre to take in the winter holiday atmosphere.

The installations, which consist of 64 kilometres of light sculptures and garlands, have been designed by artist Zmago Modic. This year's theme of the artist is called Respect for Life, by which he wanted to "bring into the lives of everyone – whatever age they are – as much positive energy as possible, so that they could be happy for others and for themselves – which means love in time and space," wrote Ljubljana Tourism.

Modic has been designing the holiday light installations for years now in Ljubljana. What makes this year's design special is the new combinations of blue and white lights at the edge of the city centre and well as a change in the location of individual installations. The main inspiration stems from the crystal of silicon. The Čopova Street is lit with comets, the Slovenska Street with galaxies, while the area between the City, Old, Levstikov and Gornji Squares up to St. Florian's Church, which feels a bit like walking through someone's a living room, is adorned with stars. An enigma of a cube in formation hangs above the Ljubljanica River, whereas the City Hall boasts a light sign with good wishes.

D. S., foto: Borut Živulović/BoBo; translated by K. Z.

Ljubljani so prižgali praznične luči #Ljubljana

A video posted by MMC RTV Slovenija (@mmcrtvslo) on Nov 25, 2016 at 9:18am PST