Rybnik, proudly showcasing its festive decorations, illuminates the city every year with a magical holiday spirit through an abundance of urban ornaments. Today, we want to share this unique atmosphere with you in an extraordinary way. The photos we present are not just typical holiday snapshots; they are a testament to the collective efforts of Rybnik’s residents, who eagerly share their captured moments, mainly on the Facebook platform.

The beauty of these photos lies not only in their aesthetic charm but also in the diverse perspectives from which they were captured. Some were taken from the comfort of a car, while others during peaceful strolls. Whether carefully planned or spontaneously captured, each photo carries its own unique magic and charm.

Photos by Ms. Jowita and Ms. Beata exude professionalism and magic! The right-side photo evokes memories of childhood times, with circus associations adding charm to the entire shot. On the other hand, the left-side photo, thanks to the use of a glass sphere, intensifies the magical character of the image. Congratulations to both ladies for their excellent artistic sense!

Delving deep into these photos, we capture glimpses of the cozy corners of Rybnik, transformed by the creativity and enthusiasm of its administration, into winter wonderlands. Lace balls placed as if in the sky, casting warm light, symbolize the collective effort that makes Rybnik’s Christmas decorations truly unique. A perfectly decorated Christmas tree, the central figure in the city’s holiday landscape, brings joy to both residents and visitors.

Above, we proudly present one of the extraordinary shots by Mr. Patryk, which not only captured the magic of holiday decorations but also adds another dimension of creativity – a unique mural on the premises of the Technical School Complex. Thank you for sharing this beautiful frame with us!

It warms our hearts to see a lively community on social media, especially on Facebook, where residents willingly share their holiday snapshots. The platform becomes a virtual gallery, showcasing the collective efforts of people contributing to the holiday charm of the city. Through this digital lens, the magic of the holidays extends beyond the streets and enters the hearts of those who call Rybnik home.

Openwork ornaments can enchant not only during the day when their original design is perfectly visible. When night falls, they become a true evening star – just choose the right Christmas lights for the city. Thanks to this simple trick, the Christmas decoration will shine brightly at any time of day, competing with popular holiday illuminations.

We want to express our deep appreciation to Mr. Artur for generously sharing his mesmerizing photograph. Apart from beautifully capturing the festive decorations, it also showcases a Ferris wheel glowing against the night sky, infusing the image with a magical allure reminiscent of a fairy-tale scene.

Ms. Eugenia surprised us with her creativity, sharing photos taken from her car in a Facebook group. It’s proof that urban Christmas decorations can captivate not only during walks but also attract attention when traveling by car. These inspiring views motivate reaching for a phone or camera to capture this unique moment and share it with the world.

During this visual journey, we remind ourselves that the true essence of the holidays lies in shared moments, shared efforts, and the communal spirit that transforms the city into a holiday land. Rybnik’s residents not only captured the magic but also became integral participants in the charm that defines this beautiful time of the year.

Every year for several good years, there has been a debate about whether the Christmas tree placed in the city center is a beautiful decoration or an attack on people of other faiths. Interestingly, this dispute often seems to be inflated only in the media because when we talk about it with friends, it turns out that no one (even of a different faith) minds the sight of a glowing Christmas tree.

Let’s assume, however, that the people we talked to just happened to all have similar opinions, and in reality, it’s different. In that case, we should consider where the Christmas tree came from in the first place, but we’ve already discussed that topic—feel free to read the previous article if you’re interested in a historical journey back to the origins of the Christmas tree in our culture.

Next, we should think about what positive things the Christmas tree brings into our lives and what negative feelings it may evoke, and most importantly, where these negative and positive feelings come from. Often, we let emotions take over our hearts before understanding them. Today, we will try to approach the topic rationally, and we invite you to join the discussion!

Let’s start with the negative aspects because it is through them, or thanks to them, that the thought arises, which is, after all, a philosophical thought. If we can all avoid arguing, we can only grow through such conversations.

It is worth noting that the approach to this topic may vary depending on the country, region, or society. In some places, there is acceptance of placing Christian symbols in public places, while in others, it is more controversial. In other places, symbols are placed based on the people living there—meaning symbols of different religions, aiming to enjoy each one. However, atheists often feel left out, so it is not necessarily a “golden mean.” Discussions on this topic often concern the balance between freedom of religion and ensuring neutrality and equality in the public sphere.

Now let’s move on to the positive aspects of the Christmas tree, which often seem obvious. The first that comes to mind is a beautiful decoration. It is an ornament that shines, is colorful, and brings joy to both children and adults. In many cities (especially American ones), people gather for the communal lighting of Christmas trees. Indeed, these are usually huge, majestic trees, so the process of connecting thousands of lights is breathtaking. People celebrate together, creating a sense of community – everyone wants to feel like they belong, so during this period, they don’t want it taken away.

For others, the argument is historical significance. Some people may argue that Christian symbols in our country (Poland) have historical significance that goes beyond the religious aspect. They believe that these symbols are an integral part of the country’s history and have a significant impact on shaping national identity. This is, of course, very close to tradition and cultural heritage, although not entirely the same. Often, a mistakenly interpreted argument in political disputes, which ultimately aims to motivate remembering complex and multidimensional elements of national identity, such as language, history, culture, values, territory, and symbols. Religion had an influence on all these elements, and I would gladly describe how, but maybe not now 😉. If you’re interested, comment below, maybe I’ll make an objective material on it!

The last point is social stability – some supporters of Christian symbols in public places may believe that these symbols contribute to social stability by providing a common reference point for society. Especially since it is difficult to make everyone always feel noticed, it is worth choosing one path characterized by at least a generally common trend for most people in the country, which positively influences mental strength. After all, we know that we feel safer when we know that there is a society around us with which we are united.

As you can see, there are numerous arguments for and against a Christmas tree in a public space, and each of them is important. Perhaps that’s why this debate continues, as it’s a situation where satisfying everyone’s needs is challenging. We don’t necessarily want to take sides here; rather, we aim to present each perspective and potentially open a discussion on this topic.

We wonder about the holidays that can be celebrated during the winter season, and it turns out there are several. For example, in Judaism, Hanukkah is observed, and in Islam, Muslims celebrate Id al-Maulid, a holiday commemorating the birth of Prophet Muhammad. In Hinduism, winter festivals include Diwali, the festival of lights.

It’s essential to note that Christmas has also become a widespread cultural and social holiday, celebrated by people of various faiths and cultures worldwide, often regardless of their religious beliefs. Therefore, some customs and traditions associated with Christmas may be embraced by individuals who are not followers of Christianity.

Conversations on this topic often become aggressive, and participants feel attacked, usually stemming from a lack of understanding and space to express their opinions. We often find ourselves feeling attacked as well. We would like to hear your opinion on this matter. Do you like the Christmas tree in the city center, or do you believe it shouldn’t be there? Perhaps you’d like a blend of various aspects of celebrating holidays in different cultures and religions? Share your thoughts!

Christmas trees are one of the most important Christmas symbols in our culture. Although the custom of decorating a coniferous tree came to us from abroad, at this moment we cannot imagine Christmas without a Christmas tree. Many people decide to buy an artificial tree since such a decoration can serve for many years. Despite this, interest in live Christmas trees in pots has increased significantly in recent years – such a tree looks more natural and smells beautiful, which greatly contributes to creating a real Christmas atmosphere. However, the following question arises: what to do with it after Christmas?

Planting a Christmas tree in a pot in the garden

It is obvious that we prefer to avoid composting a beautiful coniferous tree, therefore, if you managed to buy a Christmas tree in a pot, you can try to transplant it into your garden so that it can permanently join the plant decorations outside. However, you must be careful as it happens that producers cheat their customers by selling them ordinary, cut Christmas trees put in a pot. Therefore, it is worth checking before buying whether the tree is rooted.

If everything is all right and your Christmas tree has roots, you can start preparing to replant it outside. You will need a shovel or spade and potting soil. At the beginning, it is worth putting the tree outside in a pot so that it gradually gets used to the temperature. After a few days, you can take it out of the pot and transplant it into the prepared pit in the garden. Importantly, Christmas trees should be planted when the temperature is above zero – so wait for the frost to subside! Also remember to use the right potting soil, which will ensure that your tree is well established in the soil. In popular stores, you can even buy special soil for planting conifers.

Planting a Christmas tree in green areas on your estate

If you live in a block of flats or a tenement house, and you don’t possess your own garden, you don’t have to write off the Christmas tree at all. Use it as an additional element of greening the areas of the housing estate where you live. Many people pay attention to neglected urban areas, where it is in vain to look for nice shrubs or flowers, let alone a well-kept lawn! Therefore, many residents began to take the initiative and independently implement projects to restore greenery in such places; these can be small green belts at the entrance to a block of flats or a courtyard of tenement houses. It is worth activating the neighbors, or at least informing them that we are going to plant something in this place.

As urban areas do not always have good soil, you may need a shovel and more potting soil. It happens that when digging a hole for your Christmas tree, you will find fragments of rubble or old bricks, on which the tree will unfortunately not grow. After planting the tree, remember to secure it properly – you can put up a self-prepared plate with an inscription informing that you are giving the tree a second life … or simply secure this part of the area with wooden stakes and jute string. Thanks to this, the Christmas tree will be able to root well, and you won’t have to worry about the neighbors’ dogs knocking over the tree just after transplanting.

Decorations made of coniferous branches

If you don’t have any green space to plant a Christmas tree, try using conifer branches as the basis for your new house decoration. Spruce branches don’t have to be just for Christmas! You can use them to make a winter decoration for the door, or compose them with your favorite cut flowers. A bouquet prepared in this way will certainly beautify your table in the dining room or the interior of the living room.

Some creative people also decide to cut the trunk of the Christmas tree. You can conjure up amazing decorations from round slices of wood; if you want to come up with some interesting activity for your children, paint small landscapes on slices of wood and then hang them around the house. Another idea might be making cup coasters out of wood!

Also remember that the Christmas tree does not have to end its life immediately after Christmas. Sometimes it is enough to remove Christmas decorations from it to get a fresh-looking decoration – and not only in the apartment, but also in the urban space!

You can also check one of our latest articles, in which we recommend, how to overwinter a large Christmas tree pot in urban space.