(KZN.RU, December 26, by Renat Shirmanov) An extensive program of New Year celebrations has been prepared for the residents and guests of Kazan. This was announced by Mayor Ilsur Metshin, who was featured on Efir TV "Topic" program.
"At the request of the residents, we have revived the fur-tree bazaar in the Tatar Philharmonic Square, and for the second year running there will be a New Year tree at the Chornoye Ozero park. Yarmarochnaya Square is currently undergoing reconstruction; for this reason, the principal 41-meter high New Year tree is located in Millennium Park. It will be lit up in the evening of December 31," said the mayor of Kazan.
"As you know, this year our city was selected the New Year Capital of Russia, and on December 31, Russia's Grandfather Frost (Santa Claus) in Chief will arrive in Kazan from Veliky Ustyug. He will hold "summit talks" with our own Kysh Babai. We hope the negotiations proceed amicably," added Ilsur Metshin.
"I am pleased to note that the Universiade mascot has become the symbol of this celebration. Let everybody else have the snake – cold and slippery – as the symbol of 2013, but we're happy with Barsik Uni," Ilsur Metshin concluded jokingly.