On December, 5 - December, 8, in the city of Strasbourg (France) 439th Christmas fair took place

From December, 5 till December, 8, 2009 (France) in the city of Strasbourg the largest in Europe Christmas fair took place. It's 439-th time that Strasbourg turned into the Christmas capital of Europe where thousands of tourists and businessmen from all the world gather annually. In 2009, before carrying out the year of Russia in France and the year of France in Russia, the Russian Federation – the guest of honour at the fair – was represented by Vologda Oblast.

The Vologda delegation was headed by N.L.Vinogradov, the first deputy of the Vologda Oblast Governor. The head of the Department of culture and protection of objects of cultural heritage of Vologda Oblast V.V.Ratsko also visited Strasbourg.

By the invitation of the French colleague, Père Noël, the Russian Grandfather Frost (Ded Moroz) visited France. He had enormous success with the fair visitors and invited Père Noël to the Ancestral lands, which are near Veliky Ustyug, in 2010. The French winter wizard accepted this invitation with pleasure.

Ded Moproz's visit to France became possible due to partner relations. Eugeny Shulepov, Mayor of Vologda and Roland Ries, Senator-Mayor of Strasbourg have signed the protocol on cooperation which will deal with exchanges in the field of culture, education, tourism, and also economy and trade.

Vologda Oblast was also represented by the ensemble «Gostya», its performances were held on one of the Strasbourg central squares. The Vologda songs and folk tunes pleased and surprised the European public. Ensemble «Gostya» also became the participant of a special concert - a concert of sacred music. It prepared the program of church chanting for the mixed chorus and performed it in one of the largest Catholic cathedrals of Strasbourg - St. Peter's Cathedral. Choral collectives from France, Germany, Italy, Switzerland, Romania and other countries took part in a many-hour concert.

On one of the Strasbourg central squares there appeared «Russian Village» where one can see Russian souvenirs: matryoshkas (nested dolls), valenki, toys and clothes. There you can taste tea from samovar with spice-cakes and barankas (ring-shaped rolls).