The Christmas tree set up in the National Assembly Square will remain in place until January 15, the day after New Year's Day as per the Julian calendar.

The capital's chief arborist has told IPN that after being stripped of decorations and lights, the tree will become timber to be used for fixing benches in the city's parks.

The balls and decorations will be stored by the Green Spaces Association until December, and the municipal utility Lumteh will store the festive lights.

Lumteh head Nicolae Verejco said the festive lights near the Triumphal Arch were already taken off, while those flanking the Square along the streets Banulescu-Bodoni and Pushkin will stay and will be turned on during nighttime on the request of the operator of the open-air skating rink installed in the central plaza.

Nearly 400,000 lei was spent on festive lighting during the outgoing winter holiday season.