Thousands of small lamps which make up the snowflakes and stars with their winding lines, and dance the New year’s dance with their gleeful spark. A Christmas decoration and holiday carols which warm up the hearts of passers-by. Casual conversations and the smell of a cinnamon in the mulled wine which is spreading around the cold, December air, are just some parts of the holiday atmosphere which dominates in front of the most beautifully decorated house in Belgrade.
Five, four, three, two, one and the magic begins! For more than a decade now, people at the end of December impatiently count down ‘till the moment of turning on the lights on the famous house in Gostivarska Street. That is the moment when this street at the South Gate of Belgrade becomes a point of meeting, joy and spreading of the positive energy which shines out of people’s faces. The traditional holiday ritual makes the youngest ones smile, and triggers the sighs of admiration of adults.
And how not? The sight which appears when Vuk Tomić, the author and person in charge of this interesting New Year’s project presses the button, leaves everyone breathless. Actually, only a few sighs can be heard thundering through the euphoric air. All that followed by the thunderous applause, melodies of holiday songs and congratulations on the decorated house which gets even better year after year.
Vuk Tomić felt an indescribable desire to participate in decorating a tree when he was a ten-year-old boy. The idea and a spur have come after watching „Home alone“ movie, and the love towards decorating has expanded to the exterior, house, backyard, gate and the trees over time.
The news about the magical house in Voždovac has spread extremely fast, so the number of people who participate in the ceremony of turning on the lights is in constant increase.
Still, the curious visitors do not gather in front of the idyllic home in Gostivarska Street only on the day of starting up the lights. Vuk’s house is the place where love, joy and holiday madness spread up till the Serbian New Year.
Every day from 5 pm until 11 pm, the playful colorful lamps are switched on, to the delight of numerous citizens of Belgrade, but to the delight of tourists as well.
At this place, they share their impressions, holiday wishes, gifts and joy with their friends, families and with the random passers-by. And that is one more thing which keeps this young man motivated every year.
Vuk managed to realize his wish and turn his living room into the „enchanted New Year forest“. The six magnificently decorated trees under which there is the artificial snow have made that magical atmosphere full, and in order to get that kind of look, this young man from Belgrade every year has to allocate at least one month.
Smile faces, kind words, positive energy and happiness in the eyes of those whose holidays have become even better because of this, are an excellent incentive for the progress. And just like that, year after year, Vuk doesn’t find it difficult to come up with something completely new, to find financial resources for that and to decorate his house which has become a symbol of his area, in a most beautiful way. And not just his area, but a symbol of Belgrade, New Year and a cheerful holiday atmosphere.
