Hollywood Brilliance and Christmas Magic in the Heart of Murcia. Richard Gere Fires Up “The Great Christmas Tree”

Last night in Murcia proved one thing - if Spaniards take to celebrating, they do it with a flair that is breathtaking. Plaza Circular turned into the pulsating heart of the region, and Richard Gere himself appeared on stage, to the surprise and euphoria of the crowds. I was there, right in the middle of this light frenzy, to feel the magic of the upcoming holidays firsthand.

As early as 6 pm, when the sun was setting, the streets leading to Plaza Circular began to bustle with activity. Finding a parking space bordered on the miraculous - the city literally came to a standstill to move towards the big celebration. It's amazing to observe how important this communal time is for Spaniards. Here no one is in a hurry to “pass” the event. Here every moment is celebrated.

Waiting in the smell of roasted chestnuts

Before the stars appeared on stage, the square was filled with the bustle of conversation, the smell of mulled wine and roasted chestnuts, which are an integral part of Spanish winter. The organizers were up to the task - for the thousands of people who could not fit directly in front of the stage (and the crowd poured out in a wide stream to all the side streets!), telebims were prepared so that no one felt left out.

The atmosphere thickened by the minute, but it was a density full of warmth and sympathy. Strangers smiled at each other, and the crowd collectively intoned traditional Spanish carols (villancicos). This has to be experienced in person - that collective joy that is in the air even before the first flash of lights.

Richard Gere and the little heroes

The climax came just before 8 p.m. He - Richard Gere - took the stage. However, the Hollywood actor did not come here just to shine. His presence had a deeper, touching dimension.

Actor showed up to support the Aladin Foundation, which helps children with cancer. It was the kids who were most important yesterday. The sight of the world-famous actor tenderly and attentively accompanying the little warriors at such an important moment grabbed the heart more than any special effects. Gere, despite his celebrity status, radiated a calmness and warmth from him, for which those gathered rewarded him with deafening cheers.

Significantly, the official part with speeches by officials was shortened to the bare minimum. The crowd, eager for lights and magic, appreciated the gesture. What mattered was the “here and now.”

A spectacle like Murcia has never seen

And then... it became clear. And literally. Murcia prepared a pyromusical spectacle that this year exceeded all limits of imagination. The moment the Great Christmas Tree was set off was an explosion of the senses.

• Light: 65 light cannons and powerful RGB lasers cut through the sky.
• Sound: the 360° system made the music envelop us from all sides.
• The setting: four giant, 10-meter-tall angels guarded the structure, while more than 200 ornaments flashed simultaneously.

Most impressive, however, was the innovative virtual laser cone. Light shot into the sky 2 kilometers high, creating the illusion of a Christmas tree reaching for the stars. Plus artificial snow falling on emotionally heated heads, soap bubbles shimmering in the glow of lasers and perfectly synchronized pyrotechnics.

Magic that stays for longer

Walking out of the Plaza Circular, passing smiling people, I felt that this was no mere “lighting of the lamps.” It was a manifestation of the joy of life, community and hope - the one symbolized by the little charges of the Aladdin Foundation alongside Richard Gere.

Murcia showed yesterday that it knows how to combine tradition with modernity, and the local fiesta with the big world. If this is what the beginning of the festive season looks like on the Costa Cálida, it's scary to think (in a positive sense!) what will come next.