The historic centre of Asunción witnessed an unforgettable evening on Wednesday 3 December, 2025, as President Santiago Peña and First Lady Leticia Ocampos presided over the Great Lighting of the Paraguayan Christmas Tree. An estimated 17,000 people filled the plaza in front of the Government Palace in what some described as the largest and most beautiful public celebration Paraguay’s capital has ever seen. Due to weather conditions, the event was moved from Sunday to Wednesday evening.
A sense of national confidence
The ceremony was deliberately designed to become a permanent fixture on Paraguay’s cultural calendar. Speaking to the crowd, First Lady Leticia Ocampos captured the mood of the night: “The time has come to stop saying ‘how beautiful, it does not look like Paraguay’ and start saying with pride ‘how beautiful Paraguay is’.”
Her words were met with prolonged applause, reflecting the aimed sense of national confidence.
A multi-sensory spectacle
The event combined cutting-edge technology with traditional artistry. More than 100 children from the Luque Choir sang from the illuminated windows of the Government Palace while drones danced overhead. A surround-sound system and large-scale projections turned the historic façade into a living canvas of light and colour.
The National Symphony Orchestra, joined by prominent guest artists, provided the musical backbone of the evening, building anticipation until the moment President Peña and the First Lady pressed the switch to illuminate the Christmas tree.
Craftsmanship at the heart of the celebration
Standing proudly in front of the Palace, the tree itself was a celebration of Paraguayan talent. Its ornaments included delicate wooden flowers carved by artisan families from the city of Altos, about two hours from Asunción, and traditional karanday decorations crafted by makers from Limpio.
Surrounding the tree, the Litoral of the Palace hosted a Christmas market offering theatre performances, live music, local gastronomy, and handmade goods. More than 150 artists, entrepreneurs, and artisans took part, generating welcome income for dozens of families ahead of the festive season.
The event was coordinated by multiple government institutions, supported by a mobility plan, and reinforced security operation. Roads around the historic centre were closed to vehicles, allowing families to move freely and safely throughout the evening.
A night of unity and pride
The celebration concluded with a concert by popular group Tierra Adentro, whose performance sent the crowd home singing. As the lights dimmed, one sentiment echoed among attendees: Christmas had truly arrived in Paraguay, bringing families together and leaving behind an image of a confident, creative, and proudly Paraguayan nation.
The 2025 lighting ceremony has firmly established the historic centre as the beating heart of national festivities, and expectations are already high for an even grander event next year.
