A charity auction probably set a record for the most expensive Christmas tree ever sold in Romania. The special Christmas tree, designed by Romanian fashion designer Catalin Botezatu and ARC Metropolitan School (picture below), was bought for EUR 127,500 at the 16th edition of the Christmas Trees Festival, organized by Save the Children Romania.

Romanian entrepreneur Anca Vlad (opening picture), the owner of Catena drug store chain, paid the impressive amount. The money will be used by Save the Children Romania to help children at risk of poverty and school dropout.

A total of 27 Christmas trees especially made for this event were auctioned at this year's Christmas Trees Festival, at Stejarii Country Club, on Thursday, December 8. A total of EUR 520,000 was raised during the festival, from the selling of Christmas trees, raffle tickets, and sponsorships. The amount raised during this year’s edition of the event was double the one registered last year, of EUR 250,000.

The Save the Children Christmas tree, made by designer Stefania Mircea together with Save the Children volunteers, was also sold for EUR 20,000. The tree was made from colored jellies and was bought by BCR, the biggest local bank.

Some 14 Christmas trees created by local designers and personalities were auctioned at the festival. Retailer Carrefour bought three trees and Romanian real estate investor Marius Ivan also bought three. Companies such as Lidl, Kaufland, Secom, and Bigotti, and local investor Octavian Radu were also among the buyers.

More than 300 personalities from the business, media, culture, and sport areas participated in the event.

Save the Chilrden Romania had gathered some EUR 3.3 million in first 15 editions of the Christmas Trees Festival, money that supported the educational integration of more than 26,800 children.

Irina Popescu, irina.popescu@romania-insider.com