On 16-17 December 2006, an international competition and theatre of ice sculptures called the Christmas Symphony took place in the Grand Parade Courtyard of the Winter Palace. At the place for tethering horses by the Saltykov Entrance, an inflatable tent was erected for holding the competition. Inside the tent ice and freezing air were kept stable by two refrigeration units.

Sculptors from Great Britain, the USA, Latvia and Russia created works on Christmas themes. In keeping with the plans of the organizers, specially selected music and lighting turned the competition of ice sculpture into an ice theatre.

The competition lasted 24 hours and was held in the Grand Courtyard of the Winter Palace. Each team was provided with a space measuring 2.0 õ 2.0 meters. The compositions were created from 7-10 blocks of ice (1.0õ0.5õ0.2) and one block of snow (1.0õ1.0õ15). Each participant was asked to present not only an ice composition but also a musical and light decoration for his work. The compositions were rated on a 100 point system: artistic value, up to 40 points; technical mastery, up to 40 points; originality, up to 10 points; and correspondence of the composition to the recommended theme, up to 10 points.

The jury consisted of representatives of the Administration of St Petersburg and sponsoring companies, as well as well known personalities in art from St Petersburg.

First Place was awarded to Pavel Koriagin, Murmansk, Russia for "..And he gave him the name Jesus".

Spectators named the winner of a separate Spectators’ Sympathy Prize, which was won by Alina Polushchenko, St Petersburg, for "Christmas Experiences".

The State Hermitage and the Ice Studio Art Center were the organizers of the competition.

At the opening of the festivities

Ice sculptors

The jury at work

Color lighting of the sculptures