Μake us preferred on Google Christmas in Athens officially begins on Tuesday, November 24, when the city lights up and a large free celebration opens in Syntagma Square around 5:30 p.m. This year’s tree is a nursery-grown fir standing 21 meters (about 69 feet). It is coming from Ano Rizes Chrysovitsiou in Arcadia and will be among the tallest trees the capital has ever displayed.
“Athens is already in its holiday finery and filling with the most beautiful light of Christmas: the light of hope, solidarity, and warmth,” said Athens Mayor Haris Doukas. “A magnificent, lush green fir from a nursery, 21 meters tall and among the tallest Athens has ever had, will travel from Ano Rizes Chrysovitsiou in the Municipality of Tripoli to stand in Syntagma Square and become the city’s shining Christmas landmark.”
Doukas invited everyone to join the festivities and stressed the importance of unity and optimism. The program begins at 5:45 p.m. with the City of Athens Big Band playing Christmas tunes. At 6:30 p.m., the City of Athens Philharmonic Orchestra takes the stage, and broadcaster Giorgos Lianos will host the evening.
At 7 p.m., singer Marina Spanou and her band will turn the square into an open-air concert venue. At 7:30 p.m., Doukas, Lianos, and Spanou will lead the countdown to the tree lighting and the start of the holiday season.
Thousands of lights will then fill Syntagma Square with their glow. The event is open to all and will be interpreted live in Greek Sign Language. Besides the tree, the square will be decorated with 21,000 meters (about 13 miles) of garland and roughly 168,000 bulbs.
The square’s lampposts will get wreaths and illuminated stars, and a light-up Santa Claus will invite passersby to stop for photos. On nearby Ermou Street, a lighted archway, nutcrackers, garlands, and hanging stars will link the pedestrian shopping street to Syntagma.
The City of Athens will soon release its full holiday calendar. Plans include activities for families and children, festive surprises in neighborhoods across the city, concerts, a New Year’s Eve party, and the traditional Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve events.
This year’s program aims to offer a wide mix of events across the city, full of gatherings, music, and holiday cheer.
