On Thursday, the Christmas tree in Syntagma Square will be illuminated

The Athenians will enter the Christmas spirit starting tomorrow, Thursday (27/11), as in the evening, Mayor Haris Doukas will light the Christmas tree in Syntagma Square. The tree is a 19-meter-tall fir from Chrysomvitsi, Arcadia, from a cultivated orchard, which arrived in Athens with the permission of the Vitina Forestry Department.

The festive event will begin at 17:00 with Christmas melodies by the Big Band of the Municipality of Athens. At 18:00, the Philharmonic Orchestra will make a festive “parade” from the Ermou Fountain to Syntagma Square, inviting the public to follow the music and be part of the Christmas gathering. At 18:30, Panos Mouzourakis will present a Christmas live show, specially designed for the occasion.

At 19:30, Haris Doukas will signal for the Christmas tree to be lit, and at the same time, this year’s festive decorations in the square will be revealed. Red and gold balls, decorations made of illuminated plexiglass in various designs, and 3,000 meters of sparkling lights will enhance the joyful atmosphere of the season. A total of 21,000 meters of garlands, or 168,000 lights, will be placed in Syntagma Square and on the tree. After the holidays, the tree will be donated to the Athens School of Fine Arts to be used as raw material for students’ woodcarving artistic works.

After the tree lighting, Panos Mouzourakis’ concert will continue until 20:30. The evening’s presenters will be Krateros Katsoulis and Dora Makrygianni. The event will be conducted with simultaneous interpretation in Greek Sign Language to make the festive experience accessible to everyone.

Alongside the event, the festive decorations in the city center and neighborhoods will be revealed. Main streets such as Panepistimiou, Stadios, Ermou, and Vassilissis Sofias avenues have already been decorated with photo tubes, Christmas trees, and other ornaments.

The wreaths on the lampposts and the hanging light stars on the trees from last year’s Syntagma Square decorations will be maintained this year, while a floor-standing illuminated Santa Claus will serve as an interactive spot with visitors, visually connected to Ermou Street. This year, the illuminated gateway with the nutcrackers will also be in place.

The entire pedestrian street will be enriched with new garlands and hanging stars, continuing the theme of the tree. Finally, a Christmas crib will be set up in Mitropoleos Square. Starting from December 15th, the fountain in Omonia Square will present synchronized water shows with music.

The festive lighting is energy-efficient LED technology and stretches throughout the city. It includes a total of 78,000 meters of tree garlands, 2,113 hanging decorations, 1,325 aerial ornaments, 11,933 meters of photo tubes, and 47 ground constructions.