Christmas in Athens

The City of Athens dresses up to its Christmas nines with sparkling lights, holiday decorations and invites kids of all ages to a series of games, musical and artistic events, that will turn every single spot of the city into an endless Christmas playground.

The Christmas spirit is running through the veins of Athens turning Syntagma Square, the centre’s main pedestrian ways, the city squares, the National Garden and Zappeio into a fairytale setting with games, music, sweet treats and hundreds of fireworks promising to give everyone a unique sense of magic.

Syntagma

Syntagma square will be once again at the heart of celebrations for Christmas in Athens with light and colour to be the key features. Wondrous festive lights and projections atop the square’s buildings welcome passers-by giving a touch of Christmas spirit throughout the city centre. At the very heart of Syntagma square lies the ecological, for this year, Christmas’ tree, created with some 250 natural fir trees which will be planted in one of Attica’s fire-ravaged areas after the holiday season.

The celebration begins with the lighting of the Christmas tree on 11th December at 19:30, featuring The City of Athens Philharmonic, The City of Athens Music Ensembles group De Stijl under the guidance of chairman Yiorgos Katsaros.

Zappeion

Music and theatre set the tone of celebration in Zappeion inviting youngsters to explore Christmas spirit through a musical and theatrical fairytale, and rejoice themselves with a ride on the Carousel having as a background the brightly-lit avenue.

When: Every day from December 18th , 2009 until January 6th 2010, 10:00 – 21:00

National Garden

The National Garden, welcomes Athens’ young citizens and takes them on a Christmas exploring tour. Hobgoblins guide the children to the little houses in Earth’s Christmas Forest to show them how the holidays are celebrated throughout the world. With a uniquely illuminated decoration as a background the children will have the opportunity to transform themselves into hobgoblins and travel in the worlds of knowledge and entertainment by decorating the trees with ornaments they create, playing music, sending their wishes throughout the world, learning about the environment and enjoy performances, fairytales and Santa Claus’ stories.

When: Every day from December 18th, 2009 until January the 6th 2010, 10:00 – 17:00

Kotzia Square

The New Year gives us rendez-vous at Kotzia Square where a fantastic party will be organized on New Year’s Eve featuring hundreds of fireworks, DJ and VJ shows, digital screenings on the walls of City Hall and, of course, music performed by spirited bands, welcoming the new year and spreading cheer until the early morning hours!

When: New Year’s Eve: December 31, 2009, 23:00

Street events

City streets fill with music and songs by Greek artists, DJ sets, the City of Athens Philharmonic, the Youth and Sport Organisation Band (ONA) and the City of Athens Music Ensembles Big Band. Tasty treats and mulled wine promise to fill Athens and our hearts with joy. Athenian streets, squares and pedestrian walkways are transformed into a huge stage inviting everyone to celebrate the season’s sacred message and the promise of the New Year.

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