Countdown to Christmas Kicks Off in Athens with Tree Lighting Ceremony

The festive season kicked off in Athens with the Christmas tree lighting at Syntagma Square opposite the Greek Parliament building on Thursday evening.

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A post shared by • Kostas Bakoyannis • (@kostasbakoyannis)

Kostas Bakoyannis, the mayor of Athens, gave the official signal for the illumination of the giant 21-meter-high tree that arrived from Karpenisi, central Greece.

The Mayor of Athens, welcomed to the central stage that had been set up in Syntagma Square, mayors from all over the world, who were in Athens these days, and all together – after a countdown – lit up the tree.Everyone individually, including the mayor of New York Eric Adams, an official guest of Kostas Bakoyannis in Athens, sent their own wishes.

“The message we send tonight with the lighting of the tree and of Athens is one and finds us all united: Light always defeats darkness. The need for unity and solidarity is imperative, more than any other time”, he added.

The Christmas tree is illuminated with hundreds of lights and is decorated with thousands of boules and ornaments.

Hundreds of Athenians and visitors had flocked to Syntagma Square to watch the glittering event, accompanied by live music.

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A post shared by • Kostas Bakoyannis • (@kostasbakoyannis)

Bakoyannis underscored in his speech that, despite being divided by an ocean, the two cities are linked by a common goal of democracy and eliminating inequalities.

“From the Parthenon to the Statue of Liberty and from Astoria to Koukaki, we are proud to offer the opportunity to the thousands of Greeks of New York to see the two capitals of their heart come even closer,” he said.

On his part, Adams noted that “New York is the Athens of the U.S. because both cities believe in the values of democracy, the eradication of social inequalities, and the protection of the environment to ensure a better quality of life for inhabitants.”