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From December 17, 2008 to January 15, 2009 we will be in Athens experiencing all the great holiday season events... where Christmas is still Christmas and is celebrated in a balanced religious and secular manner. (Stay tuned for our articles and photos)See the Christmas Festivities Schedule below: (Summary From ChristmasInAthens website)
This year Christmas in Athens will be different - more modern and artistic, with a greater emphasis on culture, and bathed in light and music. The City of Athens is once again staging a comprehensive series of events. This year the celebration is spreading across many locations throughout the city, in City District, on squares and in the neighbourhoods. All citizens - and children, in particular - have the opportunity to feel the festive atmosphere, no matter where they live.
Christmas decorations are being installed as the city is transformed and awaits its residents and guests to join this unique celebration. Syntagma Square, the National Gardens, Kanari Square in Kypseli and Sotiris Petroulas Square in Kolonos are some of the locations at which we will have the opportunity to celebrate Christmas and the New Year.
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Syntagma Square: The centre of the celebration From December 7, 2008, through January 6, 2008, Syntagma Square, which constitutes the core of our city's Christmas panorama, will present a stunningly festive image. The City's Christmas Tree will be lit in a brilliant fashion and special structures, games and a stage, that will host music events and children's activities, are to be installed. The tall, dazzling Christmas tree will take its place at the square's most central point, while the much-loved carousel will no doubt draw the attention of both youngsters and adults. Throughout the month Syntagma Square will serve as a musical oasis with classical and jazz melodies, Christmas tunes from around the world, Byzantine hymns, ethnic music and traditional dance performance.
Throughout the month, Syntagma Square will host a series of art and music events, which is set to reach its peak on New Year's Eve. Well-known music producers Theodoris Sarandis and Nikos Lyberopoulos will flood the city with music. The City of Athens Symphony Orchestra (conducted by maestro Lefteris Kalkanis) and the Athens Municipal Mixed Choir (conducted by Stavros Beris) will present Athenians with a special New Year's Eve programme of melodies from much-loved musicals and Christmas songs together with tenors Nikos Stefanou, Dimitris Kasioumis, Yiannis Christopoulos and Stamatis Beris.
National Gardens: The Forest of Fairytales The Municipality will transform the National Gardens into the ultimate educational and entertainment destination, from December 20 through January 6 (10:00 - 17:00), with the aim of charming youngsters and reviving the look of childhood innocence on the faces of adults.
City of Athens Technopolis: Xmas / New Year's Pulse On December 24 and December 31, 2008, the City of Athens Technopolis, in Gazi, will stage two major parties specifically for the city's youth.
Six well-known DJs and radio producers will play on specially-built decks and "talk" to the crowd only as they know how.
Kanari Square - Kypseli Launch: Tuesday, December 16, at 19:00, with the City of Athens Philharmonic Orchestra This year, for the first time, Kanari Square will be converted into one of the city's key Yuletide destinations with its own carousel, a large Christmas tree and plenty of festive lights.
Sotiris Petroulas Square - Kolonos Launch: Tuesday, December 16, at 19:00, with DJ Yiannis Moutsatsos Santa Claus will be stationed at his hut where youngsters can come along and take photographs with him, beside the Christmas tree on the festively-trimmed square.
"Christmas is everywhere... the city celebrates" - Events in City Districts Starting December 7, 2008, and every day, music groups and art troupes will stage performances in Athens' neighbourhoods and City Districts. Athenians will once again have the chance to choose from a wide range of art events to be staged in numerous city neighbourhoods.
(See ChristmasInAthens for more detailed schedule)
