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Anastasia Balezdrova 

A tall cypress tree covered with lights and a composition of wood trees created by students are the high spots of festive decorations in Athens. A few trees with lights supplements this, as well as some wild orange trees hung with empty condensed milk packaging intended for recycling, decorated by children's hands.

For the first time in months, central Syntagma Square has become a meeting place, but happily for a joyful and apparently festive occasion. Today's opening of the festive times, however, was only slightly similar to those of past years. In the middle of the square a stage had been built and in front of it, the municipal philharmonic orchestra performed Christmas music. As for the citizens present - there were not more than 100.

The hosts welcomed the few Athenians who had come with their children. The organizers had even taken care for sign language translation. A little later, the mayor of Athens George Kaminis came on the stage. In his speech, he explained that the purpose of the municipality was to dress the city without much cost.

"We have had no ambition to adorn the highest tree in Europe, or to cover Athens with the golden pollen of luxury. We decided to put lights on every tree in Syntagma Square and have an artistic composition made by students. We thank the children, who have made decorations from recycled materials," he said and started the countdown.

Ten ... nine ... eight ... seven ... Suddenly, the angry voices of a group of youths rose above the mayor’s voice.

Six ... five ... four ... the boos intensified.

After wishing the Athenians happy Christmas holidays, George Kaminis left the scene pretty quickly. Minutes later, the members of the municipal orchestra departed in their festive suits. A music band came on stage and one of its members presented to the audience the problems about their working status in the municipality. At the same time, the group of apparently far-left youths, who earlier had booed the mayor, began singing Christmas carols, but with different text. Their version was about "squares and streets full of resentment for all difficulties." During the mayor's speech, some of them had been making obscene gestures and shouted, "how long will you lie?" and "liar, you betrayed us all."

Even in this situation, the children truly enjoyed the rain of golden stars, which scattered around the cypress trees with lights. More than clear, however, was the desire of many of the people who had come to enjoy the festive atmosphere and forget about the problems at least for a while.

According to the municipality, this year's decorations will cost € 200,000, while € 2 million were spent for the holidays in the past years, although it is difficult to imagine how a tree, a carousel and a little more lights cost so much money.

Unlike the capital, the municipality of Thessaloniki apparently has decided that creating a festive atmosphere in the city is important. Aristotle's Square this year is completely transformed due to the ice rink, which attracts hundreds of visitors, a carousel, a train and small shops for Christmas goods. Festive concerts and entertainment will be held. The traditional crib with the figures of the Newborn Baby, Virgin Mary and the Three Wise Men was transferred to one of the churches in the district of Ano Tumba and the high spot will be a tree covered with stars, placed in the sea near the promenade.