Athens: 19-metre Xmas tree lit up with 60,000 lights

We might still be about a month away from Christmas, but the Greek capital has already tuned in the festive spirit.

City of Athens streets and buildings have been decorated with a total of 350,000 Christmas lights Source: Kostas Bakoyannis/Facebook

“The Christmas period signifies joy. It’s about love, optimism, beauty. We are in need of the light it brings,” City of Athens Mayor, Kostas Bakoyannis had said when announcing decorations would start earlier this year.

The annual tree-lighting event took place at Syntagma Square on Tuesday evening.

View of Syntagma square, Athens, Greece lit up ahead of Christmas 2021 Source: Kostas Bakoyannis/Facebook

And crowds flocked to watch the 19-metre-high tree brought from Karpenissi lighting up with a total of 60,000 lights.

View of Christmas tree at Syntagma square Source: AAP Image/EPA/GEORGE VITSARAS

Mr Bakoyannis and visiting Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew watched the event from a hotel closeby.

The City of Athens annual tree-lighting event for Christmas took place on Tuesday evening, 23 November Source: AAP Image/EPA/GEORGE VITSARAS

A 19-meter-tree from Karpenissi was lit with a total of 60,000 multicolored lights at the Greek capital Source: Kostas Bakoyannis/Facebook

More than 30 Christmas trees are expected to be placed across Athens neighbourhoods, with Syntagma square alone boasting 350,000 lights.

Source: Kostas Bakoyannis/Facebook