Greece’s First Christmas Tree Lit as Holiday Season Looms
Each year, the small village of Taxiarchis in Halkidiki, Northern Greece, becomes the nation’s unofficial starter pistol for the holiday season. On November 7, locals and visitors alike packed the main square for the ceremony that has become the pride of this mountain community: the lighting of Greece’s first Christmas tree.
This year’s fir, towering at 14 meters (46 feet) and sparkling with over 30,000 lights, signals the beginning of the festive season for Greece.
Where is Taxiarchis, where Greece’s first Christmas tree was lit?
Perched at 670 meters (2,198 feet) on Mount Cholomon, Taxiarchis is known throughout Northern Greece as the “village of Christmas” for good reason. About three-quarters of Greece’s real Christmas trees are grown here, making fir cultivation the backbone of the local economy.
As the festivities unfolded, George Emmanouil, Mayor of Polygyros, highlighted what this night means to the community. Lighting the tree, he explained, is a great spectacle that celebrates the local production of trees that support local livelihoods. The mayor championed the entire fir-growing industry, wishing for the tree’s dazzling lights to inspire hope and warmth in homes across Taxiarchis and beyond.
The scene in the square was pure holiday magic as kids cheered and counted down while the municipal Philharmonic filled the air with festive music. Friends greeted each other, and strangers became neighbors under the blaze of thousands of tiny lights, signaling the beginning of the holiday season.
While the region of Halkidiki is famous for its beaches, the forests around Mount Cholomon are at their most enchanting in late autumn and winter. Dense woods of fir, pine, oak, chestnut, and beech cloak the hills, while wild herbs and mountain tea perfume the crisp air. The area is also a haven for hiking, horseback riding, and anyone eager to lose themselves in unspoiled nature.
When the Christmas crowds thin out, it is the wilderness that remains, extending a year-round invitation to travelers searching for something alternative, quiet, wild, and truly enchanting in the heart of Northern Greece.
Business Wire
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