People enjoyed the ice rink near the Zappeion Gardens last year but this year, 2007 offered a giant snow slide and the surroundings were covered with real snow to bring the real Christmas feel. These are the major attractions for children and Christmas celebration in Greece means going for concerts and some musical programmes by eminent Greek artists or bands to adults. Most of these cultural events take place in the evenings at Kotzia Square.
Apart from all these entertainments, Christmas celebration in Greece is basically observed as a highly solemn occasion. The wonderful carols, kalandas are sung to keep the spirit of Christmas alive. Greece is very strict about the Christmas rituals and the Greeks are highly religious though it is true that they are now very much into the cultural events during Christmas. After all , Christmas is the time to be with everyone and it can be in concerts. Theodoros Bechrakis, the mayor Nitsa Loule, the chairman of the City of Athens Cultural Organization are working at these cultural projects to make the Christmas celebration in Greece more colorful.
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The actual Christmas Celebration in Greece takes place on 25th December. But interestingly the children receive their gifts on 6th December which is the Saint Nikolas feast day. Saint Nikolaos is the Greek version of Santa. Christmas celebration in Greece is a matter of 12 days. The celebration begins on the Christmas Day and it continues till 6th January, the feast of the Epiphany. And, 1st January is observed as New Year's Day or St. Basil's Day.
