Nefeli Fasouli

The festive season officially began in the heart of Athens on Thursday evening with the lighting of the Christmas tree in Syntagma Square.

The celebration, organized by the Municipality of Athens, included a performance by singer Nefeli Fasouli accompanied by the Athens Big Band. The event was hosted by state broadcaster ERT duo Nancy Zabetoglou and Thanasis Anagnostopoulos.

The Christmas tree lighting ceremony in Athens' Syntagma Square will take place this Thursday, signaling the start of a series of events throughout the city.

Athens Mayor Haris Doukas will illuminate the 20-meter fir tree during an event featuring Christmas melodies performed by Nefeli Fasouli and the Athens Big Band.

Greeks know Sunday as a day of rest shared with loved ones and have engraved it in tradition through a large reservoir of folk songs that express the grievances and joys of the everyday person. Gazarte, with the help of curator Christos Papamichalis and innovator Andreas Vayas, has selected a series of Greek folk songs that encompass the joy and laziness that is a Greek Sunday.

Celebrate the transition to the new year with the soulful tunes of Greek singer Nefeli Fasouli at Ypsilon (5 Edessis) in Thessaloniki. Fasouli, a new favorite in Greece known for her dynamic and emotive voice, will serenade the crowd with a repertoire spanning various genres and stirring up a vibrant atmosphere to ring in the new year. Admission is free.