GREECE: ATHENS LIGHTS UP IT'S 40 METRE CHRISTMAS TREE MADE UP OF 100,000 LIGHT BULBS

Record ID: 863284

  • Title: GREECE: ATHENS LIGHTS UP IT'S 40 METRE CHRISTMAS TREE MADE UP OF 100,000 LIGHT BULBS
  • Date: 6th December 2000
  • Summary: SCU ATHENS MAYOR DIMITRIS AVRAMOPOULOS SAYING - THIS HAS BECOME A TRADITION EACH YEAR IN THE CITY. TONIGHT THE HOLIDAY SEASON BEGINS. I WISH EVERYONE A HAPPY HOLIDAY FULL OF HEALTH AND JOY. HAPPY HOLIDAYS. AVRAMOPOULOS PUSHES SWITCH TO TURN ON TREE
  • Embargoed: 21st December 2000 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: ATHENS, GREECE
  • City:
  • Country: Greece
  • Topics: Entertainment,Environment / Natural World,Quirky,Light / Amusing / Unusual / Quirky
  • Reuters ID: LVACGIKGAD1V0MN0Z593EZJHI6OV
  • Aspect Ratio:
  • Story Text: Athens has kicked off the Christmas season with the annual lighting ceremony of a 40 metre tree made from tens of thousands of light bulbs in the centre of the capital. The event followed with an impressive fireworks display.
    Thousands of Greeks gathered in central Syntagma square to watch the lighting which has become an annual ritual to celebrate the start of the holiday season.
    The local city band played carols as streets across the city were also lit up with Christmas decorations.
    The tree, an idea contrived by Athens Mayor Dimitris Avramopoulos, is made of 100 thousand light bulbs and is the ecological solution to cutting down a natural tree.
    This year a large sailboat was placed at the base of the tree, symbolizing a Greek custom. Before adopting the Christmas tree from other cultures, Greeks, whose lives are tied to the sea, would instead decorate small sailboats with Christmas lights as part of an old tradition.
    A fabulous display of fireworks followed after Avramopoulos wished everyone a happy holiday and switched on the tree, which can be seen across the city.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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