Christmas Eve in Northern Greece
Christmas in Greece, just like in many other countries, is a special time for friends and families to come together, slow down, and celebrate. In Northern Greece, however, Christmas Eve often turns into a lively outdoor festival full of energy, food, and music.
In many cities, locals take the celebration to the streets. Grills are set up outdoors, meat is roasted nonstop, wine, beer and tsipouro flow generously, and people gather to eat, drink, laugh, and dance until late at night. This kind of street celebration is especially common in cities like Thessaloniki, Kozani, Kastoria, Florina, Ptolemaida, as well as parts of Drama and Serres.
The grills usually start firing up around noon and don’t go out until late in the evening. Music playing everywhere — from Greek traditional songs and folk music to disco hits and classic Christmas tunes. The city centers and plateias are packed with people doing last-minute shopping, meeting friends, and jumping from one group to another. Dancing in the streets is very common, even with complete strangers.
The grills usually start firing up around noon and don’t go out until late in the evening. Music playing everywhere — from Greek traditional songs and folk music to disco hits and classic Christmas tunes. The city centers and plateias are packed with people doing last-minute shopping, meeting friends, and jumping from one group to another. Dancing in the streets is very common, even with complete strangers.
At the same time, you’ll notice Christmas decorations, lights, and festive markets, while cafés and bars are full from early afternoon. In some areas, you might even hear children singing Christmas carols (κάλαντα) earlier in the day, adding to the festive atmosphere.
The party often goes on until late at night — and in many cases until the early hours of Christmas Day. It’s all about togetherness, good food, and celebrating life.
If you ever find yourself in Northern Greece on Christmas Eve, this is an experience you shouldn’t miss. It’s an endless street party where Greek wine, tsipouro, grilled meat, music, and good vibes never seem to run out — and where everyone celebrates as one big community.
