A Tale of Two Greek Christmas Trees — each one better than London's
Athens, Thessaloniki trees are branches above the more celebrated Trafalgar Square tree
Christmas in Europe is more commonly associated with colder northern countries than the traditionally warmer, southern ones like Greece. However, this year at least, the Christmas tree magic in Athens and the “co-capital,” Thessaloniki, truly outshine what’s on display in other places like London.
Maybe it’s because of Brexit, but it seems like the British have to import more and more these days, from tourists daft enough to spend $600 a night for a nondescript hotel room to, apparently Christmas trees.
Athens got its official Christmas tree a few days before London installed its own, and at 62 feet tall and deep-forest green, she’s a beauty (why would I lie?). The tree’s provenance is an area of controlled cultivation in the beautiful, legendary, one-and-only Greek region of Arcadia (no, not that Arcadia) and now its sits with quiet elegance and grace in Syntagma Square.
Thessaloniki’s Christmas tree (pictured above) is arguably even more brilliant than the one in central Athens.
Meanwhile in London, our friends at The Standard report that the Trafalgar Square Christmas tree has arrived, but to decidedly mixed reviews. The tree, a traditional gift from Norway (first mistake — in 2025 still can’t grow your own, Sir Keir?), was selected by a (second mistake) social media poll. It’s tall and spindly thing, prompting one commenter to say “that’s one ugly tree. Norway should be ashamed.” Maybe the Norwegians like pickles, because their overgrown bush seriously resembles one — or maybe a courgette:
Once the tree’s time is up, The Standard also reports, it will be recycled. Wow, how original is that? (not very). Athens’ fir-ry beauty (see what we did there?), by contrast, will eventually find its way to students at the Fine Arts University for use in wood artworks. A bit more panache with that option!
It’s this column’s position that London can keep its borrowed, decidedly un-Instagrammable tree. To be fair, it was a present and with some historical precedent. But the British, God love ‘em, have a way of purloining things and then preening in front of them in ugly pink dresses.
Christmas presents! The British owe the world a few, but here’s two surefire and long overdue stocking stuffers that would be sure to please all mindful travelers: actually edible food on British Airways, and Downing Street shipping the Parthenon sculptures back to where they belong. In Athens.
