Greeks Greet Christmas Under The Shadow Of Debt

"Five, four, three, two, one..."

In the voice of Athens mayor Giorgos Kaminis and people's countdown, the Christmas tree on the Plaza de la Constitucin in downtown Athens was lit up by bright lights in December 9th, and thousands of pieces of colored paper were floating in the air.

For most of the past year, Plaza de la Constitucin has been occupied by protesters and policemen.

Today, there is a different atmosphere.

On the Christmas tree in the square hung 1500 small metal cans made by children and artists.

These recycled metal cans depict children's favorite designs, and they will greet Christmas with the wishes of their children in the wind.

Affected by the debt crisis, Athens's Christmas budget this year is only 200 thousand euros (US $260 thousand), equivalent to 1/10 last year, which includes the decoration of 3 main squares in the downtown area and the cost of inviting more than 700 artists to perform.

In the good old days, Athens spent only 200 thousand euros on the main Christmas tree that only decorated the city center.

"We don't care if we have the highest Christmas tree or extravagant party in Europe," said CAMIS, who presided over the Christmas tree lighting ceremony that evening.

We celebrate the arrival of the Christmas season here to tell the world that we have the right to look forward to a better future, and we will be united with those who are suffering from the crisis.

The Athens city orchestra and other artists in the red uniforms played the Christmas songs like "jingle Ding Ding" with guitars, trumpets and drums. The children danced with the music. This scene gave a little warmth to the winter square in Athens and the square that broke out repeatedly.

Most of these artists have been unemployed since August.

But they still come here to spread happiness and hope with music.

The children's dance and cheerful music also infected many passers-by. They also joined in the celebration, temporarily putting aside the unhappiness of salary reduction and unemployment since the outbreak of the debt crisis.

"For myself, I have the strength and confidence to celebrate Christmas," said Anna Anastacio, a teacher at a public school in Athens.

But for many people, this Christmas is the hardest time since World War II.

We need hope and confidence from the perspective of emotion or reason, because this is the original meaning of Christmas. "

The Christmas tree lighting ceremony in downtown Athens opened the Christmas season and announced the start of the Christmas shopping season.

Although there is no shortage of people in large and medium-sized shopping malls, a group of figures shows that the debt crisis has seriously affected people's holiday consumption, and even threatened the survival of many businesses.

Representing Greece

According to the Association survey, the average Christmas consumption per Greek group was 288 euros (US $377), compared with 410 euros (US $536) and 550 euros (about 719 US dollars) last year and the previous year.

Although some businesses have offered a discount of up to 50% and extended their business hours, the Association estimates that about 25 thousand small businesses will be forced to close after the Christmas and new year's Eve.

Since the debt crisis broke out at the end of 2009, the number of small businesses that Greece has closed down has reached 6.

Under the background of economic recession, the income of ordinary Greeks has shrunk dramatically, and purchasing power has dropped drastically.

Greek civil servants have not received thirteenth months' salary, retirees' holiday fees have also been reduced, and unemployment rate is approaching 20%.

90% of the Greeks were reduced.

Standing between the Christmas tree and the parliament building, he said with emotion, "the government has overcharged our taxes on the one hand, but has taken the tax and cut our welfare. How does it make people's lives? What else can we do besides protest?"

Although the bright Greece is known as the "European balcony", the Greeks were doomed to be in shadow in 2011.