Christmas

Consumers are set to spend an average of 34% less this festive season, which practically means that a third of Christmas turnover will be lost this year, according to a survey conducted by the Association of Business and Retail Sales of Greece (SELPE).

A worker places an ornament on a Christmas tree on the illuminated Syntagma square, during the coronavirus disease pandemic, in Athens, Saturday. [Stelios Misinas/Reuters]

A woman browses Christmas decoration products in a shop in central Athens on Monday. Seasonal shops selling festive decorations were allowed to open 18 days ahead of Christmas, and have been excluded from the lockdown on retail stores that has been in place since November 7. The seasonal stores are open from 7 a.m. to 8.30 p.m. Also as of Monday, supermarkets are also selling Christmas items.

The Greek government's final decision on the restrictions that will continue to be enforced to contain the coronavirus or lifted over the Christmas and New Year's holidays is expected at the end of the week, spokesman Stelios Petsas said on Tuesday.

Doctors and nurses at a Covid ward in the Ippokrateio Hospital in Thessaloniki break the gloom of a prolonged and difficult period by decorating a Christmas tree and exchanging festive wishes with patients.

At the time of year when most families usually start decorating their homes for the holiday season, Christmas trees are lined up at the Pedion tou Areos park in central Athens by growers hoping citizens will rise to the occasion.

Bulgarians plan to set aside 25% of their income, or an average of € 269 per household, for festive expenses over Christmas, according to data from the 13th edition of the international Christmas Barometer'2020 survey.

The EU drug agency said on Dec. 1 it may need another four weeks to decide whether to grant its first approval for a coronavirus vaccine, even as authorities in the United States and Britain continued to aim for a green light before Christmas.

Locked down by coronavirus at their busiest time of year, fir tree farmers in Greece are hoping for a Christmas miracle to salvage a season all but lost.

A nationwide lockdown has meant thousands of Christmas trees may not get to market in time in a blow to farmers in an area of northern Greece where fir tree sales are their only livelihood.

Leaders of Germany's 16 federal states plan to allow gatherings of up to 10 people over Christmas and New Year, offering some relaxation of coronavirus restrictions to let families and friends celebrate together.