Christmas tree

A tragic incident unfolded at a Christmas market in Belgium as a towering 20-meter-tall Christmas tree collapsed, claiming the life of one woman and leaving two others injured, according to DPA reports.

Mayor Vasil Terziev will light the festive lights and Christmas tree of Sofia at 19:00 p.m., reported the Sofia Municipality. For the first time, this will take place on the capital's new pedestrian space - the square around the St. Alexander Nevsky".

The lights of the Christmas tree in Sofia will light up today at 6 p.m. in front of the National Palace of Culture.

Authorities in Istanbul have taken measures to prevent the illegal cutting down of pine trees ahead of New Year's Eve, with officials carrying out extensive controls in forested areas to protect the trees.

Back at the beginning of March, few would have thought that terms like "restrictions," "without friends," "only at home" and "no hugs or kisses" would be a part of any discussion about the Christmas and New Year's holidays this year.

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]

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.

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.

Decorating the Christmas tree is perhaps the most popular custom associated with the Nativity of Christ. Tradition dictates that before Christmas every Christian family should get the tree in question (which is most often a fir tree or other coniferous tree), which should be decorated with colourful lights, treats and ornaments.

A new Christmas tree that was set up in Exarchia Square in downtown Athens on Friday morning after the previous one was torched was destroyed in the same manner just a few hours later.