Who Decorated the First Christmas Tree and When – Athenians Queued to See It

by

On December 24, 1843, a Christmas tree was erected for the first time in a Greek house, in the mansion of the diplomat Ioannis Paparrigopoulos, on Kydathinaion Street in Plaka

In Greece the custom of the fir tree as a Christmas decoration came for the first time with the Bavarian King Otto in 1833 and – unlike the rest of Europe – it was slow to spread in our country

Initially it was decorated in the palaces of Nafplio and then in Athens. On December 24, 1843, a Christmas tree was erected for the first time in a Greek house, specifically in the mansion of the diplomat Ioannis Paparrigopoulos, on Kydathinaion Street in Plaka.

Paparigopoulos was a Russian diplomat, jurist, doctor, Friend and campaigner of 1821 and later an adviser to the State in Greece.

The fir tree stood in the central hall of the house. It was two meters high and was decorated with candles and ornaments that the diplomat had brought from Russia.

In fact, it was the attraction of the holidays as the Athenians lined up to admire it and wish the family and the “master of the house” a happy birthday.

It is even said that General Makrygiannis was also invited to the brilliant Christmas Eve 1843 reveille – at the “unveiling” of the Christmas tree. When he saw the decorated fir tree, he turned to the host and said: “It’s nice, Mr. John. But I don’t let my trees grow inside the chamber. Only my chariots grow”!

papariggopoulou

On Kydathinaion Street no. 27, the Paparrigopoulos Mansion, one of the most historic buildings of the Athens of Athens, is preserved to this day.

Gradually, the Christmas tree as a basic festive decoration began to spread in the Athenian urban society. It wasn’t until the thirties that some urban houses began to decorate a Christmas tree, while after the war the custom spread rapidly both in the cities and in the countryside.

With information from Wikipedia

You May Also Like

Recommended for you