New Year ushered in with messages from new mayors, fireworks in Athens, Thessaloniki
At a stage set on Syntagma Square, well-known Greek singers Nikos Portokaloglou and Marina Satti performed, with Nancy Zabetoglou and Thanassis Anagnostopoulos as presenters of the musical program. Opening the performances were the Athens Philharmonic Orchestra with holiday songs, and other musicians.
The coming of the New Year was then celebrated with fireworks.
In Thessaloniki, fireworks and other optical effects illuminated the centrally located Aristotelous Square. The square had also been decorated with small lanterns placed shortly before the new year by initiative of the city's Trade Association.
New Thessaloniki Mayor Stelios Angeloudis said in his New Year's message that "it is time to love our city and fellow citizens more, and to respond to our time's challenges with more solidarity, hope, optimism, and creativity. We can, and we will achieve this!"
