Residents of taxiarchis light Greece's first Christmas tree in November

Residents and visitors gathered in the central square of Taxiarchis, a village in the Chalkidiki region of Greece, to light the country's first Christmas tree.

The event took place on Saturday evening following the Great Vespers service, which marks the eve of the feast of Archangel Michael, the village's patron saint. The Philharmonic of the Municipality of Polygyros provided live music for the celebration.

The choice of November 7 to light the tree connects local religious traditions with the regional economy. Taxiarchis, located on the slopes of Mount Holomontas, is a known center for growing Christmas trees, which provide a primary source of income for many local families. The lighting ceremony signals the start of the period for cutting and transporting these trees to various cities across Greece.