While spending the festive period in Athens this year, notice that there’s one cultural experience you won’t want to miss. Based in the heart of Plaka, the Museum of Folk Art and Tradition “Aggeliki Hatzimichali” invites visitors to step into a world where Christmas carols are not just sung, they’re crafted, embroidered, and brought to life through art.
From December 7, 2025 to January 10, 2026, the Municipality of Athens and OPANDA presented “Carols”, a warm and imaginative exhibition that transforms the melodies we all love into tactile works of art. If you’re a lover of tradition, folk art, or simply looking for an uplifting holiday outing, this event promises to capture your imagination.
A Journey Through Christmas Traditions In Thread, Clay & Color
Carols have always carried stories, whispers of local customs, memories passed from home to home, region to region. This exhibition does something beautiful: it shows those stories.
The talented women of the “Narrative Embroideries” group have taken carols from across Greece, insular and mainland, and even from southern Italy, Cyprus, and Egypt, transforming them into over 40 embroidered canvases.
Each piece brings to life the lyrics that children sing on Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve as they knock on doors asking, “Shall we say the carols?”
Every embroidery becomes a window into its birthplace: island alleyways, snowy mountain villages, bustling city courtyards aglow with festive warmth. You don’t just view the art, you feel the song behind it.
Clay, Creation & the Four Elements
Adding another layer of magic, the exhibition includes creations from the OPANDA Pilot Center ceramics workshop. Inspired by the elements (earth, water, air, and fire) these ceramic works give shape to the emotion and symbolism behind Christmas traditions.
These aren’t just simple decorations but also poetic nods to a tradition that remains very much alive, binding communities with its gentle winter glow.
A Tradition That Belongs to Everyone
Curated by folklorist Stavroula Pisimisi, the exhibition invites guests of all ages to experience how craftsmanship meets culture. Here, songs become images and images awaken the songs we carry in memories.
It’s intimate, charming, and deeply rooted in the Greek festive spirit, a celebration of collective creation and poetry under Christmas charm stories.
Exhibition Details (Know before you go and plan your visit!)
Dates: December 7, 2025 – January 10, 2026
Admission: Free to the public
Location: Museum of Folk Art & Tradition “Aggeliki Hatzimichali” – 6 Aggeliki Hatzimichali St., Plaka
T: + 30 210 32 43 987
Opening Hours: Tue–Fri 11am–4pm, Sat–Sun: 10am–3pm, Mon: Closed
Closed on official holidays: 25-26/12/25, 01/01/26, 06/01/26
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