That’s Athens in Christmas. The Athens, we miss in times of recession, unemployment, sharply cut incomes, closed down shops and buildings facades deformed with graffiti and slogans. Athens in December 1960. A city festively dressed, glowing, with people going downtown for their Christmas shopping. Aiolou street, near Chaftia, the upper street of Omonia Square.
The picture was taken by famous Greek photographer Costas Balafas and is part of the photography archives of Benaki Museum.
Athens in December 1960: When suburbs did not have their own markets and people used to go downtown for their Christmas shopping. Whether to buy cloths and presents for the children, a dress for mom and a coat for daddy or just delicacies for the festive dinner.
Athens in December 1960: when money did not generously flow out of people’s pockets too, but the spirit was different.
Athens in December 1960: When people had perspective and hope for the future…
Even though almost one-third of the population had migrated since the 50’s and was about to migrate in the 60’s. But the people were healing their wounds from the WWII and the civil war. And there was hope for a better future.
We thank Benaki Museum for offering us a touch of nostalgia and glam of the past 🙂
Now THATS the Athens I remember. Almost vlaxoi free…
‘vlaxoi’ said the aging hilly billy
No Merkel being concerned for you back then. What is Vlaxoi.
Vlaxoi: several meanings but -in this case- used by nazi+racist ideology “no German”, “foreigner”.
In Greek ‘Vlaxoi” refers to people speaking the Vlach language (from Wallachia/Rumania).