With Christmas now only 3 weeks away, seasonal preparations in Chania are in full swing. The municipal Christmas Tree has been erected in the square on Akti Tompazi behind the Küçük Hasan Mosque (Giali Tzami), along with a small children’s funfair. Soon the food shops will be filling up with melomakarona and kourabiedes, and supermarket shoppers will be assailed by endless repetitions of Mariah Carey’s All I want for Christmas and other favourite Christmas songs on the PA system.

With Christmas not far away, the Chania Trade Association has published its proposed opening hours for the festive season, which include three Sunday openings up to the New Year, as follows (public holidays in bold type).