Is it Christmas ?

Going out to have coffee with friends, I realised something weird.
Last years, when you gave your heart to someone else, as Wham! state in their song, you could see plenty of people filling all cafeterias, making it hard to find a place to sit. Usually these days you had to wait, or stand till some spot gets free, so you can sit. Usually people were in a delirium mood, making so much noise, being happy, shouting, and creating an atmosphere even for a cafeteria, that we had a long party going on.
This does not happen anymore at these Christmas (?) days.
People don't go anymore to cafeterias, and the city looks like everyone is back at their houses.
What's happening ?
Do they fear of the new H1N1 flu ? No, few Greeks, as of 350.000 went to vaccinate. Greeks think they can handle it, like their immune system is made of Ancient Greeks "amalgama", sort of mix of the best health situation they could get. So, it's not fear for H1N1, though 60 people already died, and 150 in ER.
Do they stay in, because it's cold ? No, temprature these days in Greece is hardly about 5 degrees or more. Winter is very soft, not much snow, and definetly hard winters of -5 never stopped people last years from going out. So, it's not the weather.

I think, what is happening here is economical crisis. For real, and with practical and easy to observe effects.
People simply don't have money anymore in Greece. They hardly try to get some things for Christmas, and don't have the luxury to spend each day 4 euros for a simple coffee. They stay inside, consume less, and watch TV. That's the life. I used to think that Greeks would cut money from anything else to spend on coffees, but economical situation is now at the bottom. Even this cannot keep up. The whole "party" Christmas spirit ( Because that's what's all about in Greece, and not some Religious thing ) has been abandoned. No happy people going around, no joy, no lights and bliss, just work, and stay inside.

I should be actually happy, cause I hate Christmas as concept, but surely is invented so people can have a break from their work, and that is well accepted. But no spirit, no joy around.
I should have packed for a trip to North Europe. Go have Christmas at Estonia, where I hear they make the cities beautiful, and where snow is usually added to the scene. Next Christmas won't be at Greece, definetly.

Keep tight, and welcome to my blog.