While science and common sense may have all the answers you’ll ever need to explain snow, it’s still undeniable: much like with rainbows, starry skies and Christmas, there’s something magical about snow. Even more so when it falls in places that see it rarely.

For weeks, the Greek mountains, where it often snows, have been dressed in thick layers of brilliant white. On Sunday and Monday, as the “Elpis” weather front brought temperatures below freezing in many parts of the country, the air in Athens and on the islands also filled with light, dancing flakes. Authorities closed schools and warned the public to limit their movements outdoors to the essential, and kids pressed their noses to the windows, as the snow fell faster and thicker, transforming landscapes into scenes Greeks see once a year at most.

Roads were closed, the army was deployed to rescue motorists stuck on the highway Attiki Odos in Athens, and the government announced that Tuesday is to be considered a holiday for all workers in both private and public sectors. Meanwhile, before the dark fell on Monday, many were still lured outside to live and photograph the magic of the moment. Below are some of our favorite images of Athens and the Greek islands dressed in white from the last 24 hours.

Athens

 

 

 

 

 

View this post on Instagram

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A post shared by Dimitris Tzankatian  (@d.tzankatian)

 

 

 

 

 

View this post on Instagram

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A post shared by Stefanos | Greece (@stef_greece)

 

 

 

 

 

View this post on Instagram

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A post shared by George Maschalidis (@giwrgosmasx)

 

 

 

 

 

View this post on Instagram

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A post shared by thomas gravanis (@storiesbysomeone)

 

 

 

 

 

View this post on Instagram

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A post shared by AlexT (@chicumita)

 

 

 

 

 

View this post on Instagram

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A post shared by Zorbabook.com (@zorbabook)

 

 

 

 

 

View this post on Instagram

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A post shared by Costas Spathis (@spathumpa)

 

 

 

 

 

View this post on Instagram

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A post shared by Nikoletta Ralli (@nikolettaralli)

 

 

 

 

 

View this post on Instagram

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A post shared by Odysseas Kodoukas (@odysseaskns)

Islands

 

 

 

 

 

View this post on Instagram

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A post shared by Claudio Colaneri (@cycladeseveryday)

 

 

 

 

 

View this post on Instagram

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A post shared by Etoile De Mer (@etoiledemervilla)

 

 

 

 

 

View this post on Instagram

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A post shared by ᴘᴇʀғᴇᴄᴛ ɢʀᴇᴇᴄᴇ ?? (@perfect_greece)

 

 

 

 

 

View this post on Instagram

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A post shared by Chez Carolou Sifnos (@chez_carolou)

 

 

 

 

 

View this post on Instagram

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A post shared by O Lofos Luxury Boutique Suites (@o_lofos)

 

 

 

 

 

View this post on Instagram

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A post shared by Paramano.gr (@paramano.gr)

 

 

 

 

 

View this post on Instagram

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A post shared by Mykonos Divino Villas (@mykonosdivino)