Advent day 14...The Trafalgar Square Christmas tree.
See day 13 here
The Trafalgar Square Christmas tree has been part of London since 1947.
The tree has been gifted every year since 1947 from Norway to the UK as a thank you for their help during the second world war. The Norwegian King refused to legitimise the Nazis or abdicate when they invaded so he remained in exile in Britain from 1940-45.
Each year a tree is selected, usually a 50-60 year old Norwegian spruce, which is around 20 meters tall. The chosen tree is known as the 'Queen of the Forest'.
Once the best tree is selected, which only happens a few weeks before shipping, there is a felling ceremony which the Mayor of Oslo and the Lord mayor of Westminster attends in Norway.
It is then shipped by boat and then transported by road to London. A special crane then erects it in Trafalgar square. The tree is decorated in classic Norwegian style, with it just having 500 white lights on it and a white start to top it off.
On a plaque at the bottom of the tree it reads; "This tree is given by the city of Oslo as a token of Norwegian gratitude to the people of London for their assistance during the years 1940-45. A tree has been given annually since 1947"
The tree lighting takes place on the first Thursday in December every year and attracts thousands of people to its lighting. (Although probably not this year!)
Since 2009 the Poetry society has commissioned poems to go round the base of the tree.
The tree stays up until the Twelfth night of Christmas. (5th January)
London isn't the only city that Norway gifts a tree too. They also gift trees to Newcastle, Aberdeen, Edinburgh, Sunderland, Grimsby and The Orkney Islands. As well as Reykjavik in Iceland.
Did you know about this tradition?
Comment below!
Rosie x
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