It is said perhaps to be the most famous Christmas tree in the world and in London marks the run-in to Christmas. Every year, since 1947, the people of Norway have given the people of London a Christmas tree which finds its home in Trafalgar Square. This gift is in gratitude for Britain’s support for Norway during World War II.
During the Second World War, Great Britain was Norway’s closest ally. This was where the Norwegian King and government fled as their country was occupied, and it was from London that much of Norway’s resistance movement was organised.
The tradition of cutting down a tree and putting it up in Oslo’s Universitetsplassen is a long-held tradition. In fact even when Norway was occupied by the Nazis during the second world war, members of the Royal Norwegian Navy snuck back into their own country to cut down a tree each year, bringing it back to London for King Haakon. Soon to be famous spy master Ian Fleming met with one of the special operatives and suggested to put one up in Trafalgar Square with aircraft flares replacing fairy lights.
Today, the tree symbolises not just what Britain did in the war, but also a respect for democracy, human rights, peace and the solidarity between the two countries and cities.
The Trafalgar Square Christmas tree is usually a Norwegian spruce (Picea abies) and about 30 metres (90 feet) high being around 50 to 60 years old and weighs about 4 tonnes!
It is selected from the forests surrounding Oslo with great care several months, even years, in advance. The Norwegian foresters who look after it describe it fondly as ‘the Queen of the forest’.
The tree is felled in November during a ceremony in which the Lord Mayor of Westminster, the British ambassador to Norway and the Mayor of Oslo participate. It is brought to the UK by sea, then completes its journey by lorry. A specialist rigging team erects it in the square using a hydraulic crane. Though previously decorated in a more colourful British style, in recent years the Trafalgar Square Christmas Tree has been decorated in traditional Norwegian fashion, with vertical strings of lights. Energy-efficient light bulbs are used.
The tree lighting ceremony takes place on the first Thursday in December each year which this year just happens to be today!
Nearby is a large traditional nativity set connected to St Martins in the Field church on the eastern side of the square and throughout December it is home to a number of Christmas Carol events and a plethora of photos and selfies. In fact the Trafalgar Square Christmas Tree even has its own social media accounts.
Trafalgar Square is also one of the where large groups of people have traditionally welcomed in the New Year.
The Christmas tree remains in Trafalgar Square until just before the Twelfth Night of Christmas, when it is taken down for recycling. The tree is chipped and composted, to make mulch.
Below is a short video about last years Trafalgar Square Christmas Tree.
Stephen Liddell 
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