Day 6 on our London advent calendar is the Trafalgar Square Christmas Tree
For those of us who still prefer a real Christmas Tree, choosing one to take home each year is part of our festive preparations, and another tradition which has been woven into the fabric of our Christmases. We buy one very locally from the same people who set up stall in our neighbourhood park each year. We wander amongst the temporary pine forest. We run our hands through the scented branches, feeling the spiney needles, we admire their shape and stature and. My husband says the tree chooses us and not the other way round. When this little bit of magic has happened we ceremoniously drag it home and begin the annual adornment with baubles and trinkets we have collected over the years.
There are many Christmas trees in London but perhaps the most famous is the the towering Norwegian Spruce which is found in Trafalgar Square from the end of November. Then lighting ceremony usually on 1st December marks the beginning of London’s festive season.
This tree is an important emblem as it has been gifted to the UK each year since 1947 by the people of Norway. It is a generous token of gratitude for our support during World War 2. This tree does not have the girth of the one you will find in Covent Garden and you may think it looks skinny and insubstantial compared to many of the other Christmas trees in London. It also does not have baubles or other decoration.
However, it is willowy and elegant. It is simply adorned with strings of white lights in keeping with Norwegian tradition and stands to represent friendship and hope for future generations. A good Christmas message I feel.
During the December and over the Christmas holidays groups of singers gather to sing carols at the base of the tree. This year, a specially commissioned poem ‘and a tree’ written by Kate Wakeling commemorates this the 75th anniversary of this traditional Christmas tree gift.
One of the best viewing spots is from the balcony at the National gallery where you can see it in all it’s glory from top to bottom alongside other London icons such as Admiral Nelson and Big Ben. At night time it is a column of gentle lights standing proud alongside neighbouring Nelson’s column.
