If you’ve ever had a festive stroll through central London in December, you’ve most likely noticed the massive Christmas tree that stands proudly in Trafalgar Square – but did you know that it’s an annual gift from Norway?
That’s right – each year, the Trafalgar Square tree is sent over from Nordmarka, just outside of Oslo.
And it’s not just any old tree. It’s typically a 50 – 60 year old, Norwegian Spruce, standing at around 30 metres tall and weighing approximately four tonnes.
Every year, on the first Thursday in December, the lights are turned on, signalling the beginning of Christmas celebrations in London. The tree stands tall and joyful throughout the whole festive season, until January 6, each New Year.
How does the tree get here from Norway?
Each November, in the Norwegian forest, a suitable tree is picked out and felled, as part of a ceremony attended by notable figures like the British Ambassador to Norway, Mayor of Oslo, and the Lord Mayor of Westminster. Locals apparently refer to the tree as the ‘Queen of the Forest’.
After the tree is cut, it is driven via lorry to the Port of Brevik. The tree is said to be transported at night, and accompanied by a police escort – a VIP tree if ever there was one.
From Brevik, it’s loaded onto a ship and sent to the UK by boat, traveling an impressive 550 miles across the North Sea.
Once it arrives in the UK, it’s held in a ‘secret’ location, before being transported to Trafalgar Square, usually arriving in the early hours, to avoid congestion.
Once in position, a specialist rigging team erects the tree into it’s usual spot, via a hydraulic crane.
And why does Norway give us a tree?
Now for the history lesson.
The Trafalgar Square Christmas tree is given by the city of Oslo as a token of gratitude to the UK for their assistance during WW2.
When Norway was occupied by Germany, the Norwegian King, Haakon VII, and the government fled to the UK, with much of Norway’s resistance movement being organised from London.
At this point, radios were forbidden, though the national Norwegian Broadcasting Corporation (known as NRK) would broadcast back to Norway from London.
This was a way to provide crucial information and boost morale for listeners still in Norway – who would listen in secret.
The tree-giving tradition started in 1943, when Lieutenant Donald Buller evaded German detection to deliver radio equipment to allied agents on the heavily-patrolled Norwegian island of Batalden.
This secret mission saw him return from to Britain with Christmas trees given as gifts for the British Government, and the Norwegian King, who was living in exile.
It was this act that sparked the annual tradition going forward.
And what better way to say thank you?
Since 1947, Norway has gifted its finest pine Christmas tree to the city of London, a sight that can still be seen to this day.
Here’s what it looked like the first year it arrived
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