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Christmas in London just wouldn’t be the same without people moaning about Trafalgar Square’s Christmas tree. And this year’s arrival of the giant tree is no different, with many mocking its slightly flat appearance.
The iconic Christmas decoration made it to London on Monday (December 2) and reactions were mixed. But the Lord Mayor of Westminster, Robert Rigby, took to X to let the public know that while it ‘may look slightly flat at first’ but promised it will soon ‘unfurl’ into all its majestical festive glory.
Not everyone’s convinced. LBC described how Londoners were mocking the Christmas tree as ‘half dead’, while the Express said the public were raging that ‘half the fir is missing!’. The Daily Mail also added that the annual gift had turned up with dead ‘branches’. Tough crowd.
One user on X said: ‘Going to take a lot of fluffing to hide all those dead branches. Just saying,’ while another poked fun at the fir’s arrival with: ‘It’s here. Well half of it anyway’.
But the tree clapped back this year, with its official X account telling users: ‘Now, before the haters start commenting on my branches, I have had 10 days of beauty sleep - who wouldn’t look a bit flat after that kind of travel, but don’t fret; it’ll fluff up and shine just in time for my big moment.’
Chopped down in November and transported hundreds of miles to London, spending days at sea, you probably wouldn’t be looking so fresh after that journey either. Here’s everything you need to know about this year’s fir.
Which country gives Trafalgar Square a Christmas tree?
Every December, the UK is gifted a fir tree usually measuring over 20 metres tall by Norway as a Christmas present (sort of).
What’s the story behind the Christmas tree in Trafalgar Square?
The UK has been gifted a giant Christmas tree from Norway since 1947. The tradition started when the King of Norway, Haakon VII, took refuge in Britain after the Scandinavian country was invaded by Germany in 1940.
The Norwegian government-in-exile was set up in London while Haakon VII was taking refuge here. After returning to Norway, the King began the tradition of sending the UK a Christmas tree as a way to say thanks for its support during World War II. This year marks the 77th anniversary since the first fir was sent over.
Now a symbolic gesture of friendship between the nations, each year a tree gets felled in November. This year’s tree comes from Norway’s Forest of Grefsenkollen.
The Lord Mayor of Westminster, Robert Rigby, helped fell the tree in Oslo before it was transported to the port of Brevik by electric truck and loaded onto a ship headed for Lincolnshire. The branches were removed for the journey, which is why it arrived looking a little trim. Luckily, arborists were on hand for its arrival on Monday to cleverly reattach the branches.
It’s one of the capital’s most iconic Christmas traditions (even if it does get some hate, but hey that's part of the tradition too).
What date did the tree go up in Trafalgar Square?
The 66ft fir tree arrived in London on Monday morning (December 2) and it’ll take its rightful place in Trafalgar Square until January 6. Afterwards, the tree will be shredded for compost and recycled around London’s gardens.
When will the lights be turned on?
The tree is lit up on the first Thursday of December. Energy efficient Christmas lights will be draped around the tree this year, with the switching on ceremony taking place this Thursday (December 5) between 5:30pm and 6:30pm.
Don’t miss London’s loveliest Christmas tree displays.
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