Trafalgar Square Christmas Tree

Every year since 1947 a Christmas tree has been erected in London’s Trafalgar Square, presented by Norway to the people of Britain for its support of Norway during World War 2.

This year’s ceremony, the 61st, takes place on Thursday 6 December at 6pm. The tree is normally a Norwegian spruce that is around 50 years old and over 20 metres tall. It is cut down in early November in the forests surrounding Oslo with the Lord Mayor of Westminster, the British ambassador to Norway and the Mayor of Oslo in attendence. The tree will then be shipped to the UK by sea and then once in position in Trafalgar Square decorated in the traditional Norwegian fashion.

The tree lights will be offically turned on by the Mayor of Oslo and the Lord Mayor of Westminster in a ceremony that always draws a big crowd. The choir of St Martin-in-the-Fields along with the Westminster Salvation Army band will also be there performing carols. The Christmas tree will stay up in the square until 4 January when it will be taken away and recycled.