O Tannenbaum

Categories: seasons

Date: 05 December 2007 23:15:17

This news hot off the press: in fact the press release is dated 6.12.2007 so we're back to anticipating events again - pre-hot off the press...

The Christmas Tree, which is a gift from Norway to the People of the United Kingdom in gratitude for our efforts against Nazism in World War II and for providing refuge for the King of Norway (- hah! I suppose that would be a Könighort then) [see pre-previous post] during that time, is due to be lit in Trafalgar Square tomorrow.

(Apologies for the length of that sentence; I think I'm being influenced by a certain language I translate. Actually, it's quite modest compared to some corkers I've come across).

See details here: http://www.norway.org.uk/norwayuk/christmastree/christmastree.htm (More apologies - I haven't had time to get to grips with caretts).

This reminded me that I had once heard that the UK is not the only country to receive a Christmas tree from Norway. I remember feeling quite miffed. I'd always thought it was Something Special. I also read that Norway has given a tree this year which is standing outside the Old Vic. (Kevin Spacey turned the lights on and had his photo taken with the ABC. They didn't look too comfortable about standing next to each other in the photo I saw.) If Norway goes on like this, the country will be bald soon.

I have done a little research on this matter and the Norwegian Embassy site has obligingly supplied the following facts. If your country does not feature, my only excuse is that I do not have time to visit all Norway's representations this evening. (Allow me to take this opportunity to greet my recent visitor from Belgium. Bonsoir!).

The UK: this year is the 61st time we've received a tree. It is 25 metres tall
The US: gets one about 10 metres tall. Stands in Union Station. Is a symbol of friendship
The Netherlands: in Rotterdam
Iceland: in Reykjavik
Japan: receives one for the 6th time.

I used to work in Trafalgar Square and enjoyed watching the tree go up. Most evenings during Advent a visiting choir would sing carols underneath it (well, not literally underneath it, but you know what I mean). It would put me in a reasonably good mood before facing the scrum that is the London evening commute home.