London's Trafalgar Square Christmas Tree Arrives in England!

The 62ft Norwegian spruce grew in Norway and will go on display in Trafalgar Square, London next week.

On the first Thursday in December, a huge Christmas tree is lit in London’s Trafalgar Square.

What you might not know, is that the tree is given by the city of Oslo as a token of Norwegian gratitude to the people of London for their help during World War Two.

A tree has been given annually since 1947!

During the Second World War, Great Britain was Norway’s closest ally.

This was where the Norwegian King and government fled as their country was occupied, and it was from London that much of Norway’s resistance movement was organised.

Both the BBC and its Norwegian counterpart NRK would broadcast in Norwegian from London, something that was both an important source of information and a boost of morale for those who remained in Norway, where people would listen in secret.

Because radios were, of course, forbidden by law by the occupants.

After the war, Norway began sending a pine tree to London every year as a thank you.

The 2023 tree (pictured at the top of this article) will go on display in Trafalgar Square next Thursday (December 7).

The tree will be decorated in traditional Norwegian fashion with vertical strings of energy-efficient lights, Westminster Council said.

It will be in Trafalgar Square until Thursday 4 January, the twelfth night of Christmas, before being recycled and used as mulch in gardens around the city.

This year marks the 76th anniversary of King Haakon VII sending the first spruce to London.

The tree was cut down by The Lord Mayor of Westminster Cllr Patricia McAllister and The Mayor of Oslo Anne Lindboe, during a felling ceremony which took place on Friday 24November. 

The Trafalgar Square tree started its journey in Oslo's Nordmarka forest was driven 100km+ south from Oslo to the port of Brevik.

There, it was loaded onto a ship (avoiding any contact with salt water, which could damage it) and set sail to the UK.

After a short stay in customs, it took another lorry ride to central London.

A specialist rigging team will erect it in Trafalgar Square using a hydraulic crane.

You can follow the tree on Twitter @TrafalgarTree for updates, and exciting facts about this symbolic, long-standing tradition.

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