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CHRISTMAS

Why Norway gifts the UK a Christmas tree every year

Every year since 1947, the people of Norway have gifted the UK a Christmas tree to be displayed in Trafalgar Square during the festive period. 

Published: 2 December 2021 15:21 CET
Updated: 5 December 2023 09:55 CET
Pictured is the 2019 Christmas tree.
Norway gifts the Christmas tree as a symbol of its appreciation for the UK's support during World War Two. Pictured is 2019's offering. Photo by Daniel Leal/ AFP.

One of the first things you’ll notice if you are near or around Trafalgar Square in London at Christmas is a 20-meter-high Christmas tree on display for everyone to enjoy. 

The tree is displayed every year and is a gift from Norway to the UK. The lights are normally switched on at the beginning of December to mark the countdown to Christmas.

This year the tree will be lit up on Thursday, December 7th. 

Earlier this week, social media users posted about seeing the tree being transported, ahead of its official unveiling. 

This year’s tree was felled in the forests surrounding Oslo and was roughly 70 years old.   

‘Half dead’

For social media users, it has become an annual tradition in itself to poke fun at the appearance of the tree. For this reason, the tree in Trafalgar Square could be considered one of the most famous (or infamous) in the world. 

One social media user said the tree looked half dead in a post on X/Twitter. 

Another joked that the tree on UK soap opera ‘Eastenders’ was much more impressive. 

However, not everyone on social media was so quick to judge the state of the tree. Many point out that the tree is given as a symbol of gratitude and cooperation from Norway to the UK.

Many of the naysayers remarks may have been proved to be short sighted, as the tree was later spotted looking much healthier and fuller after settling. The official X/Twitter account for the tree posted an update on Monday, with the tree looking more impressive. 

‘A token of Norwegian gratitude’

The tradition of Norway gifting the UK a tree every Christmas goes back over 75 years to a couple of years after the Second World War. 

The yearly event see’s the people of Norway gift the UK a roughly 20-metre tall Norwegian Spruce, often selected months or sometimes years in advance, as a sign of their gratitude for Britain’s support for Norway during World War Two. 

READ ALSO: What you should know if you’re invited to a Norwegian ‘julebord’

The tree, typically 50-60 years old when ready to be cut down, is felled during a ceremony attended by the British Ambassador to Norway, the Mayor of Oslo and Lord Mayor of Westminster during November.

Below you can see a video from this year’s ceremony by the British Ambassador to Norway, Jan Thompson. 

When erected in London, there is a plaque that reads, “This tree is given by the City of Oslo as a token of Norwegian gratitude to the people of London for their assistance during the years 1940-45.” 

While the annual tradition dates back seven decades, the first Christmas tree was actually gifted to the UK in 1942. 

During a raid on Hisøy Island between Bergen and Haugesund, west Norway, resistance fighter Mons Urangsvåg cut down a Norwegian pine and shipped it back to England as a gift for the exiled King Haakon. 

King Haakon decided to pass the gift onto the UK, and so it was erected in Trafalgar Square, although with no lights due to the blackouts caused by the Blitz.

The tree in Trafalgar Sqaure is just one of many that Norway sends to the UK every year. Several towns and cities receive annual trees from counterparts in Norwegian cities. 

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NORWEGIAN TRADITIONS

What’s open and what’s closed on Ascension Day in Norway? 

Ascension Day, or ‘Kristi himmelfartsdag’, is a public holiday in Norway. Here's what’s open and what’s closed. 

Published: 6 May 2024 12:43 CEST
What’s open and what’s closed on Ascension Day in Norway? 

Christ’s Ascension Day, often just called Ascension in English or Kristi himmelfartsdag, occurs 40 days after Easter and, for Christians, marks when Jesus ascended to heaven. The celebration dates back to the fourth century. 

This year, the day falls on Thursday, May 9th. Even though Norway split the church from the state in 2017, Ascension has remained a public holiday—as have other faith-based holidays. 

While there are many public holidays in Norway based on Christianity, not all of them have specific traditions that are unique to Norway. 

In fact, for most, Thursday will simply mean a day off work. The majority of offices around the country will close, and children will be off from school. 

As the holiday always falls on a Thursday, Friday is an inneklemt dag, meaning it is squeezed between a public holiday and a weekend. This means many who have planned ahead will have also booked the Friday off to enjoy four days off. 

What’s closed? 

As mentioned before, schools and offices should be closed. However, those who do work can expect a higher salary for their hours on a public holiday. 

Most supermarkets will be closed, although there are some areas exempt from this rule. 

Furthermore, Vinmonopolet, Norway’s state-owned alcohol store, will also be closed nationwide. This is because the sale of alcohol is prohibited on public holidays, meaning the last opportunity to buy beers, wines, and spirits will be before 6pm on Wednesday, May 8th. 

Many other public services will also be closed or not operating on Ascension, including, public libraries, municipal swimming pools, and sports centres. 

If you have an urgent health issue, out-of-hours doctor services at the legevakt will be available, and emergency A&E clinics will also be open. Some GP surgeries may also remain open. 

Regular kids and adult activities such as football training or band practice will also likely be cancelled. 

One last thing to know is that it is prohibited to disturb the peace on public holidays such as Ascension, this means things like mowing the lawn and playing loud music are not allowed. 

What’s open? 

Small convenience stores of 100 square metres in size or less are allowed to remain open, as are petrol stations of less than 150 square metres in size. Even in these smaller convenience stores, the sale of alcohol will remain prohibited. 

Stores in areas that are allowed to remain on Sunday due to tourism will also remain open. These are typically rural areas, rather than the big cities though. 

Garden centres and florists are allowed to stay open. 

Duty-free shops at airports in Norway are allowed to stay open. 

Restaurants, hotels and cafes are allowed to stay open. 

Museums and galleries will probably stay open for business, too.  

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