Lighting Trafalgar Square Christmas Tree 2008

Thursday 4 December 2008 sees the official lighting ceremony of the Trafalgar Square Christmas tree. The people of Norway have given us a Christmas tree every year since 1947 to say thank you for Britain's support during World War II. The tree is normally a Norwegian Spruce, aged 50 to 60 years old, and is over 20 meters (70 ft) high. It is brought to the UK by sea, and then to Trafalgar Square by truck. It takes a hydraulic crane to get the tree in position and then it's decorated in traditional Norwegian fashion, with vertical strings of lights - energy-efficient light bulbs are used.

The Christmas tree remains in Trafalgar Square until just before the Twelfth Night of Christmas, when it is taken down for recycling. The tree is chipped and composted, to make mulch. Watch out for carol singing by the tree over the next few weeks.

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• _{Image: © Laura Porter}