Oslo Sending London's Christmas Tree

It's time again for the Christmas tree for Trafalgar Square in London to be cut. But it won't be cut in England - no, it actually comes from Norway's capital Oslo. This has been an annual tradition for over 60 years now.

The traditional cutting ceremony in the Oslo forest will be attended by the mayor of Oslo and high-ranking officials from London. School choirs will sing Christmas carols at the ceremony. Oslo's "tree gift" will be put on a ship and finally at its destination, will be lit on Trafalgar Square on December 4 at 6 pm.

What's behind the tradition? The tree is a gift to London - in gratitude for what the city did for Norway during the Second World War, housing Norway's King and Government in exile. Oslo is also sending one Christmas tree each to Rotterdam (Netherlands) and Reykjavik (Iceland).

The trees are all Norwegian spruces (Picea abies), and have to be 20-25 metres high and at least 50-60 years old. They are decorated in traditional Norwegian style, with 500 individual white lights.

Image: Oslo's Tree on Trafalgar Square in London, by Laura Porter