“Where is the second part of the tree?”, “It’s awful”: the Trafalgar Square Christmas tree mocked by Internet users

Every year, as the Christmas holidays approach, the famous Trafalgar Square in London is transformed. A 20 meter high fir tree is installed in its center and fully contributes to the magic that takes over the British capital.

This ritual, which has been repeated since 1947, is steeped in history. It has been more than 70 years since the Christmas tree was presented by Norway to the United Kingdom, in gratitude for its support during the Second World War. In 1940, as the Nazis invaded Oslo, the United Kingdom exfiltrated and hosted the King of Norway until 1945.

This year, it is a spruce, 70 years old, which was carefully chosen from a wood bordering Oslo. Forestry officials even described him as the “king of the forest,” reports the BBC. Brought by boat by sea, it was then transported by truck to its final destination on December 4. If it appeared a little bare when it came out of the truck, branches were subsequently added to restore the tree to its original appearance.

Despite this beautiful and old history of cooperation between the United Kingdom and Norway, spruce does not seem to be unanimously accepted. Some Internet users posted somewhat mocking messages on Twitter. “Where is the second part of the tree? “, asked this British woman, for example. “What a terrible tree,” lamented another user. “At what point are they going to give up all pretension and just send us a log?”, quipped a third.

Questioned by the Guardian, the mayor of Oslo, Anne Lindboe, stepped up to defend her national gem: “It is a natural tree from a natural forest, and not one of those trees from Christmas crops that we sometimes see, which are more perfect. She still admits that these criticisms are part of the “tradition”.

In response to these attacks, a prank message was also posted on the official Trafalgar tree account, a few hours after its installation. “It seems you judged too quickly...look at me now.”

No matter the discordant voices, the light garlands will be lit this Thursday evening, during a ceremony in the presence of the mayor of Oslo. The spruce will remain in Trafalgar Square until January 5, when it will be chipped and composted.