20/12/2025
The Most Laughed At Christmas Tree Lighting in London
If you’re in London, you won’t miss Trafalgar Square. It’s one of London’s most popular public spaces. It has witnessed protests and celebrations, and the National Gallery sits above it.
This is where the most laughed at Christmas tree lighting happens each year. People flock to the square to participate excitedly in the said event. People excitedly start the countdown and shout happily once the tree is lit.
And then the roasting.
Social media is full of it. “That’s it?!”, “Huh?”, “Awkward!” You can literally spend your day reading a bunch of negative remarks about it.
And the tree?
It sits there quietly. Mightily, to put it aptly. The tree knows its purpose. The tree knows why it is there.
The journey starts as far as five to ten years back in Oslo.
Foresters in Oslo identify possible tree candidates in advance. There are criteria like over 20 meters tall and 50–60 years old.
It must also be visually attractive from all angles.
The tree is felled in November at a public ceremony attended by dignitaries. It then travels by truck about 180 kilometers to the port of Brevik. It is then shipped by sea to Immingham, England.
The travel lasts more than a day. From Immingham, it is transported to London, where it’s erected and lit at Trafalgar Square. This tradition has been in place since 1947. The tree is a symbol of gratitude from Norway to the British people for the latter’s support during World War II.
Sometimes you do not need to be loud, extravagant, nor the star to shine. Sometimes you just have to be yourself and avoid all the gossip and drama in life. You don’t have to prove yourself to anyone, because you know deep inside you, the journey is what makes you who you are. Mighty but humble. Giving hope to others without much pomp.
