Trafalgar Square Christmas tree returns – and people still think it looks ‘rubbish’
Londoners have slammed the ‘rubbish’ Trafalgar Square Christmas tree that has arrived back in the capital.
The huge fir in central London has been a festive staple for nearly the last century, but in recent years it has been mocked for looking threadbare and has been compared to a cucumber.
But this year Scrooges have commented and asked what has happened to the fir – which was delivered looking bare and lacking needles today.
The tree has been gifted to the UK by Norway since 1947 —and arrived in the UK after a huge 1,075 mile trip.
Pictures show the 20-meter-tall spruce being unloaded around the iconic tourist spot – with some Brits claiming it looks like it was transported on RyanAir hand luggage.
It was chopped down looking green festive, and very much alive in Oslo last week, but it now looks to have had the Christmas spirit drained out of it.
Resident mouser at Downing Street, Larry the Cat chipped in and said: ‘Judging by the photos of the Trafalgar Square Christmas tree being felled last week in Norway and arriving today, it’s been transported as hand luggage on Ryanair…’
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Anuradha Ka said she wouldn’t have been surprised if staff had let it onboard a flight and said: ‘I once saw Ryanair charging 50 euros extra to allow a guitar to be carried as hand luggage.. If you pay them enough, they will let the tree sit beside the pilot.’
Wendy Muircrodft said: ‘Lol yes it looks like it’s seen better days. Could do with a bit of “sprucing up”. Ahem sorry for the dad joke. Own up Larry – might you have run your claws through it? Just a little bit? Maybe?’
Kerry Howells said: ‘It’s literally dead…’
Tracy Q added: ‘Is the first tree held up in customs and, therefore, we’ve had to resort to re-using last year’s tree???’
While one Tweeter said: ‘Feels fitting for the state of the country really’
The Lord Mayor of Westminster visited Oslo last week to help cut the tree down before it embarked on a huge trip to England.
On Thursday (December 1) to mark the first day of advent the tree will be decorated, and the lights will be turned on by the Mayor – along with a serenade of Christmas carols.
The 78ft fir has been gifted by the Mayor of Oslo in an annual tradition where the Norwegian capital pays thanks to the UK for its assistance during World War Two.
Sourced from a forest outside of the city, it requires ‘good soil/site quality’ and has been carefully selected for its suitability as a gift, according to WCC’s response.
The civic tradition marks the start of London’s Christmas countdown.
In recent years, London’s gratitude for the prickly gift has been questionable: in 2019, people moaned that is looked more like a cucumber than a Christmas tree.
While last year an FOI by Metro.co.uk revealed the tree cost £27,000 to transport it to the UK.
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