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Scandic Hotels – in all major cities from north to south
Nordic Choice Hotels – a different hotel company
Thon Hotels – with fantastic breakfast
Radisson Blu Hotels – discover your favourite destinations
Citybox – modern and affordable hotels in a central location
Widerøe – the largest regional airline in Scandinavia
AutoEurope – always a smooth car rental experience
Vy express – travel with bus throughout Norway
DFDS – Europe’s leading ferry operator 2012-2020
Rent-A-Wreck – the smart car rental alternative
Arctic Campers – Norway’s camper van rental
NOR-WAY Bussekspress – travel green with express busses
Vy – it should be easy to travel green
Cabin Campers – your cottage on four wheels
SJ NORD – the adventure starts on the train
Hurtigruten – "The World’s Most Beautiful Sea Voyage"
Authentic Scandinavia – exciting Norway tours
Up Norway – tailored journeys
Norrøna Hvitserk – expeditions and adventure holidays
Fjord Tours – experience Norway in a nutshell® with one ticket
50 Degrees North – unforgettable tailor-made and small group tours to Norway
Discover Norway – skiing, biking and hiking tours in Norway
Norwegian Holidays – low-price package holidays with Norwegian. Flight, hotel and rental car
Secret Atlas – Svalbard and Northern Norway. Small Ship with 12 guests.
DanCenter – your specialist in holiday homes in Norway
Norgesbooking – book your perfect cabin stay in Norway
Beitostølen – adventure and delight all year
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After the Second World War, Norway decided to repay their British allies with a very special annual Christmas gift – a tree.
On the first Thursday in December, a huge Christmas tree is lit in London’s Trafalgar Square, radiating its Yuletide joy in all directions. What you might not know, is that the tree has travelled all the way from Nordmarka outside of Oslo. Yes, in Norway.
The whole ordeal would seem exceptional – if it weren’t so commonplace. With its about four tonnes of weight and around thirty metres of height, the tree is merely the last addition to a long and green tradition that started all the way back in 1947.
During the Second World War, Great Britain was Norway’s closest ally. This was where the Norwegian King and government fled as their country was occupied, and it was from London that much of Norway’s resistance movement was organised.
Both the BBC and its Norwegian counterpart NRK would broadcast in Norwegian from London, something that was both an important source of information and a boost of morale for those who remained in Norway, where people would listen in secret. Because radios were, of course, forbidden by law by the occupants.
After the war, Norway began sending a pine tree to London every year as a thank you. Here’s what that looked like the first time, in 1947.
And here’s the 2018 edition.
A few years back, The Guardian journalist Christian House travelled in the opposite direction to join the hunt for the Christmas tree and experience what the snow-covered forest area surrounding Oslo, known as “Oslomarka”, has to offer.
“It feels truly wild, populated with moose, lynx, roe deer, and even the odd wolf”, he writes.
“A half-frozen lake cracks and creaks, cubist rock forms jut out of the earth, and in every direction legions of pines dissolve into the white haze.”
This is where he meets head forester Jon Christiansen, whose team scours the forests for worthy pines which are then “groomed like X Factor hopefuls” to secure optimal growth.
“We mark it and we tend to them through the years”, Christiansen says to The Guardian.
“The most important thing is to clear the space around it, so it gets light from all angles.”
When the job of growing, cutting, and shipping the tree is done, plenty of work still remains before the lighting, as you can see in this timelapse video.
If you’re visiting and want a preview of what could be next year’s tree, a hike through Nordmarka is well recommended. And while you explore the picturesque outskirts of Oslo (only a 20-minute metro ride from the city centre), you might also want to do as House and visit both Frognerseteren and the top of the Holmenkollen ski jump, a view he describes as “almost spiritual”.
The Trafalgar Square Christmas tree is given by the city of Oslo as a token of Norwegian gratitude to the people of London for their assistance during the years 1940–1945.
A tree has been given annually since 1947.
The tree lighting ceremony takes place on the first Thursday in December each year.
The tree stands until 6 January.
See our selection of companies that work hard to make you happy all through your trip.
A traditional Norwegian Christmas lasts more than a few days: it’s a whole season with specific rituals and preparations. The snow that covers most of the country and the dark nights add a magical touch to the holiday spirit.
Sleep in the world’s largest gingerbread house, experience cheerful Christmas markets, celebrate the holiday on a Hurtigruten ship – and visit Father Christmas himself. These are the places to go if you want to celebrate Christmas in Norway.
Soak up the atmosphere at one of Norway’s best Christmas markets and fairs and find tastes and gifts you won’t get anywhere else.
So you’re going on a Norwegian Christmas holiday? Great choice! Here are some of the questions you might have – along with the answers.
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