TRAFALGAR BARE
Trafalgar Square Christmas tree slammed as ‘national embarrassment’ and looking ‘half DEAD’
LONDON'S iconic Trafalgar Square Christmas tree has arrived in the capital - but Brits are less than impressed.
The festive fir has been blasted as a "national embarrassment" as it looks "half dead" and more than a little worse for wear.
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The tree, an annual gift from Norway, was given pride of place at the London landmark on December 1.
Once decorated, it is supposed to bring a bit of festive cheer after another difficult year, but people claim it evokes anything but.
Snaps of the 78ft (24m) "scrawny" spruce show it looking "hungover" and "spindly", according to disappointed viewers.
One person said on Twitter: "The Trafalgar Square tree is utterly depressing.
"There's no excuse for this. Shameful."
Another posted: "If 2021 was a Christmas tree."
While a third chimed: "Looks like Norway lifted last year’s tree out the skip and returned it to Trafalgar Square, complete with some termites.
"I had no idea they hated the WM govt so bad."
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Others joked about potential reasons Norway would gift a tree in need of such a spruce up.
One person said: "Norway has not taken the sacking of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer well," - suggesting the tree was punishment for the departure of the former Manchester United manager.
"Are we at war with Norway?" another commented.
Elsewhere a third posted: "Nothing says global Britain like a half dead tree!"
A fourth said: "Interflora clearly forgot to include the little sachet of plant feed."
And journalist Becky Barrow added: "This year’s Christmas tree from Norway is like being given socks by a relative who doesn’t like you very much anymore."
The tree, which currently stands bare in the famous London square, will be lit at a festive ceremony tonight.
Crowds will gather at the its base at 6pm for the official light switch-on for the first time in two years after last year's event was cancelled due to Covid.
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HISTORY OF THE TRAFALGAR SQUARE TREE
A festive fir has been donated to Britain by Norway every year since 1947.
The tradition began as a gift of gratitude after British support during World War II.
The tree is typically a 50 to 60-year-old Norwegian spruce measuring more than 20 metres in height.
It is cut down from the forests sounding the city of Oslo, sometimes months or years in advance.
It goes up at the beginning of December and is taken down around Twelfth Night - the fifth or sixth of January.
The tree travels 550 miles across the North Sea and is held in a secret location until its unveiling.
Once in position, a specialist rigging team erects the fir into its usual spot.
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