Trafalgar Square Christmas tree embarrassment

[Linenpickle]

Thanks to Norway for the lovely Christmas tree in Trafalgar Square but seriously, whoever decorated it needs to think again as it’s abysmal. Very little effort and I give it 0 out of 10 for decoration.

Were you expecting gaudy baubles and tinsel?

I just googled it. I think it looks really lovely - simple and a change from all the brighter, bolder versions. Completely independently of its tradition, I really like the look but also retaining the Norwegian style is appropriate and respectful. As others have said, there are plenty versions in the more modern style.

Its a really lovely tradition. A sad indication of our aesthetic-obsessed society that this comes up again and again.

They absolutely should not bend to the will of people obsessed with appearances above all else.

Maybe they could amp up the decorations in the surrounding area to make up for the sad tree.

I think it’s lovely, and much prefer it to the overdressed silver/ plastic tat trees which seem popular today .

I dont think it looks crap.

Many people seem to like the simple understated approach taken on the Trafalgar tree, so I don’t think that the point you are making is lost on them, they simply don’t agree with you :)

I think the tree in Covent Garden looks frightfully tacky, but understand that to many the tackiness is an essential part of Christmas so wouldn’t be so presumptuous as to insist they tone it down. Also, that’s a completely different shape tree.

In generally working with the shape of the tree is better than trying to make it something it’s not. Which, in the case of the one in Trafalgar Square, is the shape it is because of tradition and so the vertical strings of lights look perfectly understated yet festive to me.

I just saw a news clip from the captain who brought it over- he said it’s important we continue to tell the story which cheered me up a bit as maybe this conversation helps more people year on year learn the story even if they are being so mean.

for the rubbish about “are you expecting tinsel” and it “should look better”,

I am not sure what people anticipate. It’s not actually a Christmas tree, it’s a Norwegian spruce. It’s enourmous, clearly very mature and of course its shape and branch coverage gets less perfect the more it grows. It’s not supposed to look like your 7ft fir tree.

Oh dear OP................embarrassed for you!

Me either. It's understated and perfectly nice looking.

Picking up a history book would have saved you the embarrassment of this post OP

I was a child in deepest Devon in the 60’s, as mentioned upthread I remember watching a Blue Peter presenter travel to Norway each year to help choose the tree and escort in back to Trafalgar Square. I absolutely loved it, that and the advent crown meant Christmas to me. Maybe the story hasn’t been publicised so much since then ?

The tree isn’t meant to look plump though, so what’s to be achieved by trying to make it into something it’s not. Lights on the end of the branches would look crap. It’s a different sort of tree to a ‘normal’ Christmas tree and so of course is lit differently - its height and narrowness are integral to the whole thing :)

I reckon Khan got the Brummie bin men to do it.

I always get a Norway Spruce for our Christmas tree, they smell lovely!

I don’t think you understand the tradition at all.

It was a joke, of course :)

Perhaps we don't all think everything should be decorated to suit your taste? Weird that you think we should. Do you also complain to art galleries that they display pictures that you dont like?

The giving of the tree is the tradition. The way it's decorated isn't.

Having taken part in or watched events over the years around the Trafalgar Square tree I can confirm it is always decorated that way!

The decoration replicates the Norwegian style I linked to up thread.

Its a war memorial. Its not supposed to be covered in tacky Disney crap.

I love that tree. It doesn't need to be flashy.

When i said plain i was joking I think they are lovely.