City workers in Oslo have once again been chopping down trees in local forests and shipping them abroad as gestures of civic friendship during the Christmas holiday season. The most traditional among them will be ceremoniously lit at Trafalgar Square in London on December 6.
A large tree cut in the forest of Solemskogen in Lillomarka, just north of downtown Oslo, was already sent to Reykjavik and another will be chopped down on the west side of the lake called Maridalsvannet on Friday. It will be sent by truck to Brevik, on Norway’s southern coast, and then by ship to Rotterdam.
Oslo has been sending Christmas trees to London since 1946, to mark ongoing gratitude for British support and help during World War II. This year’s tree was selected among those in the city forest known as Østmarka on Oslo’s east side, and cut last Friday at Haukåsen. It’s now on its way to London, where Oslo city government leader Stian Berger Røsland will be among those flicking the switch to light it up in its traditional spot in Trafalgar Square.
newsinenglish.no staff
