Trafalgar Square ignites capital’s Christmas spirit
Thursday, the 7th of December marked a momentous occasion in London’s festive calendar every year, as Trafalgar Square’s legendary Christmas tree was lit up by 500 dazzling lights. 2023 represents the 76th anniversary of the annual tradition, in which Norway gifts Great Britain a Christmas tree, as a show of gratitude for the nation’s support in the Second World War.
The tree is decorated with an array of Christmas lights in the typical Norwegian manner, in which lines of lights are arranged vertically, from the top of the tree to the bottom, around the tree – in contrast to the more typical British method of repeatedly encircling the tree with a continuous line of fairy lights. The imposing Norwegian Spruce stands at nearly 20 metres high (around 65ft) and is estimated to be aged at approximately seventy years. It is decorated with nothing more than the stunning arrangement of lights, plus the classic star positioned on the uppermost vertical branch of the tree. City Hall has dubbed the spruce “the world’s most famous Christmas Tree”, and it will remain in place until the 5th of January, a day prior to the Epiphany – when the Three Kings allegedly first visited the Son of God in the stable in Bethlehem – when it will be cut down and composted.
The tree uses energy-efficient lights to illuminate Trafalgar Square and the capital beyond. In 2008, halogen bulbs of low wattage were used, consuming a total of 3.5kW (3,500 watts) of power, over the approximate 29 days (696 hours) for which the tree is continuously lit. For comparison, studies show that an average UK household estimates an approximate energy usage of 3,500kWh per year. Since energy can simply be calculated as power consumed multiplied by time, the general formula for calculating a quantity of kilowatt-hours is wattage multiplied by hours, divided by one thousand. Therefore, the approximate energy consumption of Trafalgar’s tree is around 2,436kWh over the 29-day period – an average UK household’s clocks in at around 220-250kWh over the same period, around ten times less. That said, this was in 2008, when crude and energy-intensive halogen bulbs were used. Now, more energy-efficient bulbs are used in the interest of sustainability.
The felling of Trafalgar’s tree may signify the end of the festive season for many people – but it is yet to be cut down for another 4 weeks or so, meaning the UK has four weeks of Christmas still to celebrate. Merry Christmas everyone!
