The lighting of the Christmas tree in Austurvöllur, Reykjavík, has been a symbol of the onset of the holiday season in the Capital city for decades. Families with small children and others who get excited about the christmas spirit gather downtown to witness the moment, listen to christmas tunes and greet the Jule lads, some of whom always show up for the occasion.
See photos from the 2015 Christmas tree lighting: The Oslo Christmas tree in Austurvöllur lit for the first time on Sunday
The City of Oslo, the capital of Norway, has gifted Reykjavík with a Christmas tree since 1951, as a sign of the strong friendship and ties between the two nations. This year's tree is 12 meters (40 feet) tall. Although it is gifted by the city of Oslo the tree is actually grown in Iceland. Reykjavík city and the municipal authorities of Oslo decided that since shipping a Christmas tree across the Atlantic left an unreasonably large carbon footprint and perfectly good Christmas trees could be found in Iceland it made more sense to use an Icelandic tree.
The festivities begin at 16:00 on Sunday. There will be hot coco and coffee, and several Jule lads will greet both adults and children.
The lighting of the Christmas tree in Austurvöllur, Reykjavík, has been a symbol of the onset of the holiday season in the Capital city for decades. Families with small children and others who get excited about the christmas spirit gather downtown to witness the moment, listen to christmas tunes and greet the Jule lads, some of whom always show up for the occasion.
See photos from the 2015 Christmas tree lighting: The Oslo Christmas tree in Austurvöllur lit for the first time on Sunday
The City of Oslo, the capital of Norway, has gifted Reykjavík with a Christmas tree since 1951, as a sign of the strong friendship and ties between the two nations. This year's tree is 12 meters (40 feet) tall. Although it is gifted by the city of Oslo the tree is actually grown in Iceland. Reykjavík city and the municipal authorities of Oslo decided that since shipping a Christmas tree across the Atlantic left an unreasonably large carbon footprint and perfectly good Christmas trees could be found in Iceland it made more sense to use an Icelandic tree.
The festivities begin at 16:00 on Sunday. There will be hot coco and coffee, and several Jule lads will greet both adults and children.
