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Published: January 4th 2009
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Christmas Tree
in Trafalgar Square. Tonight, I am meeting Catherine and Stephanie and a couple of Stephanie's friends in front of the National Gallery to watch the Christmas tree lighting in Trafalgar Square. This is one of my favorite parts of the city, probably because the square is such a wide-open space, and I tend to like those.
I am the first to arrive, and shortly after, a choir begins to sing Christmas carols. The tree is very tall, but the branches are sparse, and the needles sag sadly. The choir sounds like a volunteer church choir. Catherine calls me, and we spend ten minutes trying to navigate through the crowd to find each other. Once we've hugged our "hellos", Catherine turns toward the tree, "Wow, that's a sad tree."
I laugh, "Yeah, I know! I guess I was expecting Rockefeller Center or something."
"Yeah, me, too!"
We listen to the choir and few speeches. The Lord-Mayor of London makes a speech at a little podium in front of the tree. Then, the mayor of Oslo, Norway, makes a speech.
How random is that?! Actually, the tree, he explains, came from Norway. He describes how he and the Lord-Mayor traveled to a
Christmas Tree
in Trafalgar Square. Norweigan wood, selected the tree, and chopped it down together. The tree took a journey by truck and freighter to reach Trafalgar Square.
"Oh, no wonder it looks like it's dying," I say.
The mayor of Oslo, very quickly and unceremoniously, did "the honors" by pressing a button. In an anticlimatic instant, white Christmas lights sprang forth from the tree. Like the branches (or perhaps
because of the branches), the lights were looking a little thin.
My phone rings. Stephanie has finally arrived! "Hey, where are you?" I ask.
"We're next to the Nelson monument," she says. Basically on the other side of the square.
Catherine and I try to push our way through the crowd in typical English fashion, down the stairs next to the Canadian embassy, and across the square. Finally, we're in front of the Nelson monument, but we don't see Stephanie anywhere.
Another speech has ended and the old men who make up "the band" are trying to dramatically play
God Save the Queen. The crowd respectfully hushes a bit. Catherine and I start softly singing, "My country 'tis of thee, sweet land of liberty..." We are cracking up. I
Catherine
We celebrate her birthday at the Texas Embassy. laugh, "Let's be obnoxious Americans!" I notice that no one puts their hand over their heart like we do when our national anthem is played, and I feel proud that Americans use such a gesture to show not only respect, but also love for their country.
The song has ended and the phone calls with Stephanie resume until we find each other. She introduces us to her two friends who are in town from LA, Gary and Troy. We snap a few quick pictures in front of the sorry-ass tree. Stephanie says, "Ya know? I expect something a little more....MORE."
"For real," I say. "I expected the Rockefeller tree and the freakin' London Symphony."
"I know! Whatever. Now, who's hungry?" she asks.
Of course, I'm always hungry!
"Texas Embassy, anyone?" Catherine asks.
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patrioticpilot
non-member comment
The speech by the Mayor of Oslo was not a "random event" as you call it. The tree is a gift from the people of my country to the people of the UK as a mark of respect and thanks for the support of the British in the darkest days of our country in 1939. the gift has been gratefully and graciously received for many years now. the time to try to understand the background and what was going on would have helped you understand this and why the tree is lit only in white (a Norwegian tradition which you will see the British reflect in their decoration of the rest of the square.) As an expatriate I attend the ceremony every year and most British people know the story and show great warmth to Norway. In Norway it is considered most rude and impolite to be so offensive about a gift, especially one that is given and received in such a meaningfuly a spirit.