The Mayor of Oslo said she was ‘surprised at the extra decorations’
An Extinction Rebellion protestor climbed the Christmas tree destined for Trafalgar Square at its cutting ceremony. According to Norwegian state broadcaster NRK, it was a protest against British and Norwegian oil extraction.
The protestor was back down by 9.30am UK time. It’s unclear whether he was removed or came down of his own free will. The Mayor of Oslo, Anne Lindboe, said: “I have to admit I was pretty surprised when I saw unwanted Christmas decorations in the tree.”
Knut Johansson from the environmental department, who was standing by to cut the tree down, said: “This is not good. We cannot continue with a man in the tree.”
The tree-cutting ceremony is a longstanding tradition. The Lord Mayor of Westminster was on site in Lørensetertjern, alongside the Mayor of Oslo and students from Maridalen and Manglerud schools. The tree is being cut down today, then sent to Trafalgar Square.
The tradition has been in place since 1947. The tree is a token of gratitude from the Norwegian people to the British for their help during the Second World War. Each year, the tree is cut in a ceremony near Oslo, then shipped by sea to London.
It’s then erected in Trafalgar Square and decorated in the traditional Norwegian manner, with vertical lights hanging from the tree’s top. This year’s tree will be lit on December 4 from 5pm, with the switch-on at 6pm.
The programme will include carols led by the Regent Hall Band of the Salvation Army, a poem to the tree writeen by Westminster children, a display by The Corps of Drums from the Band of His Majesty’s Royal Marines Collingwood, and a performance by Det Norske Jentekor, The Norwegian Girls’ Choir, conducted by Anne Karin Sundal-Ask.
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