The annual lighting of the Christmas tree on Austurvöllur square in downtown Reykjavík took place on December 2, the first Sunday in Advent.
The Christmas tree from a previous year. Photo Iceland Review.
Each year, people gather to sing Christmas carols at the event. The Reykjavík Brass Band launched it by playing their popular Christmas tunes.
Norway has presented the City of Reykjavík with a Christmas tree every year since 1952. The tree is decorated with hundreds of individual white lights and is usually between 12 to 16 meters tall.
Mayor of Reykjavík Jón Gnarr traveled to Norway in early November to help to cut down the Christmas tree at a ceremony in Solheim forest north of Oslo.
The mayor said that it had been a great shame when the Oslo tree was set aflame during riots on Austurvöllur in January 2009 and that he hoped his presence would help make up for that.
The Christmas tree in Akureyri’s main square Ráðhústorg was lit on Saturday.
ZR
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