Christmas tree arrives in St. Peter’s Square
November 25, 2016
The Christmas tree that will stand this year in St. Peter’s Square, an 80-foot red spruce from Trento in northern Italy, has arrived in Rome.
The Christmas tree will be illuminated on December 9. On the same day, the Vatican’s Nativity scene will be unveiled.
This year the Vatican has made a special point of emphasizing the “green” aspects of the Christmas display. In Trento, children planted 40 seedlings in the place from which the giant spruce was harvested; the new trees will replace others that were cut down because of a parasite infection. The 18,000 lights on the Vatican tree will be LED lights, chosen for their low consumption of electricity. The ornaments on the tree will be ceramic, made by hospitalized Italian children.
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Further information:
- Vatican 'environment friendly' Christmas tree erected in St. Peter's Square (Vatican Radio)
- St Peter's Xmas tree arrives (ANSA)
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