Italy Christmas tree in St. Peter's Square lights up
The Vatican is also getting into the festive spirit: As darkness fell, the traditional giant Christmas tree in St. Peter's Square in Rome shone magnificently decorated and in full splendor for the first time on Saturday evening. It is an old tradition that the tree is donated. This year, the 29-metre-high red spruce comes from Trentino in northern Italy.
07.12.2024, 21:49
SDA
However, the anticipation of the large Christmas tree in front of St. Peter's Basilica was marred by controversy this year. Environmentalists from the tree's home region protested for weeks against the felling. In an internet petition, they collected around 50,000 signatures for the preservation of the red spruce. In the end, however, the tree was felled and taken to Rome.
The traditional nativity scene is also part of the Christmas decorations in St. Peter's Square. It shows the scene of Jesus' birth in the stable. This year, the nativity scene comes from the Adriatic town of Grado on the edge of the Grado lagoon in northern Italy. It shows a landscape typical of the lagoon with a canal and figures on boats approaching the nativity scene.
