24 Days of Blogging, Day 18: Boughs of Friendship

The National Christmas tree of the United States is in Washington DC. It is a living tree near the White House that has been decorated every year since 1923. This tree might be slightly overshadowed in the minds of many Americans by the Christmas tree in Rockefeller Center, a cut tree from Wallkill, New York. Both are American grown trees, the bounty of the land.

The National Christmas Tree of England is in Trafalgar Square, but the tree always comes from Norway. This is not because there are no suitable trees in Great Britain (another position taken by a bloody immigrant!). The Trafalgar Square Christmas tree is a yearly gift from the City of Oslo to the people of Britain in remembrance of the help and support provided to Norway during World War II. This gift of friendship and remembrance has been given every year since 1947.

Every November the tree is cut in a Norwegian forest and transported by ship to London where it is decorated in preparation for the first Thursday in December, when thousands gather for carols, poetry, speeches, and the lights that remember a friendship that predates almost all who attend.

I like this thought of a tradition of thanks that outlives the generations that benefitted. We are so seldom conscious of the many wonderful things that are done for us by so many even today. It might be good at Christmas time to think of the many hands that helped us be here right now that we will never know.

We have received more gifts than we can count or would fit under any Christmas tree

As always, I welcome your comments.

Image: https://www.google.com/amp/s/secretldn.com/londons-christmas-lights-switch-on/amp/