Have you ever wondered where the Christmas tree on Old Town Square comes from? You might be surprised that it is not just randomly selected somewhere in the forest. This year, 45 Czechs took part in the selection, offering their overgrown trees as the best candidates for this festive Christmas market highlight. Who won?
Every year, Prague looks forward to the Christmas tree, which lights up the Old Town Square and brings a festive atmosphere to the heart of the city. This year’s Christmas spruce comes from the Lusatian Mountains and its journey to the square has an interesting story.
The selection of the tree took place through the Hledá se strom competition, which was announced by the company Taiko, the organizer of the Christmas markets in the Old Town Square. People could join the competition with tips about overgrown trees that are too big or could be dangerous to the neighborhood because of their size, or stand on land where they obstruct construction plans.
Watch the video from the YT creation of the SICO Rent channel – work platforms: Lighting the tree on the Old Town Square
Source: Youtube
A total of 45 people responded to the “Looking for a tree” call and submitted trees from their properties or the surrounding area. From these tips, the jury selected five finalists who met the criteria for a Christmas tree: majestic size, healthy branches and stability.
In the end, the choice fell on a spruce from the Lusatian Mountains, whose owner entered it into the competition precisely because it was starting to lean dangerously towards her house and required removal. Thanks to this, this tree will now become the centerpiece of Christmas markets in Prague.
Transporting a tree is a demanding logistical task. After felling, it must be very carefully loaded onto a special truck that will transport it to Prague. Upon arrival at the square, a team of experts will take care of its establishment. The whole process requires precision and experience. The tree must be fixed in such a way that it stands firmly throughout the holidays despite possible adverse weather.
Christmas tree decoration
Decorations and lights are designed every year with regard to the historical nature of the Old Town Square, so that the resulting appearance is not only modern, but also tasteful. The first lighting of the tree is a big event that thousands of people look forward to. This year it will take place on Old Town Square on Saturday, November 30, 2024 from 4:00 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. The Christmas markets on the Old Town Square will also open on the same day.
Source: novinky.cz, poznatsvet.cz, prazska.drbna.cz, kudyznudy.cz, praha.eu
