In the early hours of Thursday morning, the traditional Christmas tree arrived at Brussels Grand Place, where it will stand on display during the festive period until 7 January.
The tree is a 22-metre-high Nordmann fir and is about 50 years old. By biblical coincidence, the tree was taken from the garden of 87-year-old Maria, who lives in Lier, Antwerp, and her late husband Jozef.
"The tree stood until yesterday in the garden of a residential house in the charming town of Lier in the province of Antwerp. It took five decades to grow into the giant it is today," stated Brussels Major Events, which organises large events in the capital.
Tweet translation: "This morning the motorcyclists of police Brussels were ready to escort the Christmas tree through the streets of the City of Brussels so that it could safely arrive at its final destination: the Grand Place."
"By donating it to the city of Brussels, the owners are now giving it a place befitting its mighty appearance: on the most beautiful square in the world where hundreds of thousands of visitors will admire it."
Pierre Demesmaeker of tree nursery Inter Arbo (who looks for trees to be placed on the main squares of Belgian cities) discovered the pine three years ago in the backyard of the house. He told Gazet Van Antwerpen that once the festivities are over the large tree will be chopped up and "spread among the young trees in our nursery and thus give it back to nature".
Centre of attention
After being felled on Wednesday, the tree was transported with great care in a special convoy to the Grand Place, where it was set up on Thursday morning.
The Nordmann fir will be decorated with 140 ornaments applied by the 11 Indigenous Nations of Quebec, who are guests of honour of Plaisirs d'Hiver (Winter Wonders). These include a Mi’kmaq star, a snowshoe, a inukshuk and dreamcatcher along with 50 white light beads and a 2-kilometre-long garland of LED lights. Decorating will take place from 18 to 20 November.
The lights will be lit on Friday 24 November in a celebration with traditional dance and song by people from the Indigenous Nations. The show also marks the start of the winter festival, an initiative of organiser Brussels Major Events.
Christmas festivities in Brussels' city centre. Credit: Belga/ Nicolas Maeterlinck
Winter Wonders – last year named the best Christmas market in the world – will light up several squares and streets in the city centre from Grand Place and Place de la Monnaie to Sainte-Catherine and De Brouckère, but also outside the city centre. Brussels by Lights will illuminate 168 streets across the Capital Region with snowflakes and snowmen and other artworks.
The event including the large Christmas market, food and drinks stalls and a host of different activities including ice skating, is open across Brussels from Friday 24 November until Sunday 31 December, every day from noon to 22:00.
