Overview:

The Vatican Christmas Tree is an annual event at St. Peter's Square, which is a Christmas tree sent as a gift to the people of the Vatican City from a different country each year. The tree is usually a large spruce tree from the mountains near Rome. It is typically dressed in thousands of festive decorations and lit up during the Christmas season. In recent years, other trees from around the world have also been donated to the Vatican, including one from Firenze, Italy in 2015, and one from the forests of Poland in 2016. You can learn history, culture, and heritage through these magnificent monuments in Vatican-City
Prominent Features:

The most prominent feature of the Vatican City Christmas tree is its location in the most iconic city in the world. Situated in St. Peter's Square, the tall fir tree is illuminated with a spectacular array of lights and decorations that reflect the spirit of Christmas throughout the city. In addition, the tree is surrounded by a beautiful array of stars made from tinsel and garlands of festive ribbon. The evenings during the festive season sees the tree lit up with an array of star-like lights that dazzle the square and are seen from afar. Each year a new motif is created to decorate the tree, which has become a Christmas tradition in the City of Rome. This national monument of Vatican-City portrays the history and culture of the country.

History:

The history of the Vatican Christmas Tree stretches back to 1982, when the first tree was set up in Saint Peter's Square. The tree has become a regular feature of the Christmas celebrations in the area since that time. The Vatican Christmas Tree is often a gift to the Holy See from the people of Italy, and in the past it has been a spruce, an oak, and a pine. The Vatican Christmas Tree is set up in St. Peter's Square in mid-December and stands as a powerful symbol leading up to Christmas Day. It is decorated with lights, ornaments, and in some cases with a nativity scene at its base. The Vatican Christmas Tree usually stands until the feast of the Epiphany (January 6). Pope John Paul II first introduced the tradition of the tree to the festivities in St. Peter's Square in 1982. At that time, a 20-meter fir tree was placed in the square, accompanied by a traditional nativity scene. Later, the tradition of the live Nativity exhibition was introduced, with actors dressed as St.Joseph and the Virgin Mary, accompanied by cows, donkeys, and sheep, to recreate the scene from the Gospel of Luke. The tradition of the Vatican Christmas Tree was continued by Pope Benedict XVI and Pope Francis, who often visit the tree following Midnight Mass on Christmas Eve. The current Vatican Christmas Tree is a spruce donated by Luserna, Italy and is decorated with a nativity scene of statues from the Vatican Museums. You must visit one of these historical places in Vatican-City on your Vatican-City tour

Interesting facts:

1. Every year a different pine tree is cut down from the forests of Italy and carried to St. Peter’s Square in Vatican City to be erected as the official Christmas Tree. 2. Before being brought to the Vatican, the tree is blessed by priests during a special ceremony in its home region. 3. The Vatican Christmas Tree has typically been between 18-21 meters tall and 10-12 meters wide, with decorations, including Christmas lights, blue wreaths, artificial snowflakes and traditional ornaments. 4. In 1981, Pope John Paul II was the first Pope to inaugurate the Christmas Tree at the Vatican. 5. In 2017, the Vatican designated a 50-meter tall Christmas Tree, brought in from the Veneto region, to mark the Jubilee year. 6. Every December the Pope gives a speech from the balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica, giving his Christmas greetings and blessing the tree. Visit one of the famous monuments of Vatican-City with your friends and family.