Well this year organisers of the annual event certainly didn’t have far to travel to source the majestic conifer, set to be a huge draw once illuminated next month.
The towering tree, which has reached a height of 12 metres in previous years, was mounted in the city centre square on Saturday (21 October) well in advance of the start of the ‘Lëtzebuerger Chrëschtmaart’.
Transported just a short distance from Kirchberg, an eagle-eyed resident captured the impressive felling operation.
Julie Tyrrell, who lives across the road from the private residence where the tree was cut down, shared the images with RTL Today.
She said she awoke to the noise of articulated trucks pulling up in front of her house around 6.30am on Saturday morning. A huge crane was also part of the equipment being maneuvered in place.
She described her surprise as she watched from her window as the enormous tree was felled from her neighbour’s back garden on Rue des Muguets. It was then slowly hoisted, still upright, by the crane and carefully laid horizontally on the back of the stationary flatbed truck.
The impressive operation took place over a number of hours before the articulated lorry pulled off in the late morning with its heavy load, she explained.
Having no prior indication of what was taking place on their street, the only clue residents had were the ‘no parking’ notices put in place the previous day, she added.
It was on a walk later that morning into the city where Julie said she unexpectedly spotted the very same truck in Place d’Armes with the giant conifer being mounted in the square.
The city’s Parks Department issued a public appeal back in June for 30 dense and symmetrical trees measuring between eight and 20 metres to decorate the streets and squares as they began preparations for the festival.
The voluminous evergreen is sure to make a warm and welcoming sight once lit up, signalling the start of the city’s annual Christmas festivities.
The 2023 Winterlights festival will run from 24 November until 7 January.
