Viennese Christmas tree from Tyrol: Festive tradition or environmental problem?

Viennese Christmas tree from Tyrol: Festive tradition or environmental problem?

Vienna has already secured a magnificent tree for Christmas magic in 2023! The festive spruce comes from Hopfgarten in Brixental, Tyrol and was recently felled in the Kitzbühel Alps. The transport to Vienna took place on the night of Monday to Tuesday, and the ceremonial installation on the town hall square took place on Tuesday morning. With a height of 28 meters and a weight of 4.6 tons, the tree will delight visitors to the Christmas market.

The tradition of tree donation from the various federal states of Austria has existed since 1959. This year, for the seventh time, Tyrol is contributing to the festive atmosphere in Vienna; the last tree donation from this region was eight years ago, in 2015. An impressive 1,000 balls and 2,000 lights are used to decorate the Christmas tree, which makes the tree particularly bright in the evening hours. The Vienna Christmas Market will open its doors on November 14th, and the ceremonial illumination of the tree will take place on November 15th under the direction of Mayor Michael Ludwig and Tyrol's Governor Anton Mattle.

Tree in front of the town hall and sustainability

The spruce tree that decorates the town hall square received a lot of care in advance to prevent possible damage during transport. It is important that the tree can unfold after the move in order to get the Viennese and guests in the right mood for the Christmas season. In addition to the tree in front of the town hall, a 160-year-old spruce tree has been standing in front of Schönbrunn Palace since October 22nd, which is also part of the festive Christmas atmosphere. After the holidays, the city of Vienna also thought about nature: the tree in front of the town hall is used for district heating, and the tree in front of Schönbrunn serves as food and toys for the animals in the zoo.

Despite the festive joy over the Christmas trees being put up, there are also critical voices that question the sustainability of felling trees for decorative purposes. Some suggest creative alternatives or the use of recycled materials to reduce the environmental footprint of the holiday season. This debate will certainly continue to be discussed during the upcoming holidays.

With an eye on the upcoming events and the festive anticipation, it is to be hoped that the tree will light up the hearts of both Viennese residents and tourists. In the run-up to Christmas, the city of Vienna is making a clear statement about tradition and at the same time a conscious approach to nature.