Posted on 12/20/2006 7:15:09 PM PST by NYer
VATICAN CITY, DEC. 20, 2006 (Zenit.org).- The 20,000 lights of the imposing Christmas tree in St. Peter's Square are now aglow.
The large white fir, almost 33 meters high (108 feet) and weighing 9 tons, was lit in an official ceremony today presided over by Archbishop Giovanni Lajolo, president of the Governorate of Vatican City State.
On hand were religious and civil authorities of Calabria, the Italian region that donated the tree, which came from the Sila National Park.
At the top of the tree is a large star, symbol of light which envelops the world with the Lord's birth.
Calabria also has given the Pope an additional 30 firs to decorate his private apartment and other Holy See areas, particularly Paul VI Hall.
Workers erect a 35-metre high Christmas tree at St. Peter's Square at the Vatican on early morning December 13, 2006. The tree, that is donated from a different part of Europe each year, came from the forests of Calabria in southern Italy. REUTERS/Tony Gentile (ITALY)
A Christmas tree is seen in front of St Peter's Basilica in St Peter's Square at the Vatican December 20, 2006. REUTERS/Alessandro Bianchi (VATICAN)
Merry Christmas to you as well.
Maybe they should just break a couple square yards of pavement and plant a tree there, so there would be less hassle every year afterwards. IIRC, there already are a couple of obelisks or maybe fountains. So why not a large tree as well?
Merry Christmas!
Merry Christmas!
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