Bad Santa: Oslo Leaves Iceland Without Christmas Trees

Since 1951, Oslo has safeguarded the winter holiday spirit in Reykjavik by giving the capital of the treeless island nation a Christmas tree from one of its neighborhoods. Now this tradition, which has lasted nearly 2/3 of a century, has been cancelled. While Icelanders were taking Europe by storm with their astounding football feats, politicians is Oslo made up their mind to put an end to the traditional Christmas tree shipments.

In the last two years, the Oslo trees fared badly in the Icelandic weather. There have also been problems with transport, as the Christmas trees are forced to go through several transport links. The trees are first transported to Fredrikstad before finally being shipped to Iceland.

"We have previously encountered situations where the trees broke down en route to Reykjavik, or failed to endure transportation in other ways. Our decision [to end shipments] was taken is in accord with the municipality of Reykjavik," Oslo Mayor Marianne Borgen told NRK.

Earlier, Norwegian Christmas trees were a welcome bonus for the barren island. Trees have been few and far between on the island since the very beginning, but the Norwegian colonization in the Middle Ages left large swaths of Iceland almost treeless, as trees were routinely chopped down for timber and housing. Today, Reykjavik has planted its own forest named Nordmannsskogen (which fittingly translates as "Norwegian Forest"), which in the future may cater to Icelanders' Christmas needs. According to Reykjavik Mayor Dagur Eggertson, Christmas trees will henceforth be chopped locally.

Remarkably, Oslo Municipality wanted to drop the Christmas tree route to Reykjavik in 2014, but stuck to the tradition after a massive "rebellion" in the Icelandic capital.

Although Iceland will be left without Norwegian fir trees this year, top politicians from Oslo will still be present in Reykjavik when the Christmas tree lights up. This is yet another tradition which highlights the link between the two cities.

"The money previously spent on the Christmas tree will now go to cultural events," Borgen pointed out.

She assured that Oslo's traditional Christmas tree gift to London, which was first submitted in 1947, is not in danger.

Opposition leader Eirik Lae Solberg pointed out the importance of sending Christmas trees to Trafalgar Square.

"I have studied in London and saw the Christmas tree being lit in Trafalgar Square 20 years ago. My English classmates knew that tree was a gift from Norway for the assistance we received from England during World War II. Therefore, it is a tradition of great symbolic value," Solberg said.