Christmas decorations can often be a source of disagreement – particularly when it comes to how early they should go up – but there is one part of the festivities that never fails to generate social media outrage.

Every year, Norway donates a Christmas tree to Trafalgar Square. And every year, the decoration is brutally slated online for its shabby appearance.

Writing for iNews, Salma Shah described the tree as “divisive as Brexit” for the incredible amount of slack it receives every Christmas. This year has been no different, with the tree greeted with a wave of sarcastic take-downs.

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One user on X, formerly Twitter) wrote: “Where’s the other half of it?” Another asked: “Is it me, or does it look quite dead?”

But the tree has always been the target of public ridicule, with 2021 being particularly notorious for the “anemic” tree that was delivered to the centre of the capital.

“Have we declared war on Norway?” joked one social media user that year. “One of those 5G masts disguised as a tree,” said another.

A third described the tree as looking like a “half-picked chicken”. While another added: “Have… have we upset the Norwegians these past few years? Their annual gift seems to get ever more limp and barren…”

Norway has annually donated a Christmas tree to the people of Britain since 1947 as a token of gratitude for the country’s support during World War II. This year is the 76th that the tree has been delivered.

King Haakon VII sent the first tree as a thank you for Britain giving him sanctuary after Norway was invaded by Nazi Germany after the war was over. It remains in pride of place in Trafalgar Square until the festive season is officially over on January 6 — the feast of The Epiphany.

UCL teaching fellow, Ingrid A Mellow, explains its significance: “The annual presenting of Christmas trees are a token of gratitude and a symbol of geopolitical ties – a diplomatic gesture. What once were simply (very big) trees are now an example of how so-called ‘high-level’ geopolitics is also part of everyday life – even when we don’t quite notice it.”

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The long journey takes a toll on the tree, explaining its dishevelled appearance. It is driven by lorry to the Port of Brevik before it travels 550 miles across the North Sea to a secret location in the UK.

Much of the criticism becomes less relevant as December goes on, as the tree begins to look better throughout the month.

The tree’s X account even posted a video this year to show off how much more impressive it looks, writing: “‘Half Dead’ they said… ‘Sorry looking’ they said… I know you can’t be-leaf it but I’m over 70 years old and this pine needs some extra beauty sleep sometimes.”

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