Traditional Christmas tree graces the Grand Place in Brussels

A home-grown fir tree once again stands proudly in Brussels’ medieval Grand Place for the city’s seasonal end-of-year festivities.

The splendid 20-metre specimen arrived in the city’s main square in the rain under special escort before dawn on Thursday morning.

It had earlier been felled by a specialist team in a private garden in the province of Antwerp where it had been standing for 43 years.

Over the years, the Abies concolor coniferous tree, commonly known as a white fir, was slowly overshadowing the home of its owners. Their donation to the city of Brussels ensures that it will be admired by hundreds of thousands of people before being recycled.

As ever, the installation of the city’s annual tree was a carefully-coordinated operation. Long-established nursery company Inter-Arbo handled the felling and transport by convoy before the Dick Frères group took over the delicate exercise of erecting the giant spruce.

Small crowds slowly gathered in the Grand Place to watch the spectacle; impatient to witness the installation of the centrepiece of the Christmas market festivities.

Winter Wonders harbours one of Europe's most celebrated Christmas markets, attracting millions of visitors each year. It opens on 28 November and continues over the festive period until 1 January.

Before the lights of the magnificent traditional conifer are switched on next Friday evening, it will be decorated by an expert team under the artistic direction of Jean-Paul Lespagnard (pictured below).

The Belgian designer has created a socially conscious Brussels-based project for the seasonal sapin. “Suspended Atlas of World Imaginaries” was inspired by ex-votos, the timeless symbols of hope and gratitude traditionally offered to a saint or divinity.

The metal silhouettes will be suspended from the tree’s branches to create an intimate yet artistic display. Drawn from myth, folklore and collective memory, the decorations are completed by figures from Belgian traditions such as carnival.

“I envisioned this project as a domesticated Christmas tree grown gigantic, transforming the Grand Place into a vast living room open to all,” says Lespagnard.

“One hundred and forty suspended silhouettes form a constellation nourished by myths, folk tales and figures drawn from a multitude of imaginations across ages and worlds.”

With each piece crafted by artisan coppersmiths, “the Christmas tree becomes a world tree, inviting everyone to recognise a fragment of themselves in this shared fantasy,” he adds.

The decorations are completed by an assortment of Christmas baubles in the signature colours of the tree’s sponsor, biscuit manufacturer Delacre. It is illuminated by 2km of LED light garlands in green, red and gold, while a collection of large wrapped ‘false’ gifts at the foot of the tree add a homely feel to the display.

Come January, the spruce will be recycled and its decorations auctioned to benefit Belgian food banks.

Photos: ©City of Brussels