【Move to another page】
Quote
https://ift.tt/2FgMfYM
Downing Street Christmas Tree
Gold Wiz113: Added page.
[[File:Christmas 2019 Downing Street Decoration (1).jpg|thumb|right|410px|The Downing Street Christmas tree and door wreath]]
The '''Downing Street Christmas Tree''' is the [[christmas tree]] placed on [[Downing Street]], outside [[10 Downing Street]] which is the official office and residence of the [[Prime Minister of the United Kingdom]]. The tree arrives in Downing Street around the end of November<ref>https://ift.tt/2QDCJo1> with the lighting ceremony taking place at the beginning of December which is broadcast live by [[News broadcasting|news broadcasters]] such as [[BBC News]]<ref>https://ift.tt/2Fi1n8u>.
==History==
The tradition began in 1982<ref>https://ift.tt/2sIHm87> when [[Margaret Thatcher]] was in office. Members of the [[British Christmas Tree Growers Association]] take part in an annual competition for 'growth of the year' and 'champion festive wreath' with the winners being selected to provide their tree and [[wreath]] to be displayed outside No.10 Downing Street. All members of the association are invited to take part with competition entries for best tree and best wreath being judged by fellow growers around two months before [[Christmas day]]. The trees are first judged in various categories and then an over all winning tree is selected which must have a competition height of 18ft 6" (1.8 metres)<ref>https://ift.tt/2SNQRxq>.
The lighting ceremony is held by the [[Prime Minister of the United Kingdom|Prime Minister]], and other members of the [[Spouse of the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom|prime minister's family]] who usually say a few words before the lighting. The event is attended by various guests such as staff members, charity volunteers and members of the [[British Armed Forces]] and their families. The role of switching on the lights is usually done by the Prime Minister or their partner with some help. In 2012, [[David Cameron]] invited finalists from the [[The X Factor]] television show to help light the tree<ref>https://ift.tt/2MP0Bny>. In 2008, [[Sarah Jane Brown|Sarah Brown]] switched on the lights when her huband, [[Gordon Brown]] was prime minister with the help of [[Cub Scouts (The Scout Association)|cub scouts]] and [[Beaver Scouts (The Scout Association)|Beaver Scouts]]<ref>https://ift.tt/39xZ4fh>. Later [[Christmas carols]] follow on once the tree has been lit<ref>https://ift.tt/2ZL1zGB>.
==Gallery==
<gallery class="center" widths="225px" heights="200px">
Image:PM turns on Downing Street Christmas lights (38005652285).jpg|[[Theresa May]] switches on the Christmas tree lights at the lighting ceremony, 2019.
Image:Christmas 2019 Downing Street Decoration (3).jpg|[[Larry (cat)|Larry]], [[Chief Mouser to the Cabinet Office]] walking past the Christmas tree
Image:Christmas 2019 Downing Street Decoration (4).jpg|Christmas tree and wreath provided by winners from [[Dartmoor]] in [[Devon]], 2019<ref>https://ift.tt/2ZMzSxh>.
Image:Christmas 2019 Downing Street Decoration (2).jpg|Christmas wreath from [[Dartmoor]], 2019.
Image:10 Downing Street SW1 (4223005956).jpg|Christmas tree in 2009 from Hastings, East Sussex. [[Sarah Jane Brown|Sarah Brown]] held the lighting ceremony.
Image:London December 9 2013 096 Downing Street (11295767544).jpg|2013 winning tree from [[Christmas Common]] in [[Oxfordshire]]
</gallery>
==See also==
* [[Trafalgar Square Christmas tree]]
* [[Prime Minister's New Year Message (United Kingdom)|Prime Minister's New Year Message]]
==References==
==External Links==
* [https://ift.tt/2ZAQ0Sk Downing Street Official website]
* [http://www.bctga.co.uk The British Christmas Tree Growers Association homepage]
[[Category:Christmas in the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:British Prime Minister's Office| ]]
[[Category:Downing Street| ]]
[[Category:Annual events in the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:Individual Christmas trees]]
[[Category:Individual trees in England]]
The '''Downing Street Christmas Tree''' is the [[christmas tree]] placed on [[Downing Street]], outside [[10 Downing Street]] which is the official office and residence of the [[Prime Minister of the United Kingdom]]. The tree arrives in Downing Street around the end of November<ref>https://ift.tt/2QDCJo1> with the lighting ceremony taking place at the beginning of December which is broadcast live by [[News broadcasting|news broadcasters]] such as [[BBC News]]<ref>https://ift.tt/2Fi1n8u>.
==History==
The tradition began in 1982<ref>https://ift.tt/2sIHm87> when [[Margaret Thatcher]] was in office. Members of the [[British Christmas Tree Growers Association]] take part in an annual competition for 'growth of the year' and 'champion festive wreath' with the winners being selected to provide their tree and [[wreath]] to be displayed outside No.10 Downing Street. All members of the association are invited to take part with competition entries for best tree and best wreath being judged by fellow growers around two months before [[Christmas day]]. The trees are first judged in various categories and then an over all winning tree is selected which must have a competition height of 18ft 6" (1.8 metres)<ref>https://ift.tt/2SNQRxq>.
The lighting ceremony is held by the [[Prime Minister of the United Kingdom|Prime Minister]], and other members of the [[Spouse of the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom|prime minister's family]] who usually say a few words before the lighting. The event is attended by various guests such as staff members, charity volunteers and members of the [[British Armed Forces]] and their families. The role of switching on the lights is usually done by the Prime Minister or their partner with some help. In 2012, [[David Cameron]] invited finalists from the [[The X Factor]] television show to help light the tree<ref>https://ift.tt/2MP0Bny>. In 2008, [[Sarah Jane Brown|Sarah Brown]] switched on the lights when her huband, [[Gordon Brown]] was prime minister with the help of [[Cub Scouts (The Scout Association)|cub scouts]] and [[Beaver Scouts (The Scout Association)|Beaver Scouts]]<ref>https://ift.tt/39xZ4fh>. Later [[Christmas carols]] follow on once the tree has been lit<ref>https://ift.tt/2ZL1zGB>.
==Gallery==
<gallery class="center" widths="225px" heights="200px">
Image:PM turns on Downing Street Christmas lights (38005652285).jpg|[[Theresa May]] switches on the Christmas tree lights at the lighting ceremony, 2019.
Image:Christmas 2019 Downing Street Decoration (3).jpg|[[Larry (cat)|Larry]], [[Chief Mouser to the Cabinet Office]] walking past the Christmas tree
Image:Christmas 2019 Downing Street Decoration (4).jpg|Christmas tree and wreath provided by winners from [[Dartmoor]] in [[Devon]], 2019<ref>https://ift.tt/2ZMzSxh>.
Image:Christmas 2019 Downing Street Decoration (2).jpg|Christmas wreath from [[Dartmoor]], 2019.
Image:10 Downing Street SW1 (4223005956).jpg|Christmas tree in 2009 from Hastings, East Sussex. [[Sarah Jane Brown|Sarah Brown]] held the lighting ceremony.
Image:London December 9 2013 096 Downing Street (11295767544).jpg|2013 winning tree from [[Christmas Common]] in [[Oxfordshire]]
</gallery>
==See also==
* [[Trafalgar Square Christmas tree]]
* [[Prime Minister's New Year Message (United Kingdom)|Prime Minister's New Year Message]]
==References==
==External Links==
* [https://ift.tt/2ZAQ0Sk Downing Street Official website]
* [http://www.bctga.co.uk The British Christmas Tree Growers Association homepage]
[[Category:Christmas in the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:British Prime Minister's Office| ]]
[[Category:Downing Street| ]]
[[Category:Annual events in the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:Individual Christmas trees]]
[[Category:Individual trees in England]]
January 03, 2020 at 08:58AM
