The Christmas tree of Hungary established near the Parliament – PHOTOS

MTI/Péter Lakatos

On 21 November, the country received a beautiful gift from the village of Nemesvámos: a blue spruce that is now gracefully standing on the Kossuth Lajos Square.

The 18 meter (59 feet) tall tree spent almost 40 years standing tall in Nemesvámos until it was cut down and transported to Budapest, writes Index. Many people from all over the country offered pine trees to be set up as the annual Christmas tree at the Hungarian Parliament.

The winner of this year was a family from Veszprém county who donated a stunning blue spruce to the Hungarian Parliament.

MTI/Péter Lakatos

The family made this decision because they found the tree too dangerous due to its height. They were afraid that it could be blown down by the wind. Renátó Vígh, a member of the family, said that they were extremely happy that the Parliament accepted their gift as the tree was already too big to stay in their garden.

Even though the neighbourhood had been informed that the tree would be cut down by the police and a troop of the Hungarian army, still it was a surprise for many that the spruce was suddenly gone.

MTI/Péter Lakatos

Numerous pictures and videos have been taken of the tree’s cutting as well as its set up on the Kossuth Lajos square.

The tree is now being decorated and will be put on display for the public from the beginning of the Advent period (28^thNovember) until the day of Epiphany (6^thJanuary). After taking down the festive decorations, the former Christmas tree will be cut up into pieces and given to the less fortunate as firewood.