Hungary’s Christmas tree sets off: When it arrives at Parliament and what traffic disruptions to expect
Hungary’s national Christmas tree will set off on Sunday evening and arrive in Budapest early Monday morning. This year’s tree is a 23-metre-tall, 5–5.5-tonne, forty-year-old silver fir. It will be transported from Ibrány, a town in Szabolcs-Szatmár-Bereg County, to Kossuth Square, where it will stand as one of the key festive symbols of the Advent season.
Ibrány’s tallest fir chosen as Hungary’s Christmas tree
The Office of the National Assembly selected this year’s Christmas tree from 31 offers. During on-site inspections, 18 trees were measured, with height, shape, foliage density and the technical conditions required for transport all taken into account.
The chosen silver fir grew for more than four decades in the garden of a family home in Ibrány. The donating family, who wished to remain anonymous, decided last Christmas—at the suggestion of their grandchildren—to offer the tree to the nation. They said they were delighted that the fir they had cared for over the years would become one of the capital’s festive centrepieces.
Special route and major transport operation
The tree will be cut down on Sunday morning by specialists from the National Directorate General for Disaster Management, then lifted onto a 40-tonne special transport vehicle provided by the Hungarian Defence Forces. The illuminated and decorated fir will leave Ibrány at 7 PM on Sunday, escorted by police and military officers.
The oversized load will travel along the Ibrány–Nyíregyháza–Nyírtelek–M3–M35–Highway 4–M4–M0 route to reach Budapest, then enter the city via the shared M1/M7 approach. According to current plans, it will roll into Kossuth Square at 4:20 AM on Monday, where disaster management crews will set it in place from 7 AM.
Major traffic restrictions expected
During transport, several road sections will experience partial or full closures. In Budapest, early Monday morning will see restrictions to road traffic as well as tram services on lines 2, 4 and 6. The convoy will follow the route:
BAH junction – Krisztina Boulevard – Széll Kálmán Square – Margit Boulevard – Bem József Street – Margaret Bridge – Jászai Mari Square – Balassi Bálint Street – Kossuth Square.
The Defence Forces are asking the public not to approach the convoy, as entering the transport column is prohibited and poses a safety risk.
Follow the journey live
The tree’s journey can be followed in real time at orszagkaracsonyfaja.hu, as well as on the Parliament’s official Instagram page.
Festive lights to be switched on the first Sunday of Advent
The fully decorated Christmas tree will be on display on Kossuth Square from 30 November. The festive lights will be switched on the first Sunday of Advent, accompanied by Christmas carols.