VIDEO, PHOTOS: Here is Hungary’s Christmas Tree – find it at the Parliament

Hungary’s Christmas Tree is always a huge, beautifully decorated pine tree, standing in Kossuth Square, in front of the Hungarian Parliament. Every year, there are several pine owners who offer their (extremely tall) tree to become Hungary’s Christmas Tree. In 2023, a pine tree from Hajdúszoboszló, Hajdú-Bihar county, was chosen.

A 40-year-old tree

The pine tree, which was chosen as the country’s Christmas tree this year, will arrive in Budapest from Hajdú-Bihar county, the Parliament’s Press Office informed MTI on Wednesday. The pine tree was planted by its owner in 1983. In those 40 years, the tree has grown to a height of more than 24 metres, with a trunk diameter of eighty centimetres and a weight of more than five tonnes.

According to the statement, donations for the country’s Christmas tree, which is traditionally set up in front of Parliament every year, have been arriving at the Parliament’s Office from all over the country since the beginning of the year. 17 pine trees were examined on the spot this year, after which a decision was made on which one to erect in Kossuth Lajos Square.

Several factors to consider when choosing the Christmas tree

In addition to the right size, proportionate shape, and sufficiently dense foliage, the experts also had to take into account technical aspects such as accessibility, proximity to power lines, space requirements for the crane and transport vehicle, and the ability to withstand the rigours of transport (felling, lifting, fixing). Considering all these factors together, the choice fell on a pine tree from Hajdúszoboszló this year.

The date of the felling, transport and decoration of the tree will be announced at a later date, according to the Parliament’s Press Office.

Last year’s Christmas Tree

Photo: MTI/Máthé Zoltán

The country’s Christmas tree last year was an 18-metre blue spruce from Apc in Heves county – read more HERE. It was transported to Budapest with the help of the Hungarian Defence Forces and the police. The tree was adorned with a 130-centimetre high, 103-centimetre wide, 36-centimetre deep, three-dimensional effect, 25-kilogram, eight-pointed star-shaped top ornament, lit with warm white light and energy-saving LED lights. In addition, a 2,500 linear metre string of lights with 16,000 energy-saving coloured LED bulbs decorated the Christmas tree. We can expect something equally beautiful this year.

Wish to know when Budapest’s iconic City Park Ice Rink opens this year? Check out the date HERE! Already worrying about the costs of this year’s Christmas? Read about the prices HERE. Can’t wait for Hungarian Christmas fairs to open? Don’t worry, one of our favourites is opening soon!