Choosing the right Christmas tree – a symbol of friendship between Cuxhaven and Hafnarfjörður

The Cuxhaven Christmas tree adorns the heart of Hafnarfjörður.

The Cuxhaven Christmas tree, which adorns the heart of Hafnarfjörður during Advent, has been felled. The German media outlet Cuxhavener Nachrichten reported over the weekend that there were mixed feelings when the twelve-metre-high Norway spruce was felled in the garden of Michael Wolf in the district of Altenbruch in Cuxhaven, Germany.

The tree had stood there for 23 years in Wolf's garden, but it now awaits a new role. It will be a symbol of the friendship that has connected Hafnarfjörður and Cuxhaven for more than three decades.

The outlet reports that Wolf was given the tree as a gift 23 years ago. By that time, it had grown so much that it had started to encroach on the hedges and had become sparse at the bottom. He will miss the tree but is pleased that it will now have a new and beautiful purpose.

Wolf received a cross-section of the trunk as a memento when the tree was felled. It showed 25 annual rings.

A beautiful friendship

„This is a beautiful tradition that has been going for almost four decades,“ says Gísli Ó. Valdimarsson, chairman of the local twinning association, about the Christmas tree that this twinning town of Hafnarfjörður in Germany gives to the people of Hafnarfjörður every year. The tradition dates back to 1988 and has held an important place in the relationship between the two towns ever since.

„This is very important. The Germans place great importance on the relationship and always come with a delegation to Hafnarfjörður when the tree is delivered. The Lord Mayor is coming here this year. It shows how much they value the friendship,“ says Gísli.

Twelve metres and 1.6 tonnes

The report states that in the beginning, two to three strings of lights were enough to decorate the tree, but now barely twelve are sufficient. It was clear that it weighs around 1.6 tonnes.

For many years, the master gardener Richard Schütt had the task of finding a suitable Christmas tree for Hafnarfjörður on behalf of the Hafnarfjörður–Cuxhaven twinning association. He knew Michael's neighbour, and that is how the connection was made which led to the tree being chosen. Before the tree was felled, it had to be ensured that it met Icelandic requirements for the health of imported plants.

Wilhelm Eitzen has been involved in the twinning partnership since 2008 and has been chairman of the twinning association for the last ten years. He tells the Cuxhavener Nachrichten that he is pleased with how many people are willing to donate a tree to the project. At the festive switching on of the Christmas lights in Hafnarfjörður, representatives of the political establishment and the German ambassador are usually in attendance.

Eitzen describes what a special moment it is when more than a thousand people gather in the Christmas Village, music is playing and everyone is enjoying each other's company. The Christmas tree is the centrepiece of the festival and keeps the twinning partnership alive.

The Mayor of Cuxhaven arrives

The aim is to ceremonially switch on the lights of the tree on Friday, 13th November.

In addition to Uwe Santjer, the Mayor of Cuxhaven, a delegation from the Cuxhaven town twinning association will be present. This will be the first time that the Mayor of Cuxhaven has attended. But before that, the tree has a long journey to make. It will travel on the ship Helgafelli from Cuxhaven, with a stop in Sweden, to Iceland. Wolf Dick, a former consul for Iceland and a member of the twinning association, is organising the transport.

A long-standing friendship

Wilhelm Eitzen emphasises in the German news report that this decades-long tradition has a much deeper meaning than simply sending Christmas trees between countries.

He considers it particularly important in times like these to nurture friendships such as the one between Cuxhaven and Hafnarfjörður.

Personal friendships have been formed over the years, extending far beyond the formal cooperation between the municipalities. The partnership is not just about reciprocal visits or giving a Christmas tree once a year. It is primarily about keeping the connections between people alive, showing an interest in one another and standing together across borders.

Close ties with Germany

Gísli knows Germany well. He went there in 1985 to study civil engineering in Berlin, first in West Berlin and later in the unified city. He therefore experienced a historic milestone himself when the Berlin Wall fell.

He recounts that Ása María Valdimarsdóttir, who was chairperson of the twinning association at the time, recruited him to the board. „It's enjoyable to take part in this work. You get to meet lots of people and it's also a good way to maintain your German, both spoken and written.“

The twinning partnership is about much more than annual visits and beautiful Christmas trees. „The common thread in this work has always been to strengthen the relationships of young people. Giving young people in Hafnarfjörður and Cuxhaven the opportunity to get to know each other, visit one another and form connections. That is what matters most and keeps the friendship alive for the future,“ he says.

Yes, we're looking forward to seeing the tree lit on 13th November.