If you’re planning to plump for a slice of Norway in this year’s festive season then enjoy the fact your local Christmas tree is “threadbare”, a Norwegian ambassador has said.
Helle Thorning-Schmidt told the Independent and Independent on Sunday that this year’s patriotic Christmas tree that was presented to the British people was “threadbare”, and “has been ruffled a bit”, adding: “And it will be ruffled again next year.”
The Norwegian capital, Oslo, is not known for its trees but many Britons took to social media to compare the fresh-cut tree with the ones that adorn many UK houses.
Fran Walton (@francalloyd) Maybe the real Oslo’s tree is regally adorned, like this one in #London.
Maybe it’s the crappy one of #StRutherford’s Estate.
Probably the crappy one in #Beeston… pic.twitter.com/P6pfpEINXp
David Downie (@electrictsnews) Just looked at the tree in the Scotsman garden. Looks like some one got at least 5 butts when they cut it down. #EasterIsGone pic.twitter.com/vStb3sHUfl
Tom Hamilton (@Thamunlh) Oslo’s Christmas tree. Quality? 1/10 pic.twitter.com/0HBQ9hYy6e
The Brexit situation came up when a Scotsman, speaking to a member of the Norwegian delegation, told him: “I don’t know. Norway’s Christmas tree is probably built like one. They had to build some consistency. How can you have that with our peculiar Brexit situations?”
Gillian Harrison (@GillianHarrison) Like I say, no complaints there, the tree doesn’t look very good, but I’m honestly surprised they are giving Norway the little wattle ‘n’ dip. @GuardianBritain pic.twitter.com/97R5WE6VDx
Nonetheless, not all the trees in front of Britons went unremarked.
Andrew Bishop (@AndrewBBCShop) pic.twitter.com/EXE7uMw16y
Chances are, whoever brought up the issue of Christmas trees and Brexit will be disappointed. Her Majesty the Queen will keep on delivering the same brilliant message.
• This article was amended on 20 July 2019. An earlier version said the wattle and dip referring to a Christmas tree in Norway consisted of artificial fibres which were then used to fashion the real Christmas tree which resembles a wattle. This has been corrected to “fibres”.