Hilary Robinson is a network radio producer and the writer of over 70 books for youngsters, including Where The Poppies Now Grow, a story of friendship, sacrifice and peace, and The Christmas Star, a fresh retelling of the Nativity.
As the lyricist of Sarah Téibo’s single, Norwegian Pine, she explains why it was inspired by the annual gift from Norway of the Christmas tree to the British people and her own experience of growing up in a bitter war.
As Trafalgar Square prepares once more to shine with the sunshine of its iconic Norwegian tree, Norwegian Pine sung so beautifully by gospel artist Sarah Téibo celebrates not only the enjoyment of Christmas but in addition the profound story behind this enduring symbol of peace.
The lyrics for the song, adapted from a poem, drew on memories from my childhood growing up in Nigeria in the course of the Biafran War. Those experiences left me with not only a deep interest in reasons behind conflict, reconciliation and humanity but in addition how the powerful force of nature offers us continuity in times of turmoil and hope when all feels lost.
This yr’s tree feels especially significant because the world marks 80 years because the end of the Second World War – a reminder of the delicate but powerful gift of peace.
A Wartime Tradition Rooted in Gratitude
For many in Britain, the Norwegian tree is a well-known feature of Advent, standing tall in Trafalgar Square until Twelfth Night. Yet its origins tell a moving story of courage, solidarity, and the faithfulness of friendship in dark times.
When Norway was invaded in 1940, King Haakon VII fled to Britain and formed a government-in-exile. From London he broadcast every day messages of encouragement to his people. His unwavering presence became a lifeline of hope throughout the occupation.
The tradition of gifting a tree to London began in 1942, three years before the tip of the war, when a Norwegian commando smuggled two spruce trees out of Norway. One was given to the exiled King and the opposite was erected in Trafalgar Square as an indication of hope.
After liberation, Norway never forgot the sanctuary Britain had provided. As a gesture of gratitude the Norwegian government pledged to send a Christmas tree to London every yr – a convention which has continued for greater than 75 years.
Faith, Light and Resilience
When I first discovered this history, I recognised its deep spiritual resonance.
For me, the tree isn’t only a decoration, it’s a sworn statement. It speaks of solidarity and belief in a greater dawn, even when the night feels long.
Growing up in Nigeria in the course of the Biafran War, I witnessed each unbelievable suffering and acts of extraordinary compassion and humanity, and I also saw that while war destroys landscapes, nature at all times reasserts itself, returning to essentially the most devastated places similar to poppies in battlefields and the song of the skylark. Those experiences deeply shaped the themes of the Norwegian Pine: hope, light, and the strength that nature and God gives us in adversity.
The Norwegian Pine, standing tall within the midst of town, jogs my memory of the words from John’s Gospel: “The light shines within the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.”
Bringing the Story to Life Through Music
Sarah Téibo, who also grew up in Nigeria, was the apparent alternative to bring the lyrics to life. Her powerful, emotive vocals carry the words into one other realm; she captures the peace and unity at the guts of Christmas and the enjoyment that God’s light brings.
As the tree illuminates Trafalgar Square over again, it reminds us that we too are called to face tall, rooted in faith, shining with hope and reaching for peaceful resolution wherever we’re planted. For Christians and visitors alike, it’s a moment to reflect on the friendships that shaped Europe’s peace and on the biblical promise that God’s light continues to shine in a troubled world.
The annual lighting ceremony will happen on Thursday, 4 December, in Trafalgar Square. This yr’s programme includes:
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The Choir of St Martin-in-the-Fields
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A specially written poem performed by Westminster children
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A display by the Corps of Drums from the Band of His Majesty’s Royal Marines Collingwood
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A performance by Det Norske Jentekor, the Norwegian Girls’ Choir
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And the lighting of the tree by the Lord Mayor of Westminster and the Mayor of Oslo.
 Hilary Robinson is a network radio producer and the writer of over 70 books for youngsters, including Where The Poppies Now Grow, a story...){kind=link}