Vatican City, December 18, 2023 – The Vatican’s Christmas season officially began December 15 with the unveiling of a towering Norway spruce and an intricately crafted Nativity scene in St. Peter’s Square, marking the start of festivities for Catholics who began Advent on November 30.
A Gift from the Mountains: The Vatican Christmas Tree
This year’s centerpiece is a 27-meter (88-foot) Norway spruce, weighing nearly eight tons, donated by the diocese of Bolzano-bressanone in Italy’s South Tyrol province.
The annual tradition sees a different Roman Catholic diocese bestow the honor of providing the Vatican’s Christmas tree. Bishop Ivo Muser of Bolzano-Bressanone expressed his hope that the tree would “stir wonder before Creation and inspire reflection,” while also encouraging “attentive, respectful and ready to embrace sustainable and modest lifestyles.”
Italy has provided the Vatican Christmas tree for five consecutive years. Germany has contributed four trees to date, with Deggendorf in Bavaria slated to donate the fifth in 2028.
Nativity Scenes: A Global Display of Faith
Complementing the tree, a life-sized Nativity scene crafted by the diocese of Nocera Umbra in Umbria depicts scenes of rural life in the region. the figures are made from terracotta and dressed in customary costumes.
Christmas Eve and Christmas Day Services
Midnight Mass at St. Peter’s Basilica on Christmas Eve at 10 p.m. While admission requires a ticket, they are free of charge and typically booked months in advance.
On Christmas Day, the pope will deliver the “Urbi et Orbi” (“To the City and the World”) blessing from the balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica at noon,addressing tens of thousands gathered in St. Peter’s Square. This event is a highlight of the Jubilee Year of Hope, wich concludes after the Christmas season.
You can view St. Peter’s Square and follow the festivities online here:
