Christmas trees to be lit up across the county

Kirkwall’s Christmas tree – a gift from Norway - will be lit up this Saturday (December 3) as part of a series of outdoor tree lighting ceremonies.

As in previous years, the Christmas tree – which will stand on the Kirk Green outside St Magnus Cathedral - has been gifted by the county of Vestland in Norway, the county formed by the merger of Sogn og Fjordane and Hordaland, which has gifted the tree for many years.

A second tree - for inside the Cathedral – has been gifted from the town of Grimstad’s Fjaere Kirke. 

The Kirkwall City Pipe Band is due to start playing outside the Cathedral at 4.45pm, followed by the St Lucy procession at 5.00pm.

Following the procession, the tree lighting service will be conducted by Cathedral Minister the Reverend Fraser Macnaughton and there will be short speeches by the Council Convener Graham Bevan and Mayor of Vestland Kommune Jon Askeland. Carol singing will be led by the Cathedral organist Heather Rendall, as well contributions from the Mayfield Singers and Orkney Rocks, Kirkwall Grammar School pupils and Norwegian guest musicians.

Christmas tree lighting events have taken place in Holm and Burray, with the Stromness ceremony taking place on Wednesday (30 November) from 5.30pm-7.30pm.

This will be followed by events in the Hope, Dounby, Finstown and Shapinsay on Friday 2 December. In addition to the Kirkwall event on Saturday 3 December, others that will take place on that date are Westray, Flotta and Sanday, with Orphir on Sunday 4 December, Stenness on Wednesday 7 December and Rousay on Saturday 10 December.

Council Convener Graham Bevan said: “For more than 30 years our Norwegian friends across the North Sea have marked our ties with the generous gift of a Christmas tree. Now more than ever this gesture of friendship and exchange resonates strongly and is very much appreciated.

“The tree has once again been delivered through the generosity of NorthLink Ferries and Northwards - and I thank them for their kind help with this.

“Community tree lighting ceremonies are a highlight of the festive calendar – bringing together local folk in celebration and reflection.”

Full details of times and dates for tree lighting ceremonies were in The Orcadian of 24 November.

In the pic L-R is; Kris Bevan (Northlink), Leslie Burgher (Norway's Honorary Consul for Orkney) and Alan Harold (Northwards).