Vatican Christmas Tree Lighting

Attending the Christmas tree lighting ceremony at the Vatican City was one of the most unforgettable moments during my first year living in Rome. The combination of the natural lighting of the sunset and the artificial lighting of the Christmas tree was magical. Above all, the Vatican Christmas tree, abundant with symbolic meanings, was the most gorgeous one I had seen.

Watching the lights of St. Peter’s Basilica and of the Christmas tree at the Vatican City turned on was a wonderful experience, despite a long wait. How special it was to see the transition from daylight to dawn of the sky. It was delightful to see the stark difference between the normal and the illuminated city-state. Dieci, nove, otto, sette, sei, cinque, quattro, tre, due, uno... Then magic happened. Piazza San Pietro became alive.

The 2016 Vatican Christmas tree was meaningful as it was decorated by children in the hospitals. So will the 2017 one. Here are some other extraordinary facts about the 2017 Vatican Christmas tree: it is originated from the North of Poland. It took 12 days to transport the tree from Poland to the Vatican. This is the first time after 20 years that a Polish tree has been placed in St. Peter's Square.

If you happen to be in Rome on the 7th of December 2017, do not miss the annual Christmas tree lighting at the Vatican City. Make sure to be there early (about one hour before the ceremony) to get a good view of the whole event. it is this kind of special events that will make your travel more memorable and unique.

Of course there are other places too where you can go and experience beautiful Christmas scenes: spending Christmas in Naples for example, where the nativity and the local food will fascinate you, is always a great idea. The weather is nice, the food delicious and the live nativity is incredible! Or if you want something smaller, Gubbio, Umbria, hosts the largest Christmas tree in the world! Both beautiful cities to visit in December!

Happy holidays and Merry Christmas to you all!