Christmas tree lights turned on  at the Mound - video Dailymotion

Watch as Edinburgh's Christmas tree lights are turned on to mark the beginning of the festive season.

Transcript

00:00 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1

00:09 [Bagpipes]

00:27 So the first gift of a Christmas tree to Edinburgh from the people of Norway

00:32 happened in 1947, after the Second World War, the same year as we started our International Festival.

00:40 And the reason why we've been given this tree, and we've continued to receive Christmas trees from Norway,

00:48 is simply in honour and appreciation of the support which the people of Edinburgh,

00:53 and indeed the whole of Scotland, gave to Norway during World War II.

00:58 So for 30 years we've been giving this tree from the western part of Norway, Basland County.

01:04 It's our way of saying thank you to the people of Edinburgh and the people of Scotland

01:08 for the tremendous help we got during the Second World War.

01:13 Because of course the North Sea, you might say that it divides our two countries,

01:18 but at the same time during the Second World War it connected our two people.

01:23 So thank you.

01:24 It is an honour. It's an honour for a number of reasons.

01:30 I'm always proud to do anything on behalf of the city, on behalf of the Lord Provost and the people of Edinburgh.

01:36 I have a special relationship with Norway. I've got lots of friends in Norway,

01:41 and I've been involved in different things between Norway and Scotland over my career.

01:45 So personally it's always a joy to be involved in anything Norwegian.

01:49 It's also a joy to be involved in switching on the Christmas tree lights here in Edinburgh.

01:55 As we start gearing up it's a tough, tough time for people,

01:58 and I think looking forward to Christmas, having a bit of Christmas cheer,

02:02 and being together with friends and family as much as we can, is always a good thing to do.

02:08 Sadly not everybody can enjoy or spend Christmas with friends and family,

02:12 but here in Edinburgh, I know the people of Edinburgh and many, many organisations throughout Edinburgh

02:17 will be trying to support people who aren't in that fortunate position,

02:21 so that they can experience some Christmas cheer and joy too.