Christmas in Ferrara: the tree annals

Every year, between late November and early December, Ferrara residents get acquainted with the Christmas tree that will be responsible for joyfully illuminating the central square - Piazza Trento e Trieste - between Christmas and New Year's Eve; it is a moment awaited by many, a small tradition that is consumed in the squares of many cities. The tree is officially lit on December 8 amidst the suspended breaths of the affectionate and curious. 

But what are the stories of these good giants? Where do they come from? And who decorates them for the holidays? We wanted to take a journey through the contemporary history of Ferrara's trees: 11 years of Christmas firs in the city center and their fascinating stories.

THE 2010 TREE

Our journey begins in December 2010, the year of an ugly economic crisis which, looking back on it today, as the veterans of a global pandemic, might even bring a smile to our faces. 

A gift from merchants and sponsors, a round, squat, native fir tree, born and bred in Formignana, destined for felling, and salvaged by AMSEFC at the behest of the municipal Green Office, arrives in Trento Trieste Square. Its decorative cold lights are energy-saving, in the name of economy and sustainability, and so are those - in matching colors - that illuminate the downtown streets. Completing the decoration is a bright star at the tip and dozens of intermittent crackling flashes. Christmas is saved despite the crisis! Supporting the Christmas atmosphere are the traditional market on the Listone (the so-called 'Gift Fair'), for the little ones the Hansel and Gretel's playhouse in the Municipal Square, and an impressive videomapping projection on the Cathedral.

THE 2011 TREE 

The Christmas of the crisis continues in 2011. We don’t know much about the decorative homegrown fir tree that fits shyly into a very dense schedule: evening projections, light games, light fountains, children's village, the usual market, ice skating rink, and you name it! The decorative lights thankfully remain energy-saving but are unbelievably lit on December 4, a full 4 days early.

THE 2012 TREE 

Debunking the dramatic Mayan prophecy, even Christmas 2012 comes with (showing-off) its big tree. The traditional lighting goes one step further until the first of December, leaving the 8th to the spectacular unveiling of the illuminated fountain in Piazza Castello, in full Emirati style. 

The tree is a fir of Formignana's famous lineage: nice and tall, but a tad peeling. Lights and flashes remain the usual ones, but after dispelling the sad and ancient prediction, Ferrara residents are happy to see the familiar decorations again. 

Yet, for the record it is only fair to tell you that on December 8, 2012, in San Giuseppe di Comacchio, the fir tree in the square fell ruinously and unexpectedly to the ground due to a terrible snowfall. ... Coincidence? 

 THE TREE OF 2013 

2013, danger averted. The tree of the year comes from the city of Bondeno where it had behaved badly by tangling itself around the light wires; so did it arrive already decorated? Alas no, but we like to think it declared its wish to become a Christmas tree, granted on the fly by our magnanimous city. Beautifully lush, imposing, bloated, truncated and definitely worn for its representative role!

THE TREE OF 2014 

And here we are with a leap to 2014: a tall, slender fir tree arrives from Lizzano in Belvedere, Bologna. Adorning the 13-meter tall behemoth are thousands of cool, blue-tinged lights, always matching the square. 

Next to the tree is the now famous dancing fountain. For the first time, the Christmas attractions share the evocative and traditional lighting date: an eventful Dec. 8 for 2014. 

THE 2015 TREE 

2015. A much-discussed Murano glass tree splits city public opinion. From the Piazzetta dei Leoncini in Venice, a work of art - certainly - but one that does not seem to spread too much Christmas spirit among Ferrara residents. 

2016 TREE

In 2016, Murano glass is back to convince the citizenry unanimously. From the tree to the decorations: the 2016 fir tree is embellished with 1,000 blown glass balls of unique elegance. 

Not enough, Ferrara's chicest tree of the 21st century is also socially relevant since it will put its precious spheres up for auction at the end of the holidays to donate the proceeds to charity. A true gentleman.

VAYRA TREE 2017 

And with elegance, then, we come to 2017. Not to displease anyone, still a bit burned by the glass tree of 2015, an app was born - New Year's Eve in Ferrara - to share the most tender decision of the year, 'How do we decorate this big tree?'

Vox populi: red bows, stars and warm light triumph - for as many as 120,000 lights - on twelve meters of tree, donated by the company Vayra. The fir tree is lit as usual on December 8 to the notes of Oh happy day well interpreted by the pop-lyric trio Tnt. 

THE 2018 TREE 

So many generous sponsors for the 2018 tree. Another gift from Lizzano in Belvedere, the imposing fir tree in the hills of Bologna lights up at the end of the E lucean le stelle concert, a homegrown tribute to Luciano Pavarotti. The decorations are the result of a virtuous recycling project by the Liceo Carducci: dozens of transparent balls contain recycled objects. To top it all off, a cascade of rainbow-colored lights. A real joy!

THE 2019 TREE 

Bricoman Christmas Tree for Christmas 2019! Noted sponsor giving tree and decorations to the waiting city. There are 770 balls that, along with a similar number of stars, decorate a fir tree as tall as 16 meters. At the foot of the tender tree is the nativity scene donated by Anffas Ferrara Onlus. 

2019 can do better and doubles down (without knowing, by the way, that it will leave us at the mercy of two complicated years and two successive, somewhat strange Christmases): to help the fir tree in the central square sprout two 'assistant' saplings! The first, very tender, finds a home in the little gardens Acquedotto; the other, more minimal but still important, standing next to the profile of the skyscraper, in the center of what will shortly be named Coletta Park.

THE 2020 TREE

The most difficult Christmas is surely the 2020’s: the one of divided families, of checks, of self-certification, of video calls. These holidays that are certainly a bit sad make us really feel the need to enjoy the sight of the big tree as we move quickly between supermarket and home. 

Even the least romantic, the least sentimentalist person knows that at Christmas you can never give up that reassuring tree. We expected a dark square and instead there it was: a beautiful slender and tapered fir tree with its thick cascade of gold lights and red balls, as tradition dictates. Along with him 3 other bishops this time, again under the skyscraper, at the Aqueduct and in Verdi Square.

THE 2021 TREE 

The year 2021 looks not too different from 2020. No New Year's Eve among friends and usual intimate Christmas. The Christmas spirit, however, does not abandon us this time either and the 'little helpers of the Christmas Tree' become 4: the usual 3 between Skyscraper, Aqueduct and Verdi Square - plus a new friend who finds a home in a corner of Travaglio Square. So on Dec. 8, 2021, 8.5 km of energy-saving LEDs will finally light up on the 16-meter central fir tree. A champion of brightness, the fir seems to be the culmination of the magnificent cascade of lights running down fast from the City Hall Building.

Rumors about 2022 speak of more than 100km of illuminations in the city center almost putting a damper on the memory of the 2021 blaze of lights. To find out how this sweet race will end, the appointment is on December 3 with the first lighting of the city's illuminations; it will be followed, as per tradition, by that of the trees on the 8th, made magical by a dedicated concert in front of the Cathedral. Ferrara is waiting for you right there, always with bated breath!