Monday, December 08, 2008

Austrian Christmas tree arrives at the Vatican

Workers are setting up the Vatican's Christmas tree that has arrived in St. Peter's Square from Austria.

The Vatican says the 109-foot (33-meter) red spruce has come from the forests of the Piesting valley in Austria.

Another 40 smaller trees arrived Friday to decorate Pope Benedict XVI's private quarters, as well as Vatican offices.

The official ceremony is on Dec. 12.

The tree will be adorned with 2,000 Christmas balls and topped with a shining star.

It stands beside a life-size nativity scene that will be unveiled on Christmas Eve.

Christmas trees have only been placed in the square since 1982, when Polish-born Pope John Paul II began the northern European tradition.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Disclaimer

No responsibility or liability shall attach itself to either myself or to the blogspot ‘Clerical Whispers’ for any or all of the articles placed here.

The placing of an article hereupon does not necessarily imply that I agree or accept the contents of the article as being necessarily factual in theology, dogma or otherwise.

Sotto Voce

(Source: PR)