Vatican installs Christmas tree and Nativity scene in St Peter's Square. The Vatican's Christmas tree this year is a 27-metre-high red fir from the north Italian province of Bolzano, placed in St Peter's Square alongside a large-scale Nativity scene. The tree will be lit up and the Nativity scene unveiled on Monday 15 December at 17.00, the Vatican has confirmed.* The towering tree was donated by the alpine municipalities of Lagundo and Val d’Ultimo, along with around 40 smaller trees which have been placed in various Vatican offices and buildings. The mature trees were chosen as part of a natural renewal process and felled in line with sustainable reforestation practices, according to Vatican News. Bishop Ivo Muser of Bolzano-Bressanone stressed that “the felling of the tree is not an act of disrespect but the result of careful forest management, where tree removal is part of an active care strategy that ensures the health of the forest and control its growth.” The Vatican lights up its Christmas tree in St Peter’s Square tonight. Magical. pic.twitter.com/SQxezOBYWi— Wanted in Rome (@wantedinrome) December 9, 2023 Last year the Vatican's Christmas tree was the subject of controversy, after an appeal to Pope Francis to spare the 200-year-old "green giant" in the Val di Ledro forest was ignored. Tradition The festive tradition in St Peter's Square began in 1982 after a Polish farmer presented Pope John Paul II with a Christmas tree that he had transported all the way from Poland. Every year since then, the Vatican accepts a Christmas tree donated by a different European country or region of Italy. Alongside the Christmas tree in Piazza San Pietro, the Vatican installs a large-scale Nativity scene, which is different every year. Nativity scene This Christmas, the Nativity scene comes from the Nocera Inferiore-Sarno diocese in Italy's southern Campania region.  The Nativity scene incorporates elements and traditions typical of the Nocera area, including references to local spiritual figures including Sant'Alfonso Maria de Liguori, along with shepherds and fishermen. Saint Alfonso (1696-1787) is best known in Italy for composing the beloved Italian Christmas carol Tu scendi dalle stelle (From Starry Skies Descending). Two zampognari bagpipers will provide musical accompaniment to the scene which will be dominated by a large luminous comet whose tail will take the shape of an anchor. The tree and Nativity scene will remain in place until 11 January 2026. *In the original version of this article, published on 27 November, we incorrectly reported - along with a number of Catholic news outlets - that the inauguration of the Vatican's Nativity scene and Christmas tree was scheduled on 7 December. We apologise for the mistake. Photo Shutterstock