The Mount Ingino Christmas Tree is a lighting illumination in the shape of a Christmas tree that is installed annually on the slopes of Mount Ingino (Monte Ingino in Italian) outside the city of Gubbio, in the Umbria region in Italy. The tree is also called the Gubbio Christmas Tree or the biggest Christmas tree in the world. [1] [2] In 1991 the Guinness Book of Records named it "The World's Largest Christmas Tree". [3]
History
The tree is 650 metres (2,130 ft) high and 350 m wide at its base and consists of 3000 multi-colored lights and 8.5 kilometres of electrical cable, placed all the way up the slopes of Monte Ingino, which towers above the city. The illumination can be seen up to 50 kilometres (30 miles) away. [4]
This tradition started when people of Gubbio decided to celebrate Christmas in a different way and in 1981 the first tree was illuminated. Each year, on the eve of the feast of the Immaculate Conception (December 7), the Christmas tree is lit up. [5] Since then the tradition is repeated annually thanks to a special committee consisting of volunteers giving up their free time for about three months every year. [ citation needed]
Since 2010 electricity for the Christmas tree lights is generated by the photovoltaic system. [6]
In 2011 the lights were switched on remotely by Pope Benedict XVI using a tablet computer. [7] The Pope spoke via video link to the people of Gubbio from his papal apartment in Vatican. [8]
In 2013, the holiday display used 1,000 lights[ citation needed] and stretched more than 1,000 square meters or 10, 760 square feet. [9]
In 2013, Don Francesco Soddu, Director of Italian CARITAS led the lighting ceremony. [10] This was a tribute to the contribution of volunteers in times of emergencies in Italian communities.
In 2014 the lights were switched on remotely by Pope Francis using a tablet computer. [11]
See also
References
- ^ "The biggest Christmas tree in the world". onlysuper. 12 December 2009. Retrieved 2010-01-07.
- ^ "The best, worst, weirdest and tallest Christmas trees in the world". London: telegraph.co.uk. 9 December 2009. Retrieved 2010-01-07.
- ^ "Commemoration of popular traditions Gubbio". bella umbria. Retrieved 2009-12-23.
- ^ ItaliaRail Presents the 12 Ways of Christmas in Italy. InsideTheGate.com December 2013. Retrieved 1 May 2014
- ^ The World’s Largest Christmas Tree. Archived 2014-05-02 at the Wayback Machine Weird News of the Week. MSN. December 2013. Retrieved 1 May 2014
- ^ Gubbio Christmas Tree, the biggest Christmas Tree in the World Bella Umbria. Retrieved 1 May 2014
- ^ Pope Used Android to Light 750- meter Christmas Tree Jane McEntegart. Tom's Guide. December 2011. Retrieved 1 May 2014
- ^ "Pope Benedict shares his three Christmas wishes". David Kerr. CNA Catholic News Agency. Dec 9, 2011. Retrieved 16 December 2011.
- ^ The Most Unusual Christmas Trees CNT Traveler. December 2012. Retrieved 1 May 2014
- ^ ‘Tis the season to be gaudy: Top 7 over-the-top Christmas displays. BuzzBuzzHome.com Michael Aynsley. December 2013. Retrieved 1 May 2014
- ^ "Pope Francis uses tablet to illuminate Gubbio Christmas tree". Vatican Radio. 7 December 2014. Retrieved 12 December 2014.
External links
- Official page of the Largest Christmas Tree in the World Committee
- view on the Christmas Tree for photographers
- Lighting of the Christmas Tree
