Bad news for those who wished to wonder at the traditional Christmas tree in Paris. Following the Great Fire of April 2019 there will be no Christmas tree in front of Notre-Dame cathedral.
No Christmas tree in front of Notre-Dame
Every year at Christmas time a tree over 20 metres tall is traditionally put up in front of Notre-Dame.
In 2015, following the Paris attacks on the 13th November, the cathedral decided that there would be no Christmas tree in front of Notre-Dame. Newspaper Le Figaro reported that for security reasons it would need a 24/7 guard service, costing from 60,000 to 70,000 euros. At the time the cathedral did not have the budget to finance such a plan and opted to postpone the tradition to next year.
Instead a group of fir trees with fairy lights was put up just under the left side of the main portal. A little Nativity scene occupied the right side.
A fantastic Christmas crib inside the cathedral
Instead, Parisians and visitors alike were invited to enter the cathedral. A giant Advent wreath was suspended in the nave.
And a Nativity scene was set up in the north side of the ambulatory.
However the Great Fire of April 2019 not only destroyed the cathedral but consequently led to the cancellation of a wide range of festivities, including the Christmas tree in the parvis and Nativity scenes inside.
Maybe a tree will stand up in front of the cathedral for Christmas 2020… time will tell!
Find out more about the Christmas Tree in front of Notre-Dame – the traditions of Christmas in the Paris cathedral.
I have enjoyed your blog and shall return to it often. My wife and I will be in Paris on 11.11.2016 and I wanted to understand how this day was commemorated in France.
Thank you Mark! I hope you’ll have the best of time in France in November. Did you check our article on the WWI Armistice Day in France? Link is https://frenchmoments.eu/world-war-i-armistice-day-in-france/
Have a nice day ! Pierre