Somewhere in December each year, an almost strange event takes place quietly in a small town in central Italy. No fireworks pave the way for it; no loud announcement heralds it. Night after night, it quietly appears on the slopes of a mountain above Gubbio.
From early December to a day or two after Epiphany, the slopes of Mount Ingino shine with what, unsurprisingly, has been dubbed the largest Christmas tree in the world. It is not the kind of tree that you hang around. Nor is it a tree to be decorated with ornaments. It is a tree made from light strung along the mountain herself and visible from kilometers away.
A Town That Already Feels Like Christmas
Unspoiled by time, Gubbio still feels like the same place. It has medieval stone buildings, narrow streets, and a slow pace of life, unchanged from season to season. Many people know it due to the legend of Saint Francis and the wolf of Gubbio, a tale that the townsfolk still refer to with a quiet sense of pride.
During Christmas, however, famed Gubbio is known for another thing. One that draws tourists not just into Gubbio but also up into the surrounding hills.
The Origin of the Idea
The idea for the tree dates back to 1981. Not for tourists and to break records; just to give the holidays some special character.
Gradually over the years, it turned into a bigger project. In 1991, it was crowned by Guinness Book of World Records as the largest Christmas tree in the world. Yet, from that moment onward, it has never really lost the spirit that inspired the first gesture.
The Structure of the Tree
Currently, the structure consists of more than 700 lamps connected with an estimated length of 8,500 meters of electric wires. On clear nights, the tree can be seen long before reaching Gubbio.
The external outline is sketched with green light, while the interior sparkles with the glow of hundreds of multicolored lamps. On the top, a huge star measuring around 1,000 square meters sends forth its light towards the Basilica of Saint Ubaldo perched above the town-a quite visual connection between the mountain and the city below.
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Bigger Than Numbers Can Explain
The tree is about 750 meters tall and 450 meters wide at the base, according to the calculations. It is often said that it covers an area the size of thirty football fields.
But under its shade, there is no more purpose for numbers. It is, instead, more of a feeling driven by scale and nothingness. The tree does not move, does not change color, does not flicker. It is simply glowing against the black backdrop of the mountain, quietly steady and calm.
The People Behind the Lights
One of the remarkable things about the project is that it is self-maintained. Ever since, the tree has been sustained by volunteers. Every year, the local people come together to check cables, change bulbs, and prepare the setup for the season.
The lights are officially turned on by the 7th of December. The ceremony has spun into a significant moment in the calendar of the town. Over its history, it has welcomed guests from virtually every realm: Pope Benedict XVI, Pope Francis, and former president of Italy, Giorgio Napolitano.
With all the renowned names come the at-times outsider feel. Yet its essence remains local. Familiar.
Adopt a Light
The project also features a little initiative that adds a personal layer to the tree. Adopt a Light: The light bulb can be dedicated to a loved one for a small donation by anyone.
These funds help pay the electricity, but the meaning goes way beyond that. For many people, it’s a way to remember someone, to celebrate someone, or simply to feel some kind of connection with a tree.
Each light is adopted for one Christmas season, after which, when the lights fade, the process reopens the following year.
This is a Tradition-thee Should Not Change
In a world full of loud decorations and everchanging trends related to the holidays, the Christmas tree in Gubbio is quite special. It does not clash for attention and does not reinvent itself.
Each winter, it simple appears, uninterrupted in this condition for decades-therein sometimes lies the purpose of a tradition.