Christmas tree for the German capital
Christmas three in Berlin. Photo: Pablo Castagnola
Norwegian-German friendship in all its glory
• Christmas tree for the German capital
• Wintershall sponsors unique decorations on the
Norwegian Christmas Tree at the Brandenburg Gate for
the second time
By Verena Sattel, Photo: Pablo Castagnola, Pictures owned by Wintershall.
BERLIN/KASSEL: The traditional start of Advent in Berlin is once again being celebrated this year entirely in the spirit of the Norwegian-German friendship: since 1990, Norway has presented the German capital with a magnificent fir tree as a very special kind of Christmas greeting. This year’s tree, which has been erected at Pariser Platz, originates from the Norwegian “Christmas town” of Drøbak, which is situated on the Oslofjord. The Christmas tree decorations will once again provide a unique seasonal ambience. These were specially designed for the Berlin Christmas Tree by female artists from the SHE Design Studios in Oslo. As was the case last year, the tree decorations have been sponsored by Wintershall, which is Germany’s largest internationally active crude oil and natural gas producer.
. photo Pablo Castagnola” src=”http://www.kulturkompasset.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/Trond-Giske-Norway’s-Minister-of-Trade-and-Industry-Martin-Bachmann-Wintershall-and-Norway’s-Ambassador-to-Germany-Sven-Svedman.-photo-Pablo-Castagnola-400×266.jpg” alt=”” width=”400″ height=”266″ /> Trond Giske, Norway’s Minister of Trade and Industry, Martin Bachmann, Wintershall, and Norway’s Ambassador to Germany, Sven Svedman
. photo Pablo Castagnola. Wintershall pictures.
The Christmas tree will light up for the first time in all its glory on the First Sunday of Advent (2 December) at 5 pm. In addition to Norway’s Minister of Trade and Industry, Trond Giske, Berlin`s Permanent Secretary Hella Dunger-Löper and Martin Bachmann, Wintershall Executive Board member responsible for exploration and production, will be taking part in the lighting ceremony. The festive act will be accompanied with music from the Norwegian bands “Katzenjammer” and the “Tre trompeters”. The Norwegian Rowing Club Berlin will also ensure that the start of Advent in Berlin leaves nothing to desire in culinary terms with bratwurst, mulled wine and waffles
.
“The Norwegian Christmas Tree in Berlin symbolises the close and increasingly growing cooperation between Norway and Germany. Examples of this in the energy and economic sectors include the two new agreements between Wintershall and Statoil
. I’m delighted to be able to join the festivities celebrating this Advent tradition this year,” says the Norwegian Trade and Industry Minister, Trond Giske.
“Germany is Norway’s most important partner in Europe. The Norwegian Christmas Tree recalls our shared European history and strengthens our conviction that our close, productive and friendly cooperation presents joint opportunities,” adds Norway’s Ambassador to Germany, Sven Svedman.
For Wintershall Executive Board Member Martin Bachmann, the company’s annual commitment on behalf of the Berlin Christmas Tree has already developed into a special company tradition: “A Christmas tree from Norway at the Brandenburg Gate – I can’t think of a more wonderful symbol of the Norwegian-German friendship. Which is why we are even more delighted at Wintershall that we were also able to be involved this year
. As a German oil and gas company that is strongly committed to Norway, this partnership between our two countries has a particularly high value,” says Bachmann.
Successfully positioned: Wintershall in Norway. With over 40 licences and more than 20 operatorships, Wintershall Norge AS is one of the largest licence holders in Norway. In 2011, the company invested around half of its worldwide exploration budget solely in the Norwegian continental shelf. The company, which is headquartered in Stavanger, Norway, employs more than 200 members of staff.