Watch: Għajnsielem Christmas Tree Grows To 20 Metres Made Of Recycled Bottles
Għajnsielem is taking festive spirit to a whole new level this year! The village’s Christmas tree has grown to a whopping 20 metres high and 8 metres wide, crafted from around 5,000 recycled bottles.
The sheer scale is staggering, the metal frame alone weighs 3.5 tonnes, built with 5,000 washers, 420 bolts and nuts, over 30kg of welding rods, and about 100 metres of steel wire.
This year, the tree has some extra flair: two decorative bottle arms form a new archway at the entrance, flanked by lanterns on either side of the square entrance.
All in, more than 7,000 bottles are used across the tree and its features. Surrounding the tree is a lush garden with six real-grass areas, and visitors can read 16 messages from Pope Francis’ encyclical Laudato Si, highlighting the importance of caring for our environment.
The project is the brainchild of Franco Ciangura, with support from Joseph Ciantar and a team of volunteers, and it’s a community effort supported by the Għajnsielem Local Council, the Ministry for Gozo, the Directorate for Culture, Visit Malta, and other government entities. Special thanks went to the parish, which allowed the tree to be installed right in the village square, making it the heart of Għajnsielem’s festive celebrations.
Back in 2021, this festive tree was named the most beautiful Christmas tree in Europe, and this year’s creation promises to keep that reputation shining bright.
Have you seen the tree yet?
READ NEXT: Qormi’s Famous Bread Featured In The Michelin Guide
