Towns compete with giant conical Christmas light 'trees'

At this time of year few people are unaware that Christmas is approaching. Local media have been treating the town displays as a kind of competition to see who can put up the tallest Christmas tree — or, more precisely, the tallest conical light structure — and this season there already appears to be a clear winner.

Several contenders have erected large cone-shaped frames covered in lights. Their resemblance to trees has prompted comments like Manuel Prior’s observation that we do not spend enough time in the forest; the same structures, some have noted, could just as well evoke satellite-launch towers. The lighting ceremonies themselves are preceded by countdowns reminiscent of rocket launches.

Organisers and municipalities, eager to show off, have already switched on many of the main displays more than a month before Christmas. Although such prolonged illumination might be expected to become tiresome, the recurring nature of the contest suggests it is popular and may be establishing itself as a local tradition.

Where municipalities choose not to engage in these ostentatious exhibitions, the lighting schedule follows a more modest timetable: in Andorra the season opens on 29 November, in La Massana on 5 December, and in la Seu d’Urgell on 6 December. The capital of Alt Urgell has long cultivated a distinct local Christmas mythology and will, as usual, feature the familiar seasonal attractions and participants, including the Colla d’escrofus.