Frankfurt's new Christmas tree, Mrs. Holle, shines at the Römer!

Frankfurt's new Christmas tree, Mrs. Holle, shines at the Römer!

A festive surprise at the beginning of the Advent season: a 30 meter high Christmas tree named “Frau Holle” has been standing at the Römer in Frankfurt since Monday. This magnificent Nordmann fir comes from Schöllkrippen in Lower Franconia and weighs an impressive 9.5 tons. The installation of the tree marks the start of preparations for the Frankfurt Christmas market, which is expected to soon attract numerous visitors. The Kruse family, who previously looked after the tree in their garden, were among the onlookers who witnessed the event up close. Before the trip to Frankfurt, the tree was shortened by around two meters to make transport easier. The family plans to use the remaining wood to build a bench and thus preserve a piece of their history.

“Frau Holle” has a very special meaning, not only because of her imposing size, but also because of the region’s close connection to the Brothers Grimm’s fairy tales. Compared to the Christmas trees of recent years, which had names like “Florian”, “Sonny” or “Manni”, the choice of “Frau Holle” is an emotional look back at the cultural roots of the region. It is also the first time in 23 years that a Nordmann fir has been erected on the Römerberg; Previously, spruce trees were always used, which makes the premiere something very special.

Technical challenges during transport

The journey from Schöllkrippen to Frankfurt was no picnic. Transporting the huge fir tree required the use of two telescopic crane trucks and a semi-trailer to reach its destination safely. Such logistical challenges are not uncommon for Christmas trees of this size. “Frau Holle” was transported on a special vehicle, which required particularly precise handling.

The tree was sponsored by the Bergwinkel Tourist Association, which includes municipalities such as Sinntal, Schlüchtern and Steinau. Together they want to promote tourism in the region and hope that “Frau Holle” will be better received by visitors than its predecessor, “Gretel”, which was launched in 2021. “Gretel” had caused some ridicule at the time because of her appearance, which only increased the hope that the new tree would have a more pleasant stay.

Decorated with 40,000 lights, “Frau Holle” shines in all its splendor just in time for Advent and brings light and joy to the cold season. It remains to be seen whether it will capture the hearts of Frankfurters as much as the fairytale stories it inspired.