Festive comparison: The biggest, brightest and most popular Christmas trees in Germany
Festive comparison: The biggest, brightest and most popular Christmas trees in Germany
- The Gisma University of Applied Sciences analyses Christmas trees by length, lights and species in Germany.
- Dortmund once again takes first place for the longest Christmas tree in Germany.
- Cologne takes first place for the most lights per metre of Christmas tree with 2,174 lights.
- Christmas trees in city centres have measurable economic effects, increase dwell time and willingness to buy
Potsdam, December 2024 – As a symbol of Christmas, the illuminated trees in German city centres are not only mood enhancers, but also cultural and economic magnets for an international audience in a globalised world. So which city presents itself most impressively at Christmas when it comes to one of Germany’s most famous traditions worldwide?
Dortmund has the longest Christmas tree – as every year, the Ruhr Valley city beats even Bayern Munich legend Uli Hoeneß, whose Christmas tree measures 30 metres this year. With an impressive 45 metres made from around 1,700 spruce trees, the city is once again setting standards at the end of 2024. This was the result of a study by Gisma University of Applied Sciences (www.gisma.com), which is a place for exchange and global innovation with students from over 80 nations. It was determined which Christmas tree shines the brightest, which tree variants are the most popular this year and, of course, which city has the largest. The average length of the Christmas trees surveyed was 21 metres. The top 10 illuminated trees have a total of 222,405 lights – an amount that would fill the Signal Iduna Stadium in Dortmund almost three times over.
Who has the longest Christmas tree? Dortmund leaves everyone behind again
The Dortmund Christmas tree remains the undisputed number one in Germany, with Wiesbaden coming in second place nationally with the ‘Malia’ tree, a proud 29 metre tall coastal fir. Frankfurt am Main and Chemnitz ranked closely behind with a 26 metre high spruce each. Dresden’s (25 metres), Stuttgart’s (24) and Cologne’s (23) for trees are all above the German average. Hanover is considered the centre of High German and is also right on average in the spruce comparison at 21 metres.
The smallest Christmas trees can be found at the other end of the scale: Bonn and Bremen adorn themselves with a modest 13 metres. Potsdam and Düsseldorf each boast 14 metres.
Cologne lights up Christmas: The cities with the most lights per metre of tree
Although Dortmund shines with the tallest Christmas tree, Cologne is ahead in another category: with an impressive 2,174 lights per metre of Christmas tree, the cathedral city shines at the top of the ranking. The gap to the second-placed city of Stuttgart with 1,667 lights per metre is clear. Dortmund is once again far behind in third place with 1,067 lights. Fourth place goes to Wiesbaden, which has 1,034 lights per metre of Christmas tree.
The fir tree triumphs: The most popular Christmas trees at a glance
Up to ten different species of spruce, fir and Douglas fir can be found in the cities - but one tree species clearly dominates the picture. First lead the race with a whopping 70%, leaving the spruces, which only account for 25 per cent, far behind.
There is also a clear winner in the individual rankings: the Nordmann fir is enthroned at the top with an impressive 40 per cent, making it by far the most popular Christmas tree. Douglas firs, on the other hand, remain a rarity with just five per cent.
‘The diversity and creativity with which traditions such as Christmas trees are realised in different cities not only reflects cultural uniqueness, but also shows how innovation and regionality can go hand in hand. Christmas trees in city centres not only have symbolic significance, but also measurable economic effects. They create a festive atmosphere that attracts visitors, increases dwell time and boosts the willingness to buy. Attractions such as the Dortmund tree, which impresses with its sheer size, or the Cologne tree, which shines with its lights, are magnets for tourists and local consumers,’ comments Research- Professor Dr Sara Ravan Ramzani from Gisma University.