The expression goes that you never look a gift horse in the mouth.
But some social media users are starting to wonder whether the UK might have done something to upset Norway.
For the second year in a row, Oslo’s generous annual donation of a Christmas tree for London's Trafalgar Square has raised a few eyebrows.
In 2021, people labelled the pine tree offering “flea bitten” due to its thin stature, while others said the seasonal offering looked “half dead”.
With this year’s gift in place before the switching on of the lights on Thursday, people have found the freebie to be a bit on the spindly side once again.
Author Ryan Love shared a picture of the tall Norwegian spruce being hauled into place in central London, tweeting: “Starting to think someone pissed off Norway…”
Fellow Twitter user Kelly Anderson said: “Where’s the other half of it?!”
Marketeer Harry Lang joined in, saying: “Have... have we upset the Norwegians these past few years?
“Their annual gift seems to get ever more limp and barren…”
Another enjoyed re-imaging a famous yule tide carol about the slim-looking tree.
John Short tweeted: “It’s a new carol… ‘Oh Christmas twig, Oh Christmas twig’...”
A Twitter user going only by the name Amanda said: “As scrawny as previous years. Anyway, thanks Norway…”
"Gets more threadbare and ugly every year," said another.
Norway has annually donated a Christmas tree to the people of Britain since 1947 as a token of gratitude for the country’s support during World War II.
This year marks the 75th anniversary of the tree-giving relationship between the two northern European countries.
Once the Second World War was over, King Haakon VII sent the first tree as a thank you for Britain giving him sanctuary after Norway was invaded by Nazi Germany.
The tree usually remains in situ until the festive season is officially over on January 6 — the feast of The Epiphany.
As is traditional, The Lord Mayor of Westminster travelled to Oslo to see the Trafalgar Square tree be cut down before it was shipped across the North Sea.
Some social media users noted that the tree looked fuller in the photos shared by Councillor Hamza Taouzzale during his trip to Norway on November 19.
Replying to Mr Love’s initial tweet about the UK potentially upsetting Norway, Mike Gibb shared some images from the British Embassy in Norway's account.
Mr Gibb tweeted: “More likely someone in the international shipping industry, from the look of the Trafalgar Tree as it was in Norway.”
Anthony Smith-Meyer concurred, saying: "I wonder who transports it? It looked gorgeous when cut down."
The Oslo British Embassy account, in its tweet about the tree’s felling more than a week ago said: “Disclaimer: The Trafalgar Tree was in perfect condition when it left!”
Welcoming the tree’s arrival on Monday (November 28), the Lord Mayor said: “Great to see the 75th Trafalgar Square Christmas Tree fitted into place this morning.
“It is [a] fantastic gift each year from the people of Norway to the UK for our aid and assistance during the Second World War.”
He added: “Thanks to our friends in Oslo for this wonderful gift and to all the many people who brought it here safely.”
A lighting ceremony will start at 5pm on Thursday, according to the tree’s official twitter account, Trafalgar Square Tree.
