The annual tradition has been in place since 1951, usually attracting many hundreds of people to join the festivities. This year, the event was televised but Austurvöllur square was eerily quiet and there was no formal programme of events.
Mayor Dagur B. Eggertsson led the ceremony and the lights were switched on by a half-Icelandic, half-Norwegian child, as has become the custom. This year, that was Hákon Örn Bjarnason, seen acing the job in the video above.
Dagur explained that the City of Reykjavík has put extra effort into decorating this Christmas: "We have reacted to the crisis and the situation by having an expecially Christmassy Christmas," he said, going on to encourage residents to go the extra mile in their decorating as well.
The Oslo Tree is adorned with four-times more lightbulbs this year than last year, and has 50 ribbons, including 13 special ribbons for each of the Yule Lads. The tree is also decorated with Bjúgnakrækur (Sausage Swiper) decorations that are on sale this year in aid of the SLF disabled persons' charity.
