A Modern Winter Game
When Christmas is over and the trees are carried out, the young people of Rörö take over. The Christmas Tree War is an old tradition centered around collecting trees from the houses, often in competition between different islands or groups. The trees are hidden and guarded, and eventually they become fuel for the Easter bonfire.
Today, the Christmas Tree War faces new challenges. With Snap Map, AirTags, and other smart tools, you have to think tactically – turning things on or off, hiding them, and planning in secret if you want a chance against the youths on the neighboring islands.
It’s a game that brings community and activity into the quietest months of the year, even if things have sometimes gotten more heated than they should. The unwritten rules matter: fair play and respect for both people and places. Breaking into sheds, violence, or collecting trees from the mainland is not looked upon kindly – and in some cases, it has even resulted in police reports.
But when everything is done the right way, the Christmas Tree War becomes an expression of both ingenuity and togetherness – a winter adventure that brings generations together, where competition and tradition go hand in hand with laughter, cleverness, and long nights in the dark.