Hamburg (dpa / lno) - The Christmas light show on the Inner Alster begins: Hamburg's Senator for Social Affairs Melanie Leonhard (SPD) switched on the lights of the Alster fir on Thursday with a push of a button.

“Much is not as usual this Advent.

But the fir tree on the Alster shines as always! »Said Leonhard of the German press agency.

With around 1200 lights, the fir tree should provide “courage and hope for the next dark weeks”.

For decades, the Alster fir has contributed to the festive atmosphere on Jungfernstieg around Advent.

In summer the Alster fountain gushes at this point.