As Árvores Ouvem se Falarmos com Elas

The trees listen if we talk to them. During our journey to Pedrogão, we spoke with the trees. I hugged a tree. I heard its silence. Its stories, its wounds, and its pain. I smelled the odor of burnt earth. The trees were in mourning. We carried what was left of them, their black trunks, many of them turned to dust, ash and nothing. We inverted the burnt branches of the trees so that they seemed like roots, being reborn from the earth. And on top of these dead roots we grafted life: little green pine trees. The green of hope. Before we die, each one of us should plant a tree, and speak with it.

At Christmas, people naturally gather around a tree—so we used this powerful symbol to spark a national reflection. In a year when devastating wildfires swept across Portugal, we wanted to draw attention not just to holiday traditions, but to the trees we’ve lost and the urgent need to protect what remains.

Instead of traditional Christmas trees, we installed burnt trees salvaged from fire-ravaged landscapes in the centers of Portuguese cities. These were not just symbols of destruction—but of renewal. Each tree carried a message of hope, calling for a greener, safer future for Portugal.

The project featured the creative collaboration of Portuguese artist Joana Astolfi, who reimagined the trees into sculptures of meaning and emotion. One such tree was even gifted to the President of the Republic, symbolizing national unity and resilience.

Called the Tree of Hope, the installation featured a powerful visual transformation: when turned upside down, the charred trunks became roots, and a small green pine tree was planted on top—representing the life yet to come and the trees we hope will grow again.

As part of the initiative, people could visit arvoredaesperanca.pt to record and send personal Christmas messages to those most affected by the fires. These heartfelt messages were broadcast on RFM radio on the night of December 24th, turning empathy into shared presence.

This was more than a Christmas campaign. It was a call to awareness, to solidarity, and to hope—for a future where Portugal celebrates the holidays surrounded not by reminders of loss, but by living trees.