This year’s tree was donated by Hugh and Liz Ryan of Canada, the city’s parks and recreation department announced earlier this month.

The Boston Christmas Tree will be arriving in Boston from Nova Scotia on Tuesday. The Canadian Province donates a tree every year as a thank-you for Boston’s assistance during the Halifax Explosion in 1917. Boston sent supplies and medical personnel within hours of the explosion.

It’s the 53rd year Boston has received its Christmas tree from Nova Scotia. This year’s tree is a 30-year-old spruce that comes from Hugh and Liz Ryan of the Mattie Settlement in Nova Scotia’s Antigonish County.

Almost immediately after the Boston Common tree lighting, the city will light up the Commonwealth Avenue Mall and Charlesgate Park on Thursday, Dec. 5 at 8:15 p.m. The lights will extend to Kenmore Square this year for the first time ever, the Boston Parks & Recreation Department says.

For the 53rd year, a Christmas tree was gifted by the province of Nova Scotia to the city of Boston. It arrived Tuesday on Boston Common.

For the 53rd year, a Christmas tree was gifted by the province of Nova Scotia to the city of Boston. It arrived Tuesday on Boston Common. This year's tree for Boston, a white spruce, comes from the property of Hugh and Liz Ryan in Mattie Settlement in Antigonish County.