The Lights of Christmas
Kaylee writes about the Grants Pass tree lighting ceremony and the history behind them throughout different cities/countries.
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The Lights of Christmas
The Lights of Christmas
By Kaylee Brazzle
In Grants Pass, Oregon, the tree lighting ceremony was created to spread holiday cheer and trust in the community. Tree lighting ceremonies are a way of celebrating Christmas and time with family, which during the winter means a lot, especially to local families. Someone often lights a Christmas tree, there is hot chocolate, and time spent with family in the spirit of Christmas.
Taken by Kaylee Brazzle in Downtown Grants Pass watching the Rogue Singers perform Christmas carols
Tree lighting ceremonies did not originate in Grants Pass but instead in early modern Germany. An article written by Olivia Waxman for Time magazine states “The annual tradition of lighting a national tree dates back to December 24, 1923, when President Calvin Coolidge pressed a button that lit up more than 2,500 light bulbs strung around a 60-ft.-tall balsam fir tree from his home state of Vermont.” So many people were there to watch the tree lighting ceremony back in 1923 that it made it a small tradition between families, but then grew even larger and it has now become one of the most well-known Christmas traditions in the United States. That same article stated, “ The 1920s were a decade of advertising, copywriters, punchy prose, tabloid journalism with splashier photography displays, so we’re getting this visual culture, and both [Presidents] Harding and Coolidge recognized the publicity value of a photo op,” says David Greenberg, author of Calvin Coolidge and a professor of History and of Journalism & Media Studies at Rutgers University.”
The White House was actually one of the first benefactors of the tree lighting ceremonies, with the first lady, Grace Coolidge had arranged for the white house to have a Christmas tree lighting ceremony. The National Park Service states “First Lady Grace Coolidge, having arranged for a Christmas sing on the North Lawn of the White House and not wanting two events on White House grounds gave permission to erect a cut Christmas tree on the Ellipse, south of the White House. Organizers promoted the tree as the "National Christmas Tree." To add to the "national" appeal, President Calvin Coolidge was invited to participate. On Dec. 24 at 5 p.m., the president walked from the Oval Office to the Ellipse, and pushed the button to light the tree, a gift to the President from Middlebury College in the President's native state of Vermont.”
Taken by Kaylee Brazzle in Downtown Grants Pass entering the tree lighting ceremony
Close to the White House was Lafayette Park, which was where the first two trees were dedicated to the tree lighting ceremonies. The National Park Service also states, “ President Franklin D. Roosevelt never missed the ceremony nor the opportunity to deliver a Christmas Eve message heard by radio listeners coast to coast.” President Franklin had never missed any ceremonies, especially the tree lighting ceremonies. He cared about Christmas and the meaning of the tree lighting ceremonies for everyone.
Tree lighting ceremonies are a good way to come together as a family and appreciate the meaning of Christmas, even when there is conflict. It is always a magical time to see what different people think of Christmas and their personal meanings behind the holiday. Plus, it never hurts to add hot chocolate to the mix.
Taken by Kaylee Brazzle in downtown Grants Pass of the tree, as it was lit for the Tree Lighting Ceremony.
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