Christmas City tree lighting memories
Missing gloves, winter’s chill and freezing under my band uniform
Once the giant tree was lit and the city aglow, I knew I was part of something special: Christmas in Bethlehem. I feel the same way now. It’s a wonderful experience. There is a unity of disparate people meeting old friends, singing carols, and enjoying the show.
The first time I attended the Christmas City Tree Lighting Ceremony, I was a sophomore in the Liberty High School Grenadier Band. It was 1974, we were playing at the annual holiday event, and I was terrified.
My white gloves that were supposed to be stored in my bearskin hat were missing. As an essential part of the uniform, wearing these gloves was a cardinal rule. I feared the wrath of Mr. Ron Sherry, the revered band director. I’d seen him verbally lash other kids for what seemed like smaller transgressions, so my fear was not unfounded.
The temperature was frigid that night. My bandmates and the gathering crowd were buzzing about the extreme cold. My heavy wool uniform didn’t keep the chills away. We were told to dress warmly underneath, but I never listened to any of those warnings. I didn’t want the visible bulk.
I already looked less-than-girly in that militaristic band uniform, and with heavy clothing underneath, I just might look fat. (My 63-year-old self is rolling my eyes now); I was 5’ 6” and 110 pounds in high school … Sigh.
Freezing temperature, no gloves, no warm clothes, and fear. Not exactly a joyous situation.
Once we played the holiday medley, the cold began to wane, and a warmer feeling arrived at the plaza. The choir sang a few Christmas carols, and the crowd was engaged.
We all sang “O Little Town of Bethlehem,” almost in a proprietary way. We had been schooled — starting in first grade — on the Moravian’s historical founding of Bethlehem, so when ‘Jesus Call Thou Me’ was sung, I had images of Count Nicholas von Zinzendorf dancing in my head.
That night, this Catholic teenager was feeling, culturally, quite Moravian.
Once the giant tree was lit and the city aglow, I knew I was part of something special: Christmas in Bethlehem.
I feel the same way now. It’s a wonderful experience. There is a unity of disparate people meeting old friends, singing carols, and enjoying the show.
Over the years I’ve seen a marriage proposal, a just-wedded couple in their tux and gown, grandparents with their grandchildren, and countless kids riding on their parent’s shoulders. The joy in the crowd when that tree is lit, is contagious. It begets a collage of feelings that don’t often come together: pride in my city, love of Christmas and my fellow citizens, and the surety of humanity’s goodness. I wish I could feel that way more often. The annual Bethlehem ceremony is 4:30 p.m. Friday.
The City has updated its Payrow Plaza sound system, so that even the people in the back of the crowd will hear everything.
It will be a superb mix of traditional and new — religious, and secular.
Mayor Reynolds will have a few children from Thomas Jefferson Elementary School assist him with turning on the lights. The Liberty High School Grenadier Band will play along with Seth Witcher, The Swing Time Dolls, and others.
Santa will also arrive on a Bethlehem Fire Engine to gift the children treats. Early arrivals can enjoy free hot chocolate and cookies.
This year, Bethlehem will be adorned with more lights than ever. The massive tree will hold 20,000 bulbs, and the upper perimeters of the Library and Town Hall
will be lined with lights. There will also be a new illuminated 15-foot star at the plaza, for selfies and Instagram moments.
Much is riding on “Christmas in the Christmas City.” When you bill yourself that way, you better deliver.
Hopefully, when the tourists and shoppers come to experience Christmas in Bethlehem, they look at the beauty and won’t think of the machinations of how it got there.
In 1974, my 15-year-old mind truly appreciated the Christmas aura at that tree-lighting ceremony.
By the way, Mr. Sherry noticed my missing gloves. “Hey, Collins! Your fingers must be pretty cold without your white gloves.” I looked at him in terror. Then he smiled and gave me a wink. Huh. There really is a Santa Claus.
Lynn Collins Cunningham, is the retired head cheerleader for the City of Bethlehem who likes to cook, play word games, and is an expert at avoiding regular exercise.