Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremonies
in California
Tree lightings will be posted as they become
available.
California
Christmas
Tree Lighting Ceremonies are one of the universal
symbols of the holidays. While for some the event offers
meaning of a religious nature, we've discovered that
many ethnic cultures that celebrate other religions
actually go out and purchase holiday trees, decorating
them in their homes as part of the festivities of the
Christmas season.
Public tree
lighting ceremonies begin around mid-December with the
shopping malls scooping out the rest of the venues and
cities for first rights to lighting the bigger, more
decorated trees. For instance, while San Jose's Santana
Row actually wins for being the first we found to light
their holiday tree, Costa Mesa's huge South Coast Plaza
and Newport Beach's Fashion Island come in close second
and thirds for this time honored tradition of throwing
the switch after a countdown.
The Friday after
Thanksgiving and the first Friday in December appear to
offer the greatest number of holiday tree lightings in
2008. Of course the day after Thanksgiving is
traditionally known as the launch of the Christmas
shopping season, while December is reserved for the many
celebrations leading up to December 25th, when trees are
lighted for one last time before most malls and cities
pack them up (if they're artificial) or chop them up if
they are cut trees.
Every theme park
has gotten into the act of offering a holiday tree. Some
of the most interesting trees include one made of Lego
bricks at Legoland California. Disneyland declared that
their tree is now artificial for the first time in over
50 years. And places such as Disneyland and Knotts Berry
Farm don't offer one single holiday tree, but many to
enjoy. At Six Flags Magic Kingdom in Vallejo, the
theme park is only in its 2nd annual holiday celebration
(they used to be closed for the winter), and now tout
the park as offering the most spectacular lights
displays in Northern California.
When visiting Los
Angeles, San Francisco, San Diego and all the large
cities of California, don't be alarmed to discover that
like the multitude of Santas spread throughout the
place, you'll also find many lighted trees to enjoy.
From November to
December each year you'll learn more about the firs and
pines than you may ever wished. While many trees in
public places are real, some are fake, and some are a
combination of real wood bases and branches with some
padded artificial pine needles filling the bare spots.
We were surprised when we first saw how Fashion Island
in Newport Beach built the "tallest tree in the US" with
lots of plastic needs padded into a real wood tree base.
The overall effect is bright, shapely and definitely
massive. While the tallest living tree in the US in
Ferndale isn't quite so shapely, it's charm is every bit
as appealing.
NOVEMBER 2008 TREE LIGHTING CEREMONIES |
