Towns get creative with public holiday celebrationsDate: 11/24/2020 GREATER SPRINGFIELD – Most towns have some kind of holiday celebration in which residents gather in the crisp winter air and watch as Christmas trees are lit, holiday exhibits are unveiled and the festivities of the season come alive.
As with most things in 2020, the pandemic has changed the way communities are celebrating the holidays. Some towns have canceled their traditions, while others have gotten creative in the ways they make merry.
In Wilbraham, the traditional Christmas tree lighting and visit with Santa Claus has been canceled.
“We decided about a month or two ago that it would be in the best interests of our community that we did not hold a public gathering for a tree lighting and visit with Santa this year,” said Rotary Club member Tyler Witkop. Though the tree will be lit, there won’t be a public celebration. “We are working with the town to light the tree as usual during the Christmas season, just without public participation. As disappointed as we are that we can’t see the smiling faces of children and the magic that only Santa brings, we hope that by lighting the tree, our friends and neighbors will retain a piece of seasonal normalcy during a time that is anything but.”
That doesn’t mean that there won’t be anything to mark the season, though.
The Children’s Museum is putting on a “Holiday Light Trail of Wilbraham.” Residents are encouraged to decorate their houses from Dec. 18 to 20 and have them listed on a map for neighbors to drive around and view the lights. The deadline to appear on the map is Dec. 7 for the holiday season. There is no cost to participate and more information can be found at www.wilbrahamchildrensmuseum.com.
The Rotary Club will host a drive to benefit the Community Survival Center. There are donation boxes at Rice Fruit Farm and the Scantic Valley YMCA. The Rotary Club is collecting new and gently-used hats, gloves, coats and socks. The organization is also collecting diapers and baby wipes for the organization. Especially needed are diapers in sizes newborn, 4, 5 and 6.
“We are extremely grateful to the residents who have so far donated in excess of 4,700 diapers and 10,000 wipes to help neighbors in need in the communities of Hampden, Wilbraham, Ludlow, Indian Orchard, Sixteen Acres and Pine Point.”
For more information about the drive, call club Secretary Brad Sperry at 537-4171.
Hampden has also changed up their holiday celebrations. Traditionally, the town hosts a Christmas tree lighting ceremony on the lawn of the town hall with a visit from Santa. Although the tree will be lit, Select Board Administrative Assistant Pam Courtney said, “We’re not doing a formal [tree lighting] event for obvious reasons.”
Instead, on Dec. 5 at 6:30 p.m., a “Light the Night Holiday Parade” kicks off from the Town Hall. The parade will include fire trucks along with Santa and Mrs. Claus that make their way down Main Street, to Allen Street, Springmeadow Lane, Wilbraham Road, Raymond Drive and Greenleaf Drive. Santa will drive through the parking lots at Bethlehem Church, St. Mary’s and Thornton W. Burgess School. For the exact route, check the Hampden Free Public Library and Hampden Fire Department Facebook pages.
The town is urging residents along the parade route to join in by decorating their vehicles and homes. People are asked to wear a face mask and maintain social distancing.
The select board is sponsoring this event. There is a rain date of Dec. 12.
In East Longmeadow, the Lions Club has been decorating the town’s tree and setting up a manger scene since the late 1940s and they were not about to let the pandemic stop them this year.
Lion Scott Grabowski said that, while the Congregational Church usually hosts a tree lighting night each year, it will be conducted virtually on Nov. 28.
The Lions get help from local businesses with the undertaking. ArborTech Tree Service set the lights for no charge, Aero Crane Service from East Hartford donated their services to remove the lights from the tree to replace strings and Community Electric has donated electrical service in the past.
The Lions continued the tradition of setting up a manger this year, as well. “Past Lion Jim Davis constructed our manger enclosure over 35 years ago,” said Grabowski. “It still serves us well to this day.”
A holiday tradition in Longmeadow is the menorah lighting ceremony to celebrate Hanukkah. Organized by the Lubavitcher Yeshiva Academy (LYA), the local Jewish community, and often town officials, gather each night of the holiday to light one of eight candles representing the eight nights of Hanukkah. This year, the holiday takes place from Dec. 10 to 18.
Rabbi Noach Kosofsky, director of LYA, said that plans are still being finalized, but there will be menorah lightings in Longmeadow and Springfield with a limited amount of people allowed to attend for safety. He also said the Academy would be distributing Hanukkah-related items. Details are available at www.lya.org.
Enfield, CT, is one town that traditionally goes all out at the holidays. The town’s Recreation Department coordinates a “torchlight parade,” in which fire trucks covered with christmas lights make their way to the Town Green, followed by a carol sing and tree lighting ceremony.
Unfortunately, while the tree will be lit, there won’t be any of the normal festivities, said a member of the Recreation Department. Similarly, Somers has canceled its tree lighting in light of the pandemic and in an effort to keep crowds from gathering.
|
