The sounds of the classic Christmas carol “Hark the Herald Angels Sing” rang through Copley Square as Santa Claus, Rudolph the Red-nosed Reindeer and Boston Mayor Thomas Menino helped kick off the Copley Square Tree Lighting ceremony on Tuesday evening.
About 400 people gathered at about 5 p.m. in unusually high 60-degree November weather to partake in the annual holiday tradition, hosted by the Boston Parks and Recreation Department and The Friends of Copley Square organization.
“I’d like to thank you all for coming tonight and I’d like to thank Mother Nature,” said host and WHDH-V anchor Janet Wu to the crowd. “Not only did she hold off the rain but she gave us this weather where all these girls can be in their beautiful holiday dresses without their jackets and you all look so lovely. She really is starting off the holiday the right.”
As the holiday ceremony festivities began, children in the audience lit up at the sight of Santa and the smell of hot chocolate wafted in the warm winter air.
“In this gorgeous city of ours, if the Boston Common is our backyard the Copley Place is our front yard and this evening we are dressing up that yard grandly for all the city to enjoy and see,” Wu told the crowd.
Aside from musical performances from the Boston Children’s Chorus, United States Air Force Brass Band and the Trinity Choristers, friendly festive characters such as the bear from The Nutcracker ballet and an elf on stilts also entertained attendees as they walked around and mingled.
“My job . . . is to thank the many, many people who help us maintain this park, take care of this park and keep this park,” said Boston Parks Commissioner Antonia Pollak to the crowd.
Pollak then introduced Menino, who she called “Santa’s greatest helper in the City of Boston.”
“I want to thank our Friends of Copley Square for providing this evening for us and all the work they do all year round to maintain this park,” Menino said. “[Now] it’s time to light the tree.”
Menino then encouraged children from the crowd to get on stage and help him count down.
“Light it, light it!” chanted one attendee.
“It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas,” yelled another.
After a 10-second countdown, the tree, which had a giant star ornament on the top, lit up the Square.
“In this gorgeous city of ours, if the Boston Common is our backyard the Copley Place is our front yard and this evening we are dressing up that yard grandly for all the city to enjoy and see,” Wu said.
Community members said the tree lighting is a great tradition to have in the Back Bay neighborhood.
“It’s nice to get everyone in the Christmas spirit and a great way for everyone to participate in a community event,” said Boston resident Victoria Griffith.
Griffith’s 4-year-old daughter, Alisa, added that the Nutcracker bear was her favorite best because he’s “soft and cuddly.”
Jennifer and Wiley Cox, of Weymouth, said they came to watch their daughter, Hannah, perform in the Boston Children’s Chorus.
“It’s good to get the children’s choir out in the community . . . and it’s good for people to come out and enjoy this nice weather,” Wiley said.
“And the music and Christmas spirit!” Jennifer added.
“This one spot in Boston, a friend of mine says, has everything you could imagine in the world,” Wu said to the audience. “It has this beautiful building of spirituality, it has this beautiful building of grandeur, it has this innovation in this beautiful Hancock tower and it has education in the library behind us. So you can stand in the middle of the square and feel like you’re in the center of the universe.”
