Christmas Tree Lighting commences after two years of pandemic

Carols rang out across the Boston Common on Dec. 2 as city residents gathered together for the first time since 2019 for the Christmas tree lighting ceremony. The smell of hot chocolate and pine needles filled noses as Bostonians counted down from ten and watched the park light up around them.

​

The night began at around 6 p.m. with a cycle of performers singing songs on the main stage in front of the tree on the east side of the park. Spectators waved tiny Nova Scotia flags throughout the night, anticipation building as more people flooded the Common. Most of those people were local college students ready to get in the festive spirit. 

Emerson student Jillian Therman attended the tree lighting with a large group of friends from Emerson and other regional schools. During the fall, Therman would go for walks on the Common and see lights strung around the trees.

“It was lovely seeing the Common all festive and lit up. It felt like the holiday season was actually here,” she said. 

Robert Mulcahy, director of Parks Care and Capital Projects for the Friends of the Public Garden, spoke to the behind-the-scenes aspect of the tree lighting. He confirmed the technical process starts in October, but the planning begins months before lights adorn the park. 

“Work continues basically right up until the lighting to make sure everything turns on as planned,” Mulchay said. “It’s a huge undertaking!”

To pull off the event, every piece of the night has to be thought out far in advance, from the color of the lights around the park to working with Nova Scotia to transport the tree. Mulcahy says most of that work falls to the Boston Department of Parks and Recreation. 

“They are responsible for all the lighting and all coordination for the festivities and live performances. They do an amazing job every year and I’m sure the same will hold true this year too,” he said.

Emerson student Sofia Attaway definitely thought they did a great job.  “It was honestly amazing. Definitely worth the hype,” Attaway said. “It was so wonderful to share with everyone!”

Attaway’s favorite part of the night (besides the tree lighting itself) was her friends showing up and being with her. As more of her peers came to the lighting, her “excitement just kept building.” 

Hannah Loughran, another student at Emerson, also attended the tree lighting with some of her friends. “We ended up making a night of it, walking around the park and just hanging out later,” she said.

The night carried on, with different acts on the main stage, singing songs and encouraging others to sing along. One performer from the Donna Summer musical Summer, Charis Gullage, got the audience on its feet with a rendition of “Last Dance.”

Soon enough, the minutes inched closer to 8 p.m. Mayor Michelle Wu came out on stage, telling the people in attendance about her holiday traditions and sharing how the holidays make her feel connected to the people around her. The spectators began counting down from ten. The tree lit up, fireworks exploding all around as the spectators whooped and cheered, snow blasting from cannons around them.

“My favorite part was when the fireworks went off after the Christmas tree from Nova Scotia was lit,” Therman said. “I think it came as a surprise to many, which made it even more fun to spectate.”   

Mulchay had a different view of the lighting but celebrated nonetheless. In years past, his favorite part has been looking at the lights across the Frog Pond and “thinking something special is happening.”

For Attaway, the lighting was definitely a special one. 

“The joy literally spilled into the rest of the night,” she said. “I felt all the warm fuzzy feelings that Christmas gives me.”