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Following in the footsteps of five centuries of tradition, the annual Christmas lighting ceremony was held in Orangeburg’s downtown Memorial Plaza Sunday.
The Rev. Mike Smith of St. Andrews United Methodist Church said that in spite of an effort to remove Christ’s gift from Christmas, it’s still there for those who seek it.
“Christ is still in Christmas,” Smith said.
Smith told an attending audience of about 100 who braved cool Memorial Plaza temperatures that Martin Luther is credited with the first Christmas tree.
The tradition of the tree hit high gear, he said, when the popular Queen Victoria of England began placing candle-lit trees in the royal dining room.
Imitating the queen, the British population began using trees in their own homes, a tradition which crossed an ocean to American shores.
In 1882, the electric light bulb gave the lighting of the Christmas tree a new aspect. Homes, entire communities and towns were lit with electric Christmas bulbs, Smith said.
“And it all began with Martin Luther,” he said. And he was reminded that night that Jesus is the light of the world. And the light shines in the darkness and the darkness will never overcome.”
Prior to the lighting of the Christmas tree and lights, sugar plum fairies danced and singer Cornell Berry dreamed of a White Christmas as part of a serenade of song at Stevenson Auditorium that lasted nearly an hour Sunday.
This year’s honorees chosen to light the city’s tree were Bob and Nancy Ayers, the latter the Orangeburg 2007 Citizen of the Year recipient.
The dual events, the lighting of the Plaza ornaments and the songfest at Stevenson Auditorium, were sponsored by the Downtown Revitalization Association and the city.
At the end of the countdown, between 4,000 to 5,000 lights lit up the previously darkened plaza to reveal the 60 downtown street light poles adorned with lighted garland.
Lighted reindeer prance through the plaza, playing among the shrubs and bushes.
While he waited on the lighting ceremony with his mom, the Rev. Kristen Richardson-Frick of St. Paul’s United Methodist Church, three-year-old John Edward Frick apparently recalled some chores back home when he related what he wanted Santa to bring him.
“A chain saw,” he said with little hesitation. “A toy one.”
Others were less decisive, stating they had a month before they have to make their requests.
For the older kids, Christmas will come in spite of a Grinch-like economy attempting to take the joy from the traditional season of cheer.
“That’s why I came out, in particular, to catch some holiday spirit,” said Orangeburg’s Delores Parler. “I wanted to see the singing and dancing. And the hot chocolate helps!”
Delores’ husband, Donald, joked that if Santa’s economy hasn’t been affected, he would like a new Caddy. A black one.
But whether it’s a new car, a chain saw or lighting a tree, Christmas came to Orangeburg Sunday night. It came in the form of the sights and sounds of the season.
“The city of Orangeburg would like to wish each and everyone a wonderful holiday season,” Mayor Paul Miller said. “It’s an exciting time of year for young people and older children.”
n T&D Staff Writer Richard Walker can be reached by e-mail at rwalker@timesanddemocrat.com or by telephone at 803-533-5516. Discuss this and other stories on-line at TheTandD.com.