Church Street brought crowds to the annual Montclair Tree Lighting last night. The Montclair Community Band and the Mel-O-Chords entertained, Terra Tea gave out delicious hot apple cider, Girl Scout Troop 124 gave out hot cocoa and the crowd was happy, despite it being a cold night. Mayor Fried spoke before the big moment saying he believed Montclair was the “Best Village in America.” He mentioned the Montclair Mounties playing at The New Meadowlands Stadium today (although he called it Giant’s Stadium) and encouraged people to attend the games and support them. He asked the crowd to help him do the countdown to light the tree and it it twinkled with white lights. A firetruck brought in Santa and people rushed to get in line to have their pictures taken with him.
Continuing in the festivities, Santa makes his way around town today. Here are the details:
Santa Comes To Town
Who: Lovers of St. Nick.
What:Santa will visit Montclair’s Business Districts on a fire truck and will have gifts for all kids. The Montclair Community Band will play at each location
Where:Throughout Montclair.
When:
• 11:00 am - South End Business District (Orange Rd. & Cedar Ave.)
• 11:30 am – Walnut Street Lot
• 12:00 pm - Watchung Plaza
• 12:30 pm - St. James Church (Bellevue Ave. & Valley Rd.)
Cost: Free.
So it’s a TREE lighting with visit from SANTA (who shows up on… right, Christmas Eve, bringing what? Christmas presents) yet we cannot call it a CHRISTMAS tree?
So while our ACTIONS say Christmas, we dare not speak the word for fear some (who again?) will be offended. Yet, many of those same folks want the “cultural” aspect of Christmas (why not, presents and Rudolph are cool!), without the religion.
Kinda like having a pregnancy without the child. You can’t have one without the other.
Oh, well. the prof will have to continue to adjust to HOLIDAY/TREE time in Montclair.
You’d think if it was good enough for Rockefeller Center to call it a Christmas Tree, it would be good enough for Montclair.
Oh, no. Rockefeller Center is PRIVATE property- they can call it whatever they like.
BUT IF, Montclair were to do the same, some would say it’s an unconstitutional display favoring one religion over another! (I still find it odd that some who live in American which is 75+% Christian somehow find “offense” in displays of Christianity.)
So we are struck with a HOLIDAY TREE. Named after the only “holiday” that includes a TREE. SHHH….. Just don’t speak its name.
This is why you have the dumb “city halls” across the nation with what looks like a “South of the Border” display for the “Religions of the World” with a Menorah, a Tree, a Kinara, Santa, a Cross (?), a Festivus Pole — EVERYTHING!!
GR lighting will be this Sunday @4:30 with carols,Santa & hot chocolate at the town hall. Farmer’s Almanac predicts snow.
Does GR have a Christmas Tree or a “We call it a Holiday Tree even though Christmas is the only holiday with a tree, but we don’t want to offend anyone” Tree?