Charlottesville's Grand Illumination
I love Christmas! Every year I look forward to watching "Charlie Brown's Christmas Special", and "The Grinch Who Stole Christmas" )(the original Dr. Suess edition).
I love to listen to Christmas music. We have a station here, that the day after Thanksgiving goes Christmas music 24/7, until New Year's. I love it all, from "The Little Drummer Boy" (my husband is a drummer, he plays a Tama set, for those that care) to "The Nutcracker Ballet"
Well, last night, we in Charlottesville, had our "Grand Illumination" (you can watch it, too). I am so relieved that in the era of political correctness that we still have a Christmas Tree here. I get so irritated at the "Holiday Tree" and the "Winter Festival" correct speech.
We kick off the Yuletide season with a large gathering on the Downtown Mall, of hundreds of folk, ready to ooh, and aah the Lighting of the Christmas Tree. The retailers all along the Mall have their shops twinkling with greens, wreaths, lights, and cheer.
The "Grand Illumination" comes from a colonial (and English) tradition of placing candles in the windows of homes and buildings to celebrate special events. In Williamsburg they have the Grand Illumination ceremony complete with fireworks. We have never done that.
We stand around in anxious anticipation, and then the countdown from 10 starts. We hug, kiss and even jump for joy when those 16,000 lights come on. But just like home, things don't work as expected.
I have taken a picture of our glorious tree late this afternoon-that would be, not quite one day after the Grand Illumination.
Every year we think last year was better. I have discovered it is impossible to compete with the memory of a ghost past. Instead, I am going to accept, nothing is perfect, and enjoy the ride through this season! All what do you say-8000 lights........
posted by FineVirginiaLiving.com @ 6:52 PM
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