O Christmas Tree

 In Rockefeller Center  by Martha Rogers

After reading a novella and watching a movie about searching for a tree for the Center, I decided to do some research on it. It's not as old as I thought it was, but this year the tradition celebrates its 90th year.  

Back in 1931, during the depression, construction workers at the center pooled their money to put a twenty foot tree on the site as a gathering place to reflect on what was happening in the country at that time. Decorations were garlands of cranberries, popcorn, and tin cans made by members of the workers' families. No lights were used on that first tree.

Two years later, the first official tree, a 50 foot Balsam Fir was put up. Lights adorned the tree and the first official tree lighting became a great beacon for all New Yorkers as well as visitors. The skating rink opened below the tree eighty-five years ago in 1936. 

Since then the tree has been erected every year and must meet certain requirements before the live tree is selected and brought to the city. No money is given in payment for the tree, but growers all over the country send in their applications for their tree to be selected as the Rockefeller Center tree. The tree ranges in height from 50 to 90 feet and now is most likely to be a Norway Spruce. Early trees included White Spruce, Balsam Fir, and Norman Spruce.

The tree is cut down and brought in by truck from various Christmas tree farms in mostly the northeast. One year a Canadian tree was chosen and hauled down to New York. When the arrival time is known, people crowd the streets to see the tree on the truck and then to watch it being put up.

From 1941 to 1944, the tree remained unlighted due to blackout regulations during the war. The decorations were red, white and blue globes and wooden stars to honor our service men fighting for our country. In 1942, three smaller trees rather than one large one were used. Each was decorated in the colors of our country. That year, no materials used in the war could be used on the tree, so the three smaller ones were used.  

After the war, we left the darkness behind us, and once again the tree lit up the Plaza. Workers installed six ultraviolet light projectors to make the 700 fluorescent globes glow in the dark. In 1949, much more than the tree decorated the plaza. they went all out with lighting in one of the wildest displays ever.

Because of its height as it grew taller year by year, scaffolds were erected and by the end of the '50's decade, twenty workers and nine days were required to complete the tree. 

This is how they lifted the tree to its resting place

This is how it looks when the scaffolds are added to decorate the tree.

 In 1951, NBC came and marked the first televised tree lighting with a special on a show hosted by Kate Smith. Then in 1969, an artist by the name of Valerie Clarebout sculpted 12 herald angels using 75 points of metal in each one. These were displayed in the Channel Gardens in front of tree near Fifth Avenue. I recently saw them on TV in a movie set in New York.

What to do with the tree after Christmas? In 1971 a tree from Vermont became the first one to be mulched and recycled. Thirty bushel bags of mulch were then used for the nature trails of upper Manhattan. Since 2007, the tree has been milled and turned in lumber and donated to Habitat for Humanity in building their homes. In 2001, after the 9/11 attacks, the tree once again bore patriotic decorations

The tree also went green in 1907 by switching to LED lights which use less energy. In 1998, instead of coming by truck, the tree was flown in from Richfield, Ohio on the world's largest transport plane. In 1999, the tallest tree at 100 feet went up.

Today, the tree lighting is broadcast on TV by NBC and even live-streamed in a show that includes singing and other acts in the special with the tree lighting coming in the last ten minutes. That star on top is a 900 pound Swarovski Crystal.

 

Many cities across the nation still have tree lighting events. We have one at City Hall here in Houston and also a lighting event in the Galleria area. What about your city? Does your town or city still have a tree lighting event? 

Below is my 2021 Christmas Release

Many stories abound concerning the old Farnsworth Manor Estate with a witch or a ghost being the occupant sometimes seen as a shadow in the window. Nathan Farnsworth returns to Mandeville to dispel those stories, take care of his elderly grandmother, serve on the medical staff of the Mandeville Infirmary, and possibly revive his relationship with Penelope Carlson, the girl he loved in his youth. Penelope, a reporter for the town newspaper, has always been interested in the Farnsworth house because of Nathan and her love for him so many years ago. Now that he’s back, she hopes to learn more and possibly meet Nathan’s reclusive grandmother. A week before Christmas, a news story dug up by another reporter paints a dark picture of Olivia Farnsworth and leaves many questions unanswered. Because his grandmother gave Penelope the true story to reveal at Christmas instead of earlier, Nathan believes Penelope has betrayed his trust. Penny must make amends and make sure the true story is told. Will she be able to win back Nathan’s love and trust and help him to carry on the Farnsworth legacy?  

Martha Rogers is a multi-published best-selling author of over sixty novels and novellas.  She is a member of ACFW, CAN, and AWSA. Martha teaches a Sunday Bible class for senior women and is a retired English and Home Ec. Teacher. She lives in Houston with Rex, her husband of 61 years. 

Christmas Snow Bandstand Gazebos

Hastings Park Bandstand, Lexington, MA. Courtesy Wikimedia Commons

In the tranquil solitude of winter when the brass bands have tucked their instruments away from the cold, their bandstand remains as a testament to music, but not as the sole purpose of its existence, for as summer wanes and winter approaches, the structure is reclaimed for the holiday season which may even include a Christmas carol sing-a-long or two.

Decorating a bandstand or gazebo usually means greenery and most definitely lights. The personal gazebos found in yards, whether in the city or country, stand out among the myriad of lighted decorations at this time of year as an inviting place to sit and relax, like this western-themed gazebo in Wantagh, New York. 

Western-themed Christmas Gazebo. Courtesy of VinnyCiro, Pixabay

If this next image of a double bandstand looks familiar it's because it was featured in my Oct 5 post of Bandstands with a Music Theme. Since the bottom level is a fountain in the summer, I can imagine skating during the Christmas season, but I doubt it would happen. Inviting damage from skate blades doesn't seem responsible after the enormous amount of money spent on its refurbishment. Still, I can dream.

Kings Square Christmas Bandstand, Saint John, NB. Courtesy Wikimedia Commons

If you like your Christmas decorations to be chock-full of bright color, you might enjoy the seasonal display at Brookside Gardens, Silver Spring Maryland, where unique sculptures are the result of lighted botanical specimens.

Brookside at the Holidays, November 2009. Courtesy Brookside Gardens, Wikimedia

On the other hand, a historic wooden bandstand, decorated only with crystals of nature's snow, is a beautiful sight of tranquility during this hectic season. It waits, withstanding the wintry weather, knowing the cold season will end and warmth will bring the fun-filled days of summer back for another round. 

Wintry Gazebo. Courtesy of VinnyCiro, Pixabay

If you could have your pick, which of the above would you love to see when you look out your window, and why?


This concludes my series on historical bandstands. The other posts can be found:

- May 5, 2018 - Wooden Bandstands of By Gone Years

- June 5, 2018 - Scenic Bandstands with a Water View

- July 5, 2018 - Elaborate Bandstands for Special Events

- Aug 5, 2018 - From Bandstands to Bandshells

- Sep 5, 2018 - From Rooftop Bandstand to King's Hall

- Oct 5, 2018 - Bandstands with a Music Theme

- Nov 5, 2018 - Bandstand, Pavilion, or Gazebo

Anita Mae Draper's historical romances are written under the western skies of the Saskatchewan prairie where her love of research and genealogy yield fascinating truths that layer her stories with rich historical details. Anita's contemporary short story, Here We Come A-Wassailing, found in A Cup of Christmas Cheer Volume 4, was a finalist for the Word Guild's 2015 Word Awards. Her novellas are included in Austen in Austin Volume 1, The American Heiress Brides Collection, and The Secret Admirer Romance Collection. Readers can check out Anita's Pinterest boards for a visual idea of her stories to enrich their reading experience. Discover more at:
Website - www.anitamaedraper.com
Pinterest - www.pinterest.com/anitamaedraper/

Nutcrackers

Nutcracker History by

Martha Rogers

I’ve been fascinated with nutcrackers and the story behind the ballet since I first heard the music many years ago. I decided to find out more about these beautiful Christmas decorations, and learned some interesting facts.

Before the beautiful nutcrackers were created by wood carvers in France and England, they were simple tools consisting of two pieces of wood fastened by a leather strap or metal hinge. Nuts were a common item in Europe, and by the 15^th century, the nutcracker became an elaborate tool carved by great woodcrafters.

These early crafters used wood from around their locality, but boxwood was the wood of choice because of its grain and color. Many of these early

carved nutcrackers can be seen on display at the Leavenworth Nutcracker Museum in Washington. Here is a picture of the more unusual ones. 

By the 18^th and 19^th centuries, craftsmen in Austria, Switzerland, and northern Italy were carving nutcrackers in the likenesses of animals and humans.

In German folklore, stories can be found telling how nutcrackers were given as keepsakes to bring good luck to the family and protect the home. Legend says that nutcrackers guard the home from evil spirits and serve as a messenger of good luck and goodwill.

This is the saying surrounding the legend of the nutcracker:

“Don’t be afraid, my beard is long, my head is large, my look is grim but that matters not. I won’t bite you. In spite of my big mouth and grim appearance, I look with my heart for your happiness.”

Nutcrackers were thought to embody the “Cycle of Life” because as the seed of a nut fell to the ground, it rooted and grew into a strong tree producing more nuts and provided wood for the craftsmen. They held a feast celebrated just before harvesting the logs of the Elder trees. At the feast they ate the nuts as if to pass on the magic of the eternal cycle.

Nutcrackers also reflect ancestral dining customs and were carved into whimsical shapes to become part of the social setting and provide conversation pieces for guests as they lingered over dessert.

E.T. Amadeus Hoffman wrote a novel, The Nutcracker and the King of Mice, sometime between 1776 and 1822. Tchaikovsky took the story, set it to music in the magnificent Nutcracker Suite. The ballet with the music debuted in St. Petersburg in 1892 and has become a Christmas tradition around the world.

A family of artisans, the Steinbach family, has

produced fine wood products for over two centuries. Five generations have kept the business nutcracker carving and manufacutre going with the sixth generation being trained even now. The factory is now located at Hohenhameln in northern Germany. On the right is an example of a Steinbach creation. This one costs over $200.

They were the first to come up with the development of the limited edition nutcracker fashioned after King Ludwig II. The response was overwhelming and contributed to the collectability of the nutcrackers and increased their value.

Nutcrackers finally made their way to America in the late 1940’s and early 1950’s after service men stationed in Germany found them and brought them home. A passion ignited for these wonderful creations as the ballet captured the imagination of people and sparked a desire to collect the nutcrackers we know in the costume of soldiers and kings of earlier centuries.

Nutcrackers in the form of soldiers and kings first appeared in German in the late 1700’s and early 1800’s. In 1872, Wilhelm Fuchtner made the first commercial production of nutcrackers using the same design for many different figures. The Leavenworth Nutcracker Museum displays an 1880 miner of Fuchtner along with miners made in today’s Fuchtner family workshops.

Today, soldier and king nutcrackers are manufactured in Germany to meet the high demands

of collectors. These are expensive, authentic nutcrackers and can be purchased only from the company or from stores which feature nutcrackers by these German crafters. 

My own collection of nutcrackers began with one I purchased in Oberammergau in 1994. Here's a picture from the store there. I fell in love with this place.

Nutcracker reproductions can be found anywhere at Christmas time in many sizes and designs. When compared side by side, the craftsmanship of the authentic nutcrackers is evident. That doesn’t keep us from collecting nutcrackers from stores all over our country.

Nutcrackers based on the characters from the ballet are popular and sold at the productions. Here are Clara, her uncle, the Mouse King, the Nutcracker and one of the soldiers.

I have two nutcrackers from Germany, but the others have been purchased at the Nutcracker Ballet Christmas Market and other stores at Christmas time.

The museum at Leavenworth, Washington is a place worth visiting if you are in the area. Below are links to the museum and to information about the Steinbach family.

https://www.christmas-treasures.com/contact_us.htm  Steinbach link

http://nutcrackermuseum.com/history.htm Leavenworth Museum

I'm giving away a copy of my Christmas book, Christmas at Stoney Creek.

News reporter Tom Whiteman befriends a homeless man, Joe, and brings him home to Stoney Creek. Tom’s journalistic instincts suggest there’s more to the old man than appearances tell. A carpenter by trade, Joe works at odd jobs around town and makes many new friends including Faith Delmont, a girl who grew up with Tom. Contradictions in the man’s manners and way of speaking whet Tom’s nose for news and raises even more questions. As he and Faith seek the truth, they learn that God’s love can turn tragedy and loss to triumph and true love comes to those who seek it.     

Answer one of these questions and be entered. (Sorry, US readers only) Please be sure to include your email address with your comment.

Have you ever seen The Nutcracker ballet?
Nutcrackers are a collector item. Do you have any special Christmas collections?

Martha Rogers is a free-lance writer and multi-published author from Realms Fiction of Charisma Media and Winged Publications. She is a member of ACFW and writes the weekly Verse of the Week for the ACFW Loop. She is a retired teacher and lives in Houston with her husband, Rex. 

www.marthawrogers.com