At the flick of a switch, the lights came on — and the camera phones came out — as hundreds of Villagers and visitors from around the city and beyond cheered and snapped photos of the Christmas tree as it was lit for the first time this season under the Washington Square Arch last Wednesday night Dec. 9.
At 81 years old, it’s the city’s second-oldest tree-lighting ceremony, according to Trevor Sumner of the Washington Square Association, which organizes the event.
“It’s really a nice tradition,” he said, noting that this year may have seen a record attendance of around 1,000 people.
“The turnout’s great, the weather couldn’t be more beautiful,” he said.
After the tree lighting, the crowd joined in singing classic Christmas carols like “Jingle Bells” and “O! Come All Ye Faithful,” led by soft tunes from a brass quartet.
Songbooks were handed out and Santa offered candy canes to the little ones.
Sumner, who grew up on Washington Square and has participated in at least 30 tree lightings, said the 45-foot Balsam fir had arrived from New Hampshire a few weeks earlier.
It might not be as high as some of the others around the city, such as the famous spruce at Rockefeller Center, which can reach 100 feet. But Sumner said size is not what matters.
“Certainly, people can buy big trees,” he said. “But you can’t buy tradition.”
The tree will be lit for the season from 4 p.m. to 1 a.m. daily, and the Washington Square Association will hold its annual Christmas caroling under the arch on Christmas Eve, Thurs., Dec. 24, at 5 p.m.
