Spirits and trees alight

UPPER DELAWARE REGION — With the winter holidays upon us, the spirit of the season spreads everywhere. Holiday music and decorations fill every home and gifts fill every shopping cart. Around giant evergreens, communities come together, their spirits alight.

The tradition of cutting down evergreen trees originated with pagans, who developed ceremonies and rituals to ensure that the days would grow longer again after the winter solstice. Since evergreens remain green while other plants lose their leaves or die, these trees were believed to have magical powers. The decorating of trees can be traced back to the Egyptians, Greeks and Romans, who hung gifts to their gods on its branches.

Christmas trees were brought to America by the Germans around 1700 and became popular with the general public around 1850. At that time candles were hung on the tree for lights.

In the mid 1850s, President Franklin Pierce had the first Christmas tree in the White House, and in 1923, President Calvin Coolidge started the National Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony on the White House lawn.

Thomas Edison invented the first practical light bulb in 1879. In 1882 he had the first electrically lit Christmas tree.

At this time, electrical outlets were not invented and most homes were only wired for one light in each room. For people to have an electric tree in their home, they would have to buy a generator, hire a “wireman” and buy the bulbs. For this reason only the members of high society had trees.

It wasn’t until 1903 when the first pre-wired sockets were introduced that lights became practical for the average family.

Area tree lightings

Sat., Dec. 3

Barryville tree-lighting ceremony

BARRYVILLE, NY — Barryville holds its first annual tree lighting ceremony in front of the River Mart at 7:00 p.m. bcc@barryvilleny.com.

Port Jervis tree-lighting ceremony

PORT JERVIS, NY—The Port Jervis tree lighting takes place at Graeb Point on Front St. at 5:30 p.m. 845/856-6694.

Sun., Dec. 4

Annual theme-tree exhibit

HURLEYVILLE – The Sullivan County Historical Society and Catskill Art Society present the annual theme-tree exhibit and winter member show at the Sullivan County Museum, 1 to 4:30 p.m. 845/434-8044.

Mon., Dec. 5

Holiday memory-tree decorating

HONESDALE – Share an ornament in remembrance of your child; sponsored by The Compassionate Friends. Hospital chapel, Wayne Memorial Hospital, 2nd floor, 6:30 p.m.

Mon., Dec. 12

Love Lites lighting ceremony

HONESDALE – Sponsor a light in honor or in memory of a loved one. Evergreens in front of Wayne Memorial Hospital, 6:30 p.m. 570/253-3777.

Wed., Dec. 21

Assisted living tree lighting

BETHANY – Bethany Village Assisted Living presents its first Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony, 5:30 p.m. Enjoy coffee and a fire. 570/251-3463.