On December 1st the trees were lit on Boston Common, a big event with thousands of people and the mayor and a delegation from Nova Scotia. Every year (since 1971) Nova Scotia has donated a huge Christmas tree to Boston because, when there was a huge explosion in Halifax in December 1917 which severely damaged that city, Boston immediately sent a train full of food and water and medical supplies. Halifax has not forgotten that Boston was a first responder -- 45 years of Christmas trees is a lot of gratitude. Thank you, Nova Scotia.
This photo is actually not the tree on the Common as there were thousands of people milling around, and I couldn't get a good shot. This is the Copley Square Christmas tree, which I saw on my way to the bus stop on my way home. They used to have warm white lights on the Copley Square tree, which I preferred, but a few years ago they got these LED lights that are predominantly blue.
There was a skating exhibition on the Frog Pond on the Common before the tree lighting, with some champion skaters. The photo on the bottom right was taken later, after the tree lighting, when regular people were skating. Boston has lit up the bare trees around the Common with wild colored lights for as long as I've known Boston, and two of them can be seen in the background.
On the walk back to Copley Square, I was just in time to see the lighting of the Commonwealth Avenue mall. The trees are lit up with white lights for eight or ten blocks in the linear park down the middle of Commonwealth Avenue. I walked under the canopy of lights, and it was very festive. (I've used a bit of a blue filter for this one.)
It must be magical in Boston at night this time of year. You are really taking advantage of seeing and doing so much in your retirement. I think that is fabulous! Very nice collage you've presented.
