Merry Christmas! Happy Hanukkah!
December 25th, Christmas Day is also the first night of Hanukkah-
This year, the first day of Hanukkah coincides with Christmas Day, marking a significant overlap that has not occurred in nearly two decades. Over the past century, this rare alignment has happened only four other times, with the last occurrence in 2005, and previously in 1959, 1921, and 1910. The difference in calendars explains the overlap; the Hebrew calendar, which is lunisolar, identifies months based on the moon’s phases, resulting in a calendar year that is shorter than the typical Gregorian calendar used widely in the Western world. As such, Hanukkah, beginning at sundown, falls on a day that is typically reserved for Christmas festivities, creating a unique moment for those who celebrate both holidays.
Photos By J.C. Martin For WestportLocalPress.com
Hanukkah, also known as the Celebration of Lights, is an eight-day holiday that commemorates the rededication of the Second Temple in Jerusalem in the 2nd century BC following its liberation by Jewish fighters from foreign occupation. The holiday is observed through various traditions, including lighting the menorah, which holds nine candles, one for each night of the holiday and an additional candle used to light the others. Families gather to celebrate with special prayers, games, and traditional foods, such as latkes and sufganiyot. Hanukkah serves as a reminder of resilience and the enduring spirit of faith within the Jewish community.
Above left: Last year’s Menorah lighting celebration at the Pequot library in Fairfield, hosted by Chabad of Westport, Chabd of Fairfield and the Pequot library. This year the event will take place on Monday, December 30th at 4:30 PM at the Pequot Library, 720 Pequot Avenue, Southport. There will be music by DJ Marv and of course latkes and donuts. All are welcome. Visit Pequot Menorah Lighting for more info.
Above right: The Lessons & Carols event at Christ & Holy Trinity church in Westport on Sunday, December 15th. To see our coverage visit: CH&T Lessons & Carols. The church hosted their annual Christmas Pageant on Christmas Eve.
Photos By J.C. Martin For WestportLocalPress.com
Christ & Holy Trinity Festival Of Lessons & Carols Celebrates Christmas
The 21st annual Festival took place on Sunday at Westport's Christ & Holy Trinity Church.This event celebrating the birth of Jesus has the sanctuary filled to capacity each year as the choir of C&HT performs traditional popular Christmas carols and religious songs along with readings from scripture.
Photos By J.C. Martin For WestportLocalPress.com Click on an image to enlarge and open gallery.
The event began when the choir entered the church by candlelight singing "Once in royal David's city", introduced by a boy chorister and accompanied by organist Jonathan Vaughan. As the service progressed, young choristers as well as adult singers were featured in several pieces, and cellist Cheryl Labrecque accompanied the choir in "Carol of the Magi" by John Rutter.
The lessons, which are readings from the Holy Bible from the books of Genesis, Isaiah, Luke, Matthew, and John were each read by a different member of the church, choir and community, including Connecticut State Senator Ceci Maher.
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Each lesson was followed by a carol sung by the 32-voice intergenerational choir, or a hymn sung by the congregation. All of the music sung, which spanned several centuries, was related to the biblical texts which preceded them, so some lyrics may have a more sacred connotation than the secular versions frequently heard. The tradition of Lessons & Carols dates back to the Church Of England in 1880. A special broadcast of the Festival from King's College, Cambridge, England will be aired by WSHU Public Radio at 91.1 FM on Christmas morning at 10:00 AM.
Photos By J.C. Martin For WestportLocalPress.com Click on an image to enlarge and open gallery.
On Christmas Eve at 3:00 CHT Church will present The Christmas Crèche, the birth of Jesus as told in story, movement and song headlined by Broadway star Kelli O'Hara, seven-time Tony nominee and winner of the 2015 Tony for Best Actress in a Musical.
Photos By J.C. Martin For WestportLocalPress.com Click on an image to enlarge and open gallery.
The sanctuary was filled for this special event. After the service, Santa directed guests downstairs to Branford Hall for refreshments and a wonderful array of homemade appetizers and delicious desserts.
The Season Of Lights Reminds Us Of Better Days To Come
The Christmas tree here is located on Held Lake on Weston Rd. in Weston, and has been done every year for many years by one of the homeowners and is something we always look forward to seeing during the Season Of Lights.
Photos and Story By J.C. Martin For WestportLocalPress.com Click on an image to enlarge.
The Westport area is beautiful any time of year, but the holidays bring us a special beauty thanks to the hard work and creative of those around us. Known as the Season of Lights, the holidays of Christmas and Chanukah is a time for connecting with family and friends, and the light displays around us help to share the feelings of warmth and hope and the promise of even better days ahead. Whether it is a Christmas tree or a Menorah, these symbols can inspire us and remind us of just how lucky we are.
This Weston Rd. home has also taken advantage of the reflections in the pond to create even more magic with the three reindeer and a variety of whimsical creatures.
Perhaps the largest and most elaborate holiday display in our area is on Weston Rd. in Westport, with a multitude of glowing figures and beautifully lighted trees.
Photos and Story By J.C. Martin For WestportLocalPress.com Click on an image to enlarge.
Downtown Westport's Sparkling Holiday Glow
The benches in front of Savvy & Grace will likely be a place to pause for a moment, especially for tonight's Holiday Stroll which begins at 5:00PM
We all recognize the beauty that is Downtown Westport all year long. During the holidays, our merchants add an extra level of beauty with brilliant lights and festive decorations, making downtown even more special for the holiday shopping season. From London's on Church Street (above left and below), to Anthropologie & Co. in Main Street's iconic former YMCA building (center) to Serena & Lily on Elm Street (right), Downtown Westport’s sparkle creates a most inviting ambience for shoppers and diners making the most of their holiday season.
Photos and Story By J.C. Martin For WestportLocalPress.com Click on an image to enlarge and open gallery.
Photos and Story By J.C. Martin For WestportLocalPress.com Click on an image to enlarge and open gallery.
It's Official: 'Tis The Season As Westport Lights The Tree
The vaunted Staples High Orphenians choral ensemble gather before Westport Town Hall's Christmas Tree Thursday night.
Photos and Story By J.C. Martin For WestportLocalPress.com Click on an image to enlarge and open gallery.
First Selectwoman Jen Tooker ushered in another holiday season at this year's Town Hall tree lighting. Ms. Tooker introduced the Orphenians, led for the second year by Staples Choral Activities Director Lauren Pine, and they began the program by performing Joy Shall Be Yours, followed by Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas and the requisite Jingle Bells.
Tooker then introduced Westport's new Poet Laureate Donna Disch (above, right) who read her poem "LIGHTS UP" composed for the occasion and which included the line, "We affirm the ever of living and green and spatter our spruce with stars."
The Orphenians concluded with Deck The Halls as setting the stage for the lighting of the tree.
A crowd of about 100, bundled up against the cold listen to the Orphenians selections of holiday favorites.
Photos and Story By J.C. Martin For WestportLocalPress.com Click on an image to enlarge and open gallery.
A crowd of about 100, bundled up against the cold listen to the Orphenians selections of holiday favorites.
As is done every year, the First Selectwoman invites some of the children in the crowd to help with the countdown to the big moment, and cheers by all accompany the flash of light as the tree is lit.
As part of her remarks, Jen also noted the efforts of Westport DPW in getting the tree ready for the event as they do each year, which takes the entire day to accomplish. The nearly 50 foot tree is out of reach for the town bucket truck so the town has contracted with The Davey Tree Expert Company for the last several years which brings a pair of very tall bucket trucks enabling them to wrap the approximately 3500 LED lights around the tree, in the day-long project.
Photos and Story By J.C. Martin For WestportLocalPress.com Click on an image to enlarge and open gallery.
ABOUT THE ORPHENIANS: Founded by Dr. George Weigle in 1960, the Orphenians have been the premiere vocal ensemble in Westport for more than six decades. Over those many years, the Orphenians have performed across the globe; including nearly every country in Europe, the United State's West Coast, Australia, Hawaii and will be performing in Spain (summer of 2025). Under the direction of Staples' new high school choral director, Lauren Pine, this year's ensemble consists of 40 auditioned students ranging from 9th to 12th grade. Known for their many holiday performances and seasonal concerts throughout the town of Westport, they have become an integral part of the local community during the holiday season and year round.
They can be seen several times throughout the holiday season including Saturday night for the Downtown Holiday Shop ‘ Stroll, the Winter Concert at Saugatuck Congregational on Sunday at 7:00 PM for their annual free concert where they will be joined again by the Dartmouth Brovertones: SaugatuckChurch.org
The group is currently trying to raise funds for a planned June, 2025 trip to Spain for an international choral festival under the direction of Dr. Rollo Dilworth.
The Orphenians want to ensure that every student can participate regardless of financial circumstance and will be "caroling for a cause" as well as hosting a mid-winter gala which will be held in March. (follow WestportLocalPress to learn more)
In addition to our own fundraising goals, we will be contributing all additional proceeds to the Voces8Foundation, who are working to establish a music education hub right here in Westport! The group is asking anyone who can help to donate at: www.orphenians.com
Photos and Story By J.C. Martin For WestportLocalPress.com Click on an image to enlarge and open gallery.
The lobby of Town Hall decorated with a Menorah and a Christmas tree, compete with presents.