The Glen Rock Borough Hall lawn came alive on December 1st where over 400 neighbors gathered to celebrate the town’s newly relocated Christmas tree lighting. The evening was filled with the sounds of caroling, live music, and the laughter of a community coming together for the holiday season. Glen Rock’s Christmas Tree Committee organized this event as they always do, yet its change in location had a deeper meaning to it.
“I think that this Christmas tree lighting in particular is monumental for Glen Rock as neighboring towns have always had extravagant tree lighting displays that unite communities. Our town has lacked in the past, so this is a great change for us as the event was one to remember. Making the tree more prominent is especially important as it ignites the spirit in all our neighbors as we pass it daily,” shares GRHS student, Ellie Hughes.
This annual tree lighting moved from its original location of Kilroy’s Wonder Market to be in front of the town-recognized governmental building. After speaking with some long-term residents of Glen Rock, they recognized that moving down the block signified a newfound acceptance of the public celebration of the holiday. Residents are glad that the town was able to prioritize making the tree lighting more seen in town, as it stands in the center of town, in front of the most important building.
In the past there have been controversies on inclusivity of each religion, confining people from celebrating publicly, as it could potentially leave others out. Locals expressed hope that their children would see Glen Rock as a place that respects all religions while still being able to recognize one of the most popular holidays. These people claim they had, “dreamt of this tree lighting for years”. In this moment, Glen Rock was able to set aside any differences in order to simply get together and celebrate.
“As someone who doesn’t celebrate Christmas, I really like how our town is embracing our citizens’ religious traditions. I did not feel left out from this tree lighting; in fact, I was walking my dog past it and was thrilled to see all the commotion at Borough Hall. This went further than religion, it brought the tight-knit community closer in a fun, light-hearted way,” said GRHS student, Zachary Silberstein.
At this lighting there were many familiar faces and photo-ops available such as Santa, Mrs. Claus, and even Snowy. Along with this, the Glen Rock PBA collected new and unwrapped toys and books for their annual toy drive, showcasing their greater cause of the gathering.
“It was really exciting to see Santa walking around town after, along with families of all kinds. I was working at Francesca’s on the day of the tree lighting and it was great to see the community come together to then afterwards give business to local stores. This made a random Sunday extremely joyful,” emphasized GRHS student, Jake Neubart.
These holiday events go deeper than just the flickering of bright lights on a tree; they bring communities together to celebrate all the joys in life. In a small town like Glen Rock, these special events bring people of all ages together, recognizing the importance of unity and the spirit which make this time of year so special.
Another notable aspect of Glen Rock’s effort to spread holiday cheer was the lighting of the trees surrounding Borough Hall. These lights were illuminated before Diwali, and will continue to shine throughout the season, symbolizing the spirit of each holiday, regardless of the scale of celebration.
