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A brief review by Shreya Jha
The month of December is a time of winding down, reflecting, and getting ready for the new year. With winter vacation for students and a season of festivities, Winchester celebrates with extravagant decorations and a jubilant atmosphere. To start the month, Winchester’s annual tree lighting on the Common creates a joyous environment with music provided by the All-Town Chorus, delicious hot chocolate to keep everyone warm, and ambrosian popcorn. A tradition that started in 2014, the tree lighting ceremony is the quintessential small-town event that creates a sense of family and forms sincere connections with all of its citizens.
Above on left, the Kasseris family home on Ridge St., and on right, one of the fifteen Santas on Salisbury Street, aka Santa Lane
As the month went on, folks around town started putting decorations up on and around their houses for the holiday spirit. Taking a drive around town, almost every street will have bright yellow lights lining the perimeter of their roof, tree trunks covered with colorful lights, and holiday inflatables of anything and everything, from Rudolph the Reindeer to Frosty the Snowman, with one goal in mind: creating a festive environment that makes you happy, whichever holidays traditions you observe.
This year, the holidays look a little different: with no snow or precipitation and wildly fluctuating temperatures, the holiday spirit is facing many different obstacles. For one family, that meant going all out on Christmas decorations. The Kasseris Family’s house across from Saint Eulalia Church on Ridge St. was always decorated with an outdoor Christmas tree and LED statues of Olaf and Frosty, but this year they decided to go even further. They hired a professional who lined the roof of their house with yellow light bulbs, a model of Santa in his renowned sleigh being driven by the nine reindeer, and many other ornaments and famous holiday characters. When asked about continuing this tradition, one of the family members replied, “We plan to do this every year.” The decorations always attract many visitors who stop on the side of the road and “take pictures” to revel in the holiday spirit.
In the center of town, different neighborhoods uniquely embellish their houses. On Salisbury Street, the homeowners wanted to decorate a little differently. Nancy Machemer got the idea of creating a Santa Lane from an “Instagram post” and wanted to implement the idea in their neighborhood. As you go down that street, you will notice that almost every house has the same Santa Inflatable. It started as just an idea for their neighbors but as the word got around, the whole street seemed “excited and super willing” to bring the plan to life. Other homeowners on the street noticed how little kids would walk through the neighborhood and marvel at the Santas, truly bringing their idea to fruition. For “Santa Lane” this is the first time something like this has been done, but they want to continue this newly found tradition for many years in the future.
On the 17th of December, the Winchester Chamber of Commerce held the Annual House Tour where “beautiful homes … showcase the artistry and creativity of Winchester’s talented residents and get everyone in the mood and inspired for the upcoming Holidays!” The proceeds from the ticket sales went towards the town’s beautification committee, creating funds for the next tree lighting ceremony. Seven beautiful homes were toured during the House Tour and over 250 tickets were sold. Overall, this holiday season has been full of spectacular lights, entertainment, and enjoyment. As the year comes to a close, relish the people around you and the energy you want to take into the new year!
Shreya Jha is a Winchester High School sophomore.
