Because I grew up in New England, a traditional white Christmas has been imprinted on my brain. I imagine green wreathes with red bows nestled against cozy wooden houses surrounded by snow. Everyone wanted a white Christmas. Yes, we really wanted snow!
Christmas time in Florida is very different. Decorations are tacky looking in the daytime—tinsel garlands against stucco buildings. They look better at night. White lights wrapped around palm trees and Christmas lights in all shapes, colors, and sizes are festive and cheery. Businesses are careful to represent both Hanukkah and Christmas in their decorations with Menorahs and Christmas trees paradoxically side by side. Peace on Earth.
Delray Beach has a tree lighting ceremony early in December at Old School Square. The tree is huge and covered with dazzling lights. In fact, it is just that—a frame covered with lights—not a real tree at all. One can walk inside the tree and buy a snow cone.
One of the best local events is the Delray Boat Parade. Starting at Boynton Inlet, the boats traveled south along the Intracoastal Waterway through Delray, ending in Boca Raton. About 50 boats of all sizes from a simple motorboat to the Lady Atlantic cruiser were entered this year. Each one was decorated with hundreds of little lights, some depicting Hanukkah, most celebrating Christmas, and some just advertising a restaurant like the Key Lime House. Music blared from each boat to project the theme of the decorations—Elvis’s Blue Christmas for one. A group of us enjoyed watching the parade from the park as it cruised under the Atlantic Avenue drawbridge.
Christmas with the Chimps at Lion Country Safari is another Florida Christmas tradition. I saw this one on the local news. Can you picture Santa in a skiff full of gift-wrapped packages being poled across the moat that surrounds Chimp Island? Scarily he lost his balance and almost fell in while tossing packages of food, clothes, and toys to the chimpanzees. The animals were nearly as excited as the humans watching this 27th annual spectacle.
When I stop and think about it, the Holy Land is more similar in climate to Florida than to New England. It was warm enough to sleep outside in a manger on Christmas. The Cason Methodist Church in Delray Beach has an annual pageant of life in Bethlehem on Christmas Eve. The pageant is held outdoors within walls. Church members play various roles to depict the market, the inn, and the people coming to Bethlehem to pay taxes. What an interesting and unique way to evoke the spirit of Christmas.
2 comments:
Wow, are you open minded! I can't get around the traditional expectations, and even those I have to take in measured doses. Christmas has too much sweetener and not enough moxie for my taste. (That's not quite a bah humbug, but close.) Good that you enjoy such a variety of things!!
I love New England and I love Lancaster each in its own unique way. But I think that what I enjoy about South Florida is the contrast with the aforementioned places. Subtropical flora and fauna are so different from what I'm used to (alligators vs cows, for example). Delray Beach is a sophisticated tourist destination very different from our quiet PA township.
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