Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremonies at City Hall

The NYPR Archive Collections | Jan 1, 2000

Recording of the City Hall Park Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony. Participants include Newbold Morris, Commissioner of Parks, Constance Baker Motley, Mayor Robert Wagner.

Department of Sanitation Band opens the ceremonies and plays "The Star Spangled Banner." Morris is the emcee and speaks first and welcomes everyone. The Fordham University Glee Club sings "Oh Come All Ye Faithful." The Chorus of the Equitable Life Insurance Society sings "Companions all Sing Loudly." Motley, the Borough President of Manhattan, talks about the importance of the Christmas spirit and season. The Chorus of the Equitable Life Insurance Society sings "The Meaning of Christmas" and the Fordham University Glee Club sings "Silent Night".

Morris thanks the Parks Department for making "New York more Christmas-y and more beautiful than any other time of the year."

Mayor Wagner dedicates the tree lighting to the boys in Vietnam, and after the tree lights up, the Department of Sanitation Band plays "Jingle Bells." The Chorus of the Equitable Life Insurance Society sings "Carol of the Bells." Fordham University Glee Club sings "Joy to the World."


Audio courtesy of the NYC Municipal Archives WNYC Collection


WNYC archives id: 150586
Municipal archives id: T1466

Be alert for scams. WNYC never asks for nor accepts money for coverage or interviews. Anyone making such a request does not represent WNYC.

WNYC is funded by sponsors and member donations

Top Stories

Darializa Avila-Chevalier on Mamdani, ICE and the NYPD

Who’s Running This Place |

Has MAGA Lost Faith in Donald Trump? Plus, Molly Fischer on Waymo

Rich Baris, a pollster supportive of MAGA, explains how the President lost control of his movement. And Fischer, a New Yorker staff writer, on the present and future of driverless cars.
The New Yorker Radio Hour |

Watch: Test your news knowledge with Brian Lehrer

Brian Lehrer leads special guests in a multi-round quiz of news oddities.
Radiolab |

A Nobel Peace Prize Winner on the State of Press Freedom and Democracy

The Brian Lehrer Show |
YOU ARE ONLINE