History of holiday decorating topic of December sessions at Derby Library

Derby resident Mary Bisaccia talks about the history of holiday decorating Wednesday at Derby Public Library.

I visited Derby Public Library Wednesday to learn about Christmas celebrations through the ages from local history coordinator Mary Bisaccia.

She described a variety of traditions that today range from decorating in an "understated, classical" way with wreaths and candles in windows to colored lights, blow-up characters, and more. Light was always a Christmas symbol, Bisaccia said, and the custom of decorating exteriors of houses became "mainstream" in the mid-1950s, she said.

Valley towns traditionally put up holiday banners, decorate street lights with garlands, and light a community Christmas tree, Bisaccia said. 
She mentioned a generous donation of a live tree to the City of Derby in 2007 from residents Gary and Diane Cirillo. 
The evergreen stands in the center of the Green and it is lit each year on the Friday after Thanksgiving.

Bisaccia said trees that are green throughout the year had a special meaning in ancient times. Decorating with evergreen boughs was thought to keep away "witches, ghosts, and evil spirits," she said.

Today's Christmas tree tradition started in the 16th century in Germany, Bisaccia said. Trees were adorned with apples, nuts, and marzipan candies.
Bisaccia said Protestant Reformer Martin Luther (1483-1546) was the first to add lighted candles to an evergreen tree. He wanted to replicate the effect of twinkling stars in the night sky, she said.

Fast forward to the 20th century, and you learn that the 
first holiday tree in Rockefeller Center in New York City was put up by construction workers in 1931. Bisaccia
said the tallest tree to date at Rockefeller Center hailed from Killingworth in 1948. 
Modern-day trees at Rockefeller Center feature more than 25,000 colored lights.

The most popular evergreens used for Christmas trees are Scotch pine, Douglas fir, Frazer fir, Balsam white, and pine.

This is just a sample of the large amount of history and interesting tidbits Bisaccia provides. She outlines Yuletide traditions in Britain, Guatemala, Brazil, Ireland, Sweden, Spain, Italy, the Philippines, and more.

I urge you to stop by the library to discover the interesting history of our many holiday traditions.

Monthly local history sessions are held from 6-7:30 p.m. Tuesdays and 10 a.m.-noon Wednesdays at the library, 313 Elizabeth St.