A calm winter's evening lent atmosphere to the lighting of the Dublin city centre Christmas tree yesterday. Though the streets had been hung for weeks with the sparkle of the season, last night marked the official beginning of Christmas when Lord Mayor, Cllr Paddy Bourke, switched on the tree lights in the centre of O'Connell Street.
Up to 2,500 onlookers held their breath while, following a tradition started by Sir Daniel Bellingham in 1665, the Lord Mayor illuminated the tree at precisely 6pm.
The St Andrew's Choir burst into Joy to the Worldand the perfect 50ft sitka spruce from Kildare was illuminated with 1,000 lights.
The event marked the finale of the annual Festival of Light parade, which began at Wolfe Tone Park. The 200-strong parade included stilt walking Santas, 10ft angels, a Chinese lion, samba and Latvian dancers, as well as the Dublin Fire Brigade Pipe Band and participants from this year's Special Olympics in China.
Children from the Rose Project, an Aids awareness charity, also took part, hanging 20 red ribbons on the tree to highlight Aids Awareness Day on December 1st. The Lord Mayor urged citizens to take part in the many events taking place in the capital this year, including the Live Animal Crib at the Mansion House.
Brothers Angelo and Geraldo Marsella, aged 11 and 12, from Dominic Street, took part in the parade, which was co-ordinated by Down to Earth Theatre Company through the Bradog Regional Youth Service. They were dressed as presents and said they had been practising for weeks.
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