Picture by Atlanta Journal-Structure Photographic Archives, Particular Collections and Archives, Georgia State College Libraries
Someplace within the household archives, there is a image of me as a child sitting on Santa Claus’ lap, my face bunched up in a teary-eyed primal scream. Clearly, the thought of jolly ol’ Saint Nick did not sit effectively with me.
The picture was taken inside Wealthy’s division retailer downtown, and though I’ve no particular recollection of it, I believe that the afternoon included a experience on the well-known Pink Pig. I imply, who can convey a child to the wealthy through the vacation season and never put them on a pink pig?
However I keep in mind that night. Forsyth was flanked by two five-story division retailer buildings: the “Retailer for Vogue” and the “Retailer for Properties”. They have been linked by the Crystal Bridge, 4 glass-enclosed walkways stacked on high of one another, one for every of the constructing’s high 4 flooring.
Began as a advertising and marketing ploy in 1948, the nice tree lighting on Thanksgiving night time rapidly turned a neighborhood custom. It was even featured on its cowl the time Journal in 1961, and on the Atlanta skyline of the day, it was a beacon that may very well be seen from miles away.
Within the weeks main as much as the lighting, native tv information will observe the tree’s journey, from the choice course of for the 70- to 90-foot-tall white pine to being lifted into place for a reside broadcast of an enormous crane to chop it. . I am unable to start to think about the challenges of adorning an enormous Christmas tree 5 tales above the bottom on a slim walkway. The lights require 13 miles {of electrical} wire.
Earlier than the tree lighting, every walkway on Crystal Bridge will probably be crammed with native singers singing Christmas carols. Illuminated by brilliant lights contained in the walkway, and set towards the night time sky, the singers appeared like messengers despatched from heaven. Above them, over the very best bridge and hidden within the darkness, hid the primary occasion of the night: the Nice Tree.
On this Thanksgiving night time, my household ventured out into the frigid air to face within the crowd exterior the shop on Forsyth Avenue. I huddled towards the chilly, perched on my father’s shoulder, watching in amazement as a singer sang 5 tales above us.
The second is without end etched in my reminiscence. The 4 decks of the bridge gentle up because the choir joins in singing “O Holy Evening.” And when a soloist “Hey Ratri Divya” reached the hovering line, the tree lights got here to life.
It was essentially the most beautiful factor my younger eyes had ever seen: basketball-sized ornaments and mirror balls reflecting multi-colored lights and an enormous, glowing snowflake on high.
Even one of the best traditions change or fade. Rich was offered, then folded into the Macy’s chain. The lights of the Nice Tree have been moved to Underground Atlanta for a number of years. Since 2000, the tree lighting has been held in Lenox Sq.. However the tree is now synthetic, and it stands in a parking zone quite than above town skyline. The choice was made after a crane increase broke in 2012, a free-fall crash on the Nice Deal with Macy’s and a gap within the roof above the boys’s retailer.
The custom of the pink pig additionally lives on. We give it a nostalgic take a look at this month’s Huge Image, as a contemporary model returns this vacation season on the Georgia Pageant of Bushes on the Fuel South Conference Middle in Duluth. It is solely proper that the Pink Pig is featured in our annual Better of Atlanta difficulty, because it’s considered one of Atlanta’s most iconic “bests.”
So, too, nice bushes. A long time away from my childhood, that is considered one of my favourite ghosts of Christmas previous.
This text seems in our December 2024 difficulty.
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