① Canadian Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony
Every Christmas season, a tree lighting ceremony is held in Canada. This event occurs in Orillia, Ontario, about a month before Christmas.
The lighting ceremony, which has been held for over 40 years, is accompanied by a hemlock tree in front of the local opera house. Hundreds of people gather here at the end of the year to see the hemlock tree adorned with dazzling lights.
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the event was not held in 2020 and 2021, but it resumed last year and was held again on November 17, 2023.
② Complaints about Disappointing Lighting Ceremony
Videos posted on social media show that many residents gathered at the lighting ceremony site this year. Crowds gathered in front of the tree for the countdown.
Following the people’s countdown, the tree lights were turned on. The crowd, who had been cheering and applauding as the tree lights came on, began to murmur.
The LED bulbs were only wrapped around the trunk of the tree. People who visited the place expecting dazzling tree lights and decorations were disappointed to see the tree.
Some people, unable to believe the situation, started another countdown. However, since the tree’s appearance was not a mistake, the lights remained the same even after the countdown.
③ A More Dazzling Parade
According to CTV News in Canada, after 40 years of hosting the event, the branches of the Christmas tree have started to droop. The organizers of the event have decided that placing decorations and lights on the branches can negatively affect the condition of the tree and pose potential safety risks.
There was, of course, the option to get a new tree, but this year, they decided to use the existing tree but only decorate the trunk to minimize the risk of accidents.
People who attended the lighting ceremony shared videos on social media, pouring out ridicule such as “disappointing” and “the worst lighting ceremony ever.”
However, the change in this year’s lighting ceremony was announced in advance. They had previously announced that they would only install lights on the trunk of the tree, which had been used for the Christmas tree every year, as it had become old.
They also announced that they would put more effort into the parade than the lighting ceremony itself. Those who murmured at the sight of the relatively sparse tree were tourists who were unaware of this fact.
This year’s Christmas event in Orillia had a different lighting ceremony than before, but with a more dazzling parade, local residents could enjoy together on the streets.
By. Sung Min Seo
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