This time of year comes with some El Paso holiday traditions, such as Winterfest and the tree lighting ceremony! 🎄This tradition is actually over 100 years old, the first such tree ceremony was in 1915.

A clipping from the El Paso Herald (pic 2) states that “El Paso has a reputation for doing things that are different” and lighting a real tree in the middle of the plaza would be unique to other cities, and would “gladden many a little heart”.

The tree was brought from Cloudcroft, and stood on a wide base of lumber built in the center of the Downtown plaza. The tradition continued during the years, with the years 1949 and 1950 setting a height record of 80-foot trees, the average height for the live trees being at 70 feet.

But we think height doesn’t matter 😏 Have y’all visited the tree this year?

#ChucoThrowbackThursday #sanjacintoplaza#elpaso #downtownelpaso #christmasinelpaso