Georgetowners Enjoy December’s First Week of Yuletide Fetes

Christmas season entered with a rush in Washington, D.C., as soon as the Thanksgiving turkey was eaten. Even on Thanksgiving Day, the U.S. Botanic Garden displayed its holiday- season decorations, featuring depictions of some of the capital’s most famous memorials and buildings, including the Smithsonian’s National Museum of African American History and Culture, made out of leaves, twigs and natural materials.

During the first week after Thanksgiving, Georgetowners could watch the lighting of some of the District’s most glorious Christmas decorations and trees. On Nov. 25, Mayor Muriel Bowser lit CityCenterDC’s huge tree. A few days later, the retail complex unveiled its warmly furnished Ice Lounge. Then, on Nov. 30, President Donald Trump and the first lady lit the National Christmas Tree at the Ellipse, south of the White House.

Back in Georgetown on Dec. 2, the Swedish community held a Swedish Christmas bazaar of crafts, gifts and food at the glass-enclosed, multi-storied House of Sweden and Swedish Embassy on Georgetown’s waterfront. At dusk, began the traditional St. Lucia parade of girls and boys singing Swedish and English Christmas and folk songs, wearing white gowns and crowns of candles. Later, Georgetown University hosted a Mexican ballet folklórico with a modest Posadas march of the faithful.

Santa Claus arrives on a motor tricycle at Volta Park. Photo by Mance Edmondson.

On Sunday morning, Dec. 3, at Volta Park, the sounds of children’s laughter filled the playground and park as children and their parents met Santa Claus and colored a child-size cardboard card house with crayons. Midday, the lobby and downstairs terraces of the Four Seasons Hotel glowed with the lights and shapes of nine unique Christmas trees, designed by some of Washington’s top interior decorators for the “Light Up the Season” event, a benefit for Children’s National Health System. The ballroom rocked with the exuberant singing and dancing of Alexandria’s Metropolitan School of the Arts’ “Frosty Follies.”

“On Angels’ Tree” by Boffi Walter and B&B Italian’s Brian Fell, at “Light Up the Season” at the Four Seasons. Photo by Jessica Yurinko.