Thursday Thirteen #6

THIRTEEN FACTS ABOUT
BOSTON'S CHRISTMAS TREE

1. The relationship between Massachusetts and Nova Scotia goes back as far as the days of the colonies, but one specific event is responsible for the Boston Christmas tree.

On the morning of Dec. 9, 1917, two ships (one carrying munitions) collided in the Halifax Harbor. The resulting explosion destroyed part of the city of Halifax, killed more than 1,900 people, and injured more than 9,000. It was Nova Scotia's greatest disaster. Within 24 hours a train from Boston arrived with doctors, nurses, and supplies; they were the first to arrive and the last to leave, a fact that the people of Nova Scotia did not forget.

2. As a thank you for Boston’s help following the 1917 Halifax Explosion, Nova Scotia has donated a giant evergreen to the people of Boston each year since 1971.

3. The Nova Scotia tree is Boston’s official Christmas tree and the focal point of the yearly televised lighting on Boston Common. For several years, representatives of Nova Scotia have joined the City of Boston for the lighting ceremony.

4. The tree generally comes from a private land owner and is selected by the Nova Scotia Department of Natural Resources.

5. The tree must be balsam fir, white spruce, or red spruce.

6. The chosen tree must be forty-five to fifty feet tall.

7. The tree must also be healthy with good color, medium to heavy density, uniform and symmetrical, and be easy to access.

8. The tree is lit in late November or early December during an annual public tree lighting ceremony and stays lit into the new year.

9. This year's tree was donated by Christopher and Lisa Hamilton of Annapolis County, who became part of Nova Scotia history here Wednesday.

10. They gifted a 65-year-old white spruce which will be delivered on Friday.

11. The man who built their house was from Concord, Mass. He and his wife and their family spent their summers here in Nova Scotia and planted the tree in 1942.

12. Ross Pentz, a Christmas tree specialist with the Department of Natural Resources, has picked the Boston tree for the past six years. He said he spotted this tree a couple of years ago and has had it on his list of eligible Christmas trees. While several trees are identified, the final selection is made in October, after the hurricane season.

13. 300 school children were bussed in to watch Andrew Ross, a student in the forestry program at Nova Scotia Community College’s Bridgewater campus, fell this year's tree.

* * *

The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others comments. It’s easy, and fun! Be sure to update your Thirteen with links that are left for you, as well!

Get the Thursday Thirteen code here!

View More Thursday Thirteen Participants