OCEAN CITY – It is beginning to look a lot like Christmas. Throughout the county, from Ocean City to Cape May, from Upper Township to Lower Township, from Woodbine to Wildwood, bountiful yuletide decorations are being erected, displayed and rejoiced. It all starts with the tree.
The evergreen tree has its roots in ancient cultures. Egypt, China, Judah and Rome had similar winter rituals in which the tree represented eternal life. This notion appealed to both Protestant and Catholic followers of Christ — first in Germany during the Renaissance, then the United Kingdom in the 18th century.
The practice of decorating the tree flourished throughout Europe and the Americas in the 19th century. Early decorations such as candles, pine cones and candies turned into 20th century innovations including strings of lights (thanks to The Edison Electric Illuminating Co.) and wooden and glass ornaments, mainly imported from Germany and the UK.
The decorated tree became the epicenter of the Christmas spirit. Indoor and outdoor trees were ornamented and alighted. Community Christmas trees in town squares and city neighborhoods became commonplace. Many homes and businesses were dripping with decorations, which brings us to the here and now.
During the first week of November, Ocean City prepares for its own holiday production. A 22-foot Norway spruce is erected in front of City Hall. Lampposts are wrapped in ribbon. Garlands with wreaths are hung and stretched across downtown streets in anticipation of “Christmas in the Downtown — Our Miracle on Asbury Avenue,” set for Nov. 28.
“The best thing about the holidays in Ocean City is how the community comes together,” Burgermeister (aka mayor) Jay Gillian said. “We always take care of our own through food and clothing drives, and it’s also a chance for neighbors to celebrate the season together. The perfect example of that is our Miracle on Asbury Avenue celebration. It represents everything a small town should be.”
Put on by the Ocean City Regional Chamber of Commerce and local merchants, the event is billed as an old-fashioned downtown Christmas, culminating with a holiday-themed drone light show, heralding the arrival of old St. Nick and the city’s tree lighting.
Also on Nov. 28, Stone Harbor’s celebration kicks off at 10 a.m. with The Women’s Civic Club’s Winter Wonderland Festival of Trees at 96th Street and the beach, where trees and wreaths are decorated by local merchants for a silent auction — all proceeds will benefit local charities. The evening ends with the borough’s tree lighting at Reeds, 96th Street and Third Avenue.
Cape May turns into
winter wonderland
If there were a National Whoville Competition, Cape May would win.
“The town itself looks like a Christmas card … there just seems to be a magic around the Christmas holiday that makes Cape May that extra special place to spend time with family,” city Burgermeister (aka mayor) Zachary Mullock says.
Walking through the Washington Street Mall is sure to inspire that Hallmark feeling.
The day after Halloween, Cape May starts to unwrap and break out Christmas decorations. On Nov. 11, when we passed by Harry’s Ocean Bar & Grill, there was no trace of their autumn spooky Boo Bar, just the usual sand-colored floors and sun-bleached white walls.
Just two days later, it was clear that an army of elves had descended on the eatery and transformed it into the Jingle Bar, leaving glittery garlands, sparkling multi-colored lights, flashy ornaments and tinsel everywhere.
“Innovation is what makes us click,” said Harry’s food and beverage manager Aspasia Bournousouzis.
The mastermind behind the spectacular spectacle, Bournousouzis looks around, takes in the visual joy of the pop-up she said elves created. “I love innovation.”
Across town, inside their holly jolly hotel, Shirley Pinney and Patrick Wall bustle and hustle to adorn Elaine’s with Christmas delights.
“Every year it’s different,” Wall said when asked about their approach to decorating. “One year it’s reindeer and the next, snowmen. The difference keeps people coming back.”
“This year we have a special decoration. All I can say is that it’s 20 feet tall and will be up around Thanksgiving,” Wall added.
Thanksgiving seems to be the deadline for all the season’s greetings decorators.
A key part of Cape May’s fabled holiday decorating is Congress Hall. Under the aegis of Cape Resorts, Congress Hall and its sister property, The Virginia Hotel, create classic Americana holiday magic.
At the helm of this elaborate operation is Projects and Decor Manager Wendy Guiles, who oversees a winter wonderland.
Guiles, along with Chief Maintenance Manager Tony Montefusco, explain that preparing for the holidays entails an intense four weeks of focused creativity, including constructing a Christmas Village composed of 21 vendors, fashioning an old-school carousel, forming 288 poinsettias into one grand poinsettia tree next to Santa’s throne, and flying in a 35-foot blue spruce for the oceanfront courtyard.
“At Congress Hall, we go really big, more fabulous each year …Winter Wonderland has a very classic Christmas feeling, with a nutcracker-candy cane theme,” Guiles said.
The same unique holiday spirit permeates the Virginia Hotel, albeit on a more intimate scale. The decor is more whimsical and features a panoply of Santa figures placed strategically to surprise and delight both children and adults.
At night, while Congress Hall resounds with live Christmas music performances, the Virginia will relax with jazzy piano tunes.
With the decor, costumed staff, musicians and other creative talent, including Santas, Cape Resorts’ offerings rival the most sophisticated Hollywood production.
It’s no wonder that folks across the globe make a holiday pilgrimage to Cape May. The celebrations continue across the county through Christmas. If Dr. Seuss were alive today, he might have the local citizenry sing in chorus:
Fah Who Foraze
Dah Who Doraze
Welcome Christmas
Christmas Day
Decorations are what tie the birth of Christ and the myth of Santa, the gift-giving and merriment making, the parties and parades, the festivities and feasts, culminating with 12 days of Christmas. Few do it better than Cape May County.
Tree lighting ceremonies
— Sea Isle City: 6 p.m. Nov. 28 at Excursion Park
— Cape May Court House: 2 to 6 p.m. Nov. 29 Santa’s Tree Lighting Celebration at the Cape May County Park and Zoo
— Wildwood Crest: 5 p.m. Dec. 1 at Sunset Lake
— Lower Township: 7 p.m. Dec. 2, Recreation Center, 2600 Bayshore Road
— Middle Township: 6 p.m. Dec. 8, Christmas Parade and Tree Lighting at Memorial Field.
— West Cape May: Tree lighting 6 p.m. Dec. 5 at Wilbraham Park. Parade 5 p.m. Dec. 6.
— Wildwood: 7 p.m. Dec. 5 at Byrne Plaza.
— Cape May: 7 p.m. Dec. 5 at Rotary Park, 7:30 p.m. Dec. 5 at Congress Hall
By MARC JOHNSON and MARLISA VINCIGUERRA/For the Sentinel
