B Scene Zine Holiday Issue

B Scene Zine December, 2021

Inside:

NYC Holiday Traditions

• 3rd & B'Zaar

• EVVC

• Hekate

• Main Event

• Brix

• ATKH

And other New York Holiday Traditions

Christmas Tree Drop with

Santa Clawz.

Tuesday, Dec. 21, 6-9 PM

The Main Event, 42 Ave. B

The neighborhood’s holiday spirit was lit along with the lights on the Tompkins Square Christmas Tree on Sunday, fulfilling a tradition celebrated by local residents every holiday season for the last 30 years. It’s part of rich New York City holiday history.

In a 2013 oral history interview with the Greenwich Village Society for Historic Preservation, Albert Fabozzi said he planted the tree in memory of park advocate Glenn Barnett, lighting it for the first time at Christmas 1992.

“Now that we got the tree, let’s celebrate it. We’ll do it every holiday, and we’ll do it in memory of those we lost—our neighbors and people who passed away from AIDS and stuff,” Fabozzi said.

According to the City Parks Department, Christmas tree lighting is an old tradition in Manhattan, dating to at least 1912 when Madison Square Park hosted the first municipal tree lighting ceremony.

The City Hall tree lighting began the following year, Washington Square joined the tradition in 1924, the Rockefeller Center tree was

Editorial: Fucking Scott

Legal: Notorious KHP

Cover photo: Benjamin Green Marketing: Jake H.

first lit in 1931 and in 1934 tree lighting ceremonies spread citywide.

Many other well-known Christmas traditions also have roots in the city, including Santa Claus himself.

The New York Times notes that New Yorker Washington Irving named gift-giving St. Nick the state’s patron saint in 1809. Clement Clarke Moore, of the family that owned Chelsea, wrote the poem that came to be known as “The Night Before Christmas” which contained the first description of Santa Claus.

New York cartoonist Thomas Nast is said to have relied on Moore’s inspiration to come up with the first drawing of the iconic Santa with his white beard and red suit with white trim. The drawing was first published in 1862 by Harper’s Weekly, which was, of course, based in New York.

Other Christmas traditions that started here according to The Times: A Santa in Thanksgiving Day Parades (Gimbel’s in 1920; Macy’s in 1924) and the sale of poinsettias, beginning in 1870

Shop Small This Holiday Season visit 3rd and B'Zaar's Holiday Market, 191 E. 3rd St., & East Village Vintage Collective, 545 E. 12th St., for gifts for everyone on your list, including yourself! Both shops are open Wed-Sun, 1-6 PM

Wine

170 Avenue B

212 777-0691

22, 172, 188 E. 2nd St