Christmas

Not everybody straps a tree on the top of their car.

On the hood of a '59 Plymouth Belvedere.

Michal Skrzypek noticed some really tiny trees for sale outside the Hynes today.

BosGuy, who took the video, reports the police showed up late for the annual charity run (Ed. question: Recovering from pulling tents down at Dewey Square earlier in the morning?):

Without a police presence, crowds lining the streets forced the normally busy Boylston Street to one lane and Newbury Street was jammed resulting in less time for runners to pose and play both before and after the run.

Still, the run raised $250,000 for the Play Ball Foundation.

Jeff Cutler surveyed the crowd at the Boston Pops' annual attempt to break the world record for most carolers in one place. Was it enough or are we still not world class?

The Pops try for the second year to garner a world record for the most people singing Christmas carols in one place at one time, starting at noon at the Christian Science plaza. They'll need nearly 10,000 people to join in.

Cara and kids visit with Santa in Roslindale. Mike Ball visits with Tom Menino in Hyde Park.

Without the Christmas tree made of lobster traps.

Joey McIntyre will help usher in the city's official Christmas tree on Dec. 1.

McIntyre will perform during the pre-lighting ceremony on the Common at 7 p.m. before the tree - an annual gift from Nova Scotia - is switched on. Other performers include American Idol finalist Siobhan Magnus, the Radio City Rockettes, Rockapella, the Boston Ballet, the Boston Children's Choir and saxophonist Grace Kelly.

Mayor Menino, Santa Claus, Deputy Nova Scotia Premier Frank Corbett and some Mounties will throw the switch to light up the 45-foot white spruce donated this year by Ken and Donna Spinney of Central Argyle. The province donates a tree to the city in honor of the medical aid Boston sent to Halifax after an explosion in Halifax harbor in 1917 caused by a collision between two ships, one fully loaded with munitions.

They turned on the lights on the Christmas tree at Faneuil Hall Marketplace tonight. Nathanael Hevelone was there.

Posted under this Creative Commons license and in the Universal Hub pool on Flickr.

Disgusted citizen is disgusted; complains to the city about the new marketplace Christmas tree:

This Christmas tree in FH is a disgrace and needs to be replaced.

The city throws up its municipal hands:

Case Invalid. Under jurisdiction of marketplace association. they should be contacted directed w/ comments.

Yes, that's a lit Christmas tree in an apartment at Washington and Beech streets tonight. And while you can't tell from the photo, the lights were blinking.

A roving UHub correspondent, meanwhile, reports another lit tree on Canterbury Street, opposite the Sacred Heart School.

At least at the West Roxbury Home Depot, 80-degree temperatures on this Columbus Day weekend (and Thanksgiving) be damned.

It was "We can't put this off another day" day in the South End, I guess?

Beth attended Christmas Eve services at Central Congregational Church in Middleboro, the first services there since a devastating fire in 2009.

Copyright Beth. Posted in the Universal Hub pool on Flickr.

Scott Eisen was at the Hingham Armory today when the 1058th Transportation Company of the National Guard returned home from Iraq.

Copyright Scott Eisen.

Julie C. discovers Mrs. Mallard and the ducklings have gotten in the holiday spirit.

Copyright Julie C. Posted in the Universal Hub pool on Flickr.

Bob Ward makes some valid points in his rant about how much better New York does Christmas than Boston these days: We get the second-string Rockettes now and have to drive to Avon to see the Enchanted Village.

But he just can't leave bad enough alone:

How did you let it all slip away? Is Christmas really that politically incorrect? Are people really offended by the idea of Christmas? I remind you, the song is called Joy to the World, not Joy to the Christian World.

Or was it the rush to create the secular and safe First Night that began the decline of Boston's Christmas?

William McAdoo teaches us (well, me) something new: "Jingle Bells" was originally written about sleigh races down Salem Street (Savannah, GA can just shut it with its claim to the song).

Medford's claim to infamy.

Fitzgerald's maudlin Christmas column today (about some woman who hasn't talked to her daughter in years) got me to thinking: Hey, waitaminnit, what about his annual The Jew Who Loves Christmas column? Why, his column about a Jew fighting the War on Christmas is as much a part of Christmas in Boston as the Enchanted Village the tree at the Prudential Center Santas in Speedos. Turns out I was just remiss in my Herald reading: Joe dredged up another Christmas-loving Jew earlier this month. Phew. Eggnog, anyone?

Those tips add up. Leslee caught him in action the other day at Dartmouth and Newbury streets.

Posted under this Creative Commons license and in the Universal Hub pool on Flickr.

Greg Cook took photos at Rockport's Nativity pageant.

Matt Conti posts photos from the North End Christmas parade.

Rob Stanhope posted photos from the Somerville Jingle Run today.

Looks like Santa dropped into the Back Bay today to check on his helpers during the annual SSR charity run. Courtney Sacco snapped his photo.

How many of the runners do you think were grateful the run was today instead of yesterday? Scott Eisen captured some:

Historygradguy took in the start of the race:

Photos copyright by Courtney Sacco, Scott Eisen and Historygradguy, respectively. Sacco's and Historygrad guy's photos posted in the Universal Hub pool on Flickr; Eisen's photo used by permission.