Christmas Eve

Posted on December 24, 2016December 24, 2016 by Dusty Roads

It’s Christmas Eve day and I have the tree lights on and carols playing in the background. I’m making my list for one last run to the grocery store. But I want to take a minute to share my adopted home town through the years. I live in Taunton, MA nicknamed “The Christmas City.

Taunton Green 2010

Long before I moved here Taunton earned the name Christmas City for it’s Holiday display at the intersection of Routs 44 and 138. All roads led to Taunton back in those days. In 1914 when the tradition began there was no Route 24, 95 , 495 or 128. If you wanted to get someplace south of Boston you probably had to go through Taunton.

Taunton Green 2011

I moved to Taunton in 2006 but I didn’t start photographing the “Green” with it’s Christmas Display until 2010. But I have made an effort to document the different displays every year since.

Taunton Green 2012

I hope you enjoy this visual visit to The Christmas City, past and present.

Taunton Green 2013

Taunton Green 2014

Taunton Green 2015

And last but not least, this year, 2016. The Holiday Train, Polar Express or however you want to think of this iconic Christmas Present, is the theme this year.

Taunton Green 2016

Nice Job Taunton. Easy to see why you are The Christmas City!

Frozen – Town Green 2014

Posted on December 22, 2014December 22, 2014 by Dusty Roads

Taunton Green 2014

I made a trip over to the “Green” and used my new camera for the first real time. I’ve been snapping pics around the house but this was my first real photo excursion. Maybe it was me and that the camera is still a bit unfamiliar but I don’t think I really captured the beauty of the display this year. But I promised to share so here they are. The theme is Frozen loosely based on the Disney movie.

The big tree is crooked. I doubled checked and it wasn’t me it was the tree. 🙂

It’s Still the Christmas City

Posted on December 21, 2014December 21, 2014 by Dusty Roads

In this era of political correctness where formerly mainstream concepts have to take a “back seat” to the minority out of “sensitivity”, I am proud of my City of Taunton. Since December 1914, the city of Taunton has provided a large annual light display each December on Taunton Green, giving it the additional nickname of “Christmas City”.

Taunton Green 2010

Each year a banner proudly proclaims “The Christmas City” over the display in the center of town. The display includes angels (gasp), and a nativity scene, (What!), a menorah, and even Santa Claus and to the best of my knowledge there has not been any complaint. Everyone I know looks forward to the Lighting of the Green. Every year, no matter the theme, the paths are lined with lighted Christmas trees, and families stroll the lighted paths.

Taunton Green 2011

It’s beautiful. Soft music, Christmas Carols, is piped in playing in the background.

Taunton Green 2012

For the last several years, since I got interested in photography, I’ve made it a point to photograph the Green in all of it’s Festive Glory.

Taunton Green 2013

This is a time when Santa Claus is banned from school Christmas parties…oh sorry Holiday parties, and other towns change the name of the December School vacation from Christmas Vacation to Winter vacation. Everyone is so afraid to offend instead of fostering understanding, tolerance and mutual acceptance.

Christmas trees are a pagan symbol but they have been embraced as a symbol of Christmas, a melding of different faiths. Beautiful decorated fireplaces are a tradition in many homes but the Yule Log was borrowed from the Wiccan celebration of Yule before it became associated with December 25.

I am happy Taunton stands by its tradition and I hope it will continue for many years to come. I hope someday people of other faiths will not feel so threatened by a Christian holiday that they can embrace the festive beauty of the season and enjoy it too. You don’t have to be a Christian to appreciate the colorful lights and artistic displays.

Taunton Green 2014

I have no wish to offend my Jewish, Muslin, Buddhist and Wiccan friends or any other religion I may have missed but I will end this post in the spirit of the season.

Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night!

2013 Taunton Green

Posted on December 24, 2013December 24, 2013 by Dusty Roads

Christmas is almost here and I still hadn’t found time to take pictures of the Taunton Green. I started photographing The Green 3 years ago in 2010. I know that isn’t that long but I didn’t have the camera before that! 🙂 Now I consider it a tradition and as I explained in my last post about the lighting of the Green, this year is special. It’s the 100th year.

So with the clock ticking I braved the rain, yes rain and headed to the Green. It’s about 38 degrees and raining off and on. It’s rained all day, sometimes quite hard. It’s seemed to be tapering off since I headed out. Northern New England got an ice storm and snow so I guess I should be counting my blessings.

I covered the camera with a plastic baggie with a hole cut for the lens but found it hard to see through the viewfinder. I decided to gamble and take the baggie off. I kept it handy incase the rain started again.

Remember the big round things that were being built? Turns out they were layers of a cake.

There’s the Christmas City banner along with Seasons Greetings and Happy Holidays and lots of trees.

We have a Nativity Scene and Elves and lots and lots of lights.

The rain started again so I’m wrapping up the shoot. I hope you enjoy this peak at the Green 2013.

Here comes Santa Claus , here comes…

Posted on October 28, 2013October 28, 2013 by Dusty Roads

It isn’t even Halloween! We still have to get through Thanksgiving! But Taunton, the Christmas City, is already beginning to prepare for the big display on the Taunton Green.

In a way I can forgive them. They do go all out when they decorate and often they have to build some of the displays to avoid repeating too many from the past. They try to make it new and different each year.

I think Taunton usually has a “lighting Ceremony” the first week in December but more and more surrounding communities are lighting up in mid- November, even before Thanksgiving!

Last year was the first time I noticed the way the display seemed to grow. Before I never paid any attention. I’d just be driving home one night and there it was, all lit up… Just like magic !

They are building something around the fountain again but the design is different. This green and white thing showed up Friday. I’m making guesses in my head as to what this will be. Maybe a drum? Will they build another Jack-in-the- box?

Last year I had my doubts as I watched this huge box get built in the middle of the green. I really thought it was going to be ugly. In the end it wasn’t bad at all.