New Canaan at Christmas
I don’t know if it’s because of the God’s Acre celebration or the quaintness of New Canaan’s Elm Street. It could even be because New Canaan is a quintessentially New England small town and Christmas stories so often take place in towns that have a quintessential New England small town feel (with a ample amount of snow, of course). But in doing a little research for our December Market Report we came across a number of articles and blog entries about New Canaan at Christmas.
All of them touched on the caroling at God’s acre and pointed out the uniqueness of that event. But nothing captured our town in the holiday spirit better then a past New York Times article we came across written many years ago by Michael Knight.
Just read the beginning of his article, called, “New Canaan’s Picture Book Christmas,’’ and then ask yourself if you don’t feel at least a little blessed to have enjoyed the Christmas holidays here in New Canaan:
“There must be someone somewhere who pinpoints the events that measure off life and marks the years, who notes down in some great book the precise moment an era begins, the second a chance is lost or the minute that a love is born.
“If there is such a person, he or she knows beyond a doubt that Christmas starts this evening at 6:25 PM and that it begins in New Canaan, Connecticut amid snow-covered hills, steepled white churches and images of a picture book New England village at Christmas time.
“To be there at the exact moment when it happens and to take part in one of the most unique Christmas celebrations in the New York metropolitan region, one need only ride the 5:07 PM train from Grand Central Terminal to New Canaan, or arrange to be there beforehand.”
“Two blocks up a steep hill on Park Street and clustered around an old burying ground called God’s Acre will be thousands of people waiting for the last commuter to join family, friends and neighbors. And then, as it has without fail or change for more than 50 years, a mass outdoor celebration of Christmas caroling will begin.”
A little later in the article, Knight ventures away from God’s acre to check out our town’s village.
“For anyone who arrives a few hours early, there are the pleasures of exploring this cheery village of unusual grace.
One of the unique pleasures of a few hours in New Canaan is the chance to stroll and shop along its main thoroughfares (Elm, Main, Park, South, and East), which together create a curious kind of intensively urban experience plunked down in the woods miles from the nearest expressway.”
There are many poignant moments during a holiday season to capture, but certainly Mr. Knight did a nice job of capturing New Canaan on a cheerful Christmas Eve.
There are quite a few events other than caroling at God’s acre that can be fun for you and your family to enjoy. Below are a few of the highlights. I hope these events help you and your family get into the holiday spirit.
The Holiday Stroll – December 5th from 5:30 to 8:00 p.m. and December 6th, from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. The fourth annual Holiday Stroll features music and dance performances, a Gingerbread House Tour, face painting, a magician, and a lot more. Santa Claus arrives at 6 p.m. Friday. More info at NewCanaanVillageAssociation.com.
Historical Society Holiday Open House, Dec. 6, 10:00-4:00 p.m. Call 966-1776 for more info.
Breakfast with Santa – December 13 from 8:00-11:00 a.m. at Waveny House. Open to New Canaan residents (kids ages 1-10) Enjoy breakfast treats and meet Santa. Call 594-3600 for more info. Reservations required.
Annual Holiday Concert Dec. 17th at 8:00 at the First Presbyterian Church featuring the New Canaan High School Madrigals and Chorus. Free. Call for more info: 966-0002.
Christmas Caroling on God’s Acre - December 24th 6:30 p.m. New Canaan’s cherished Christmas celebration, which dates back to 1910, is one of the most unique anywhere. The caroling on God’s Acre, amidst candle lights and in the shadow of white steeple churches, offers a picture book setting and is a great way to get in touch with the joyful spirit of Christmas.
