A Very Merry Greenwich Village and East Village Christmas
Christmastime in the city is like no other; rosy cheeks from ice skating at the many outdoor rinks throughout the city, arms overflowing with a festive bounty of gifts and delights for the holiday season, and (if we’re lucky) our beloved streets dusted in glistening snow. And while many think of uptown destinations as home to all the best holiday hotspots, with sites like Macy’s and Rockefeller Center, Greenwich Village offers New Yorkers its own winter wonderland as well. Join us—and Dasher, Dancer, and Prancer—and explore Greenwich Village during the most wonderful time of year!
Tree Lighting in Washington Square Park
One of our neighborhood’s oldest, and most cherished, ongoing traditions is the annual tree lighting in Washington Square Park, sponsored by the Washington Square Association (WSA) for the past century. This tree lighting predates its more famous (and flashy) Rockefeller Center counterpart by seven years, establishing it as the oldest celebration of its kind in the city. In December 1924, Gustavus T. Kirby, president of the WSA, envisioned the tree lighting as a timeless affair. He had a 35-foot spruce permanently planted in the park, hoping it would grow taller year after year. The original plan for the festivities included projecting the lyrics to various Christmas songs onto the park’s stately arch, allowing carolers to sing along.
Placed at the foot of Fifth Avenue, our neighborhood tree traditionally comes from Vermont to be lit up by 1500 amber, green, and red iridescent lights, allowing all to enjoy its dazzling merriment. And while the evergreen is no longer rooted beneath the park’s cobblestone walkway, the WSA still sponsors the yuletide celebration, and its essence has endured the test of time. Today, in addition to the annual lighting and caroling, spectators are joined by Santa Claus himself, candy canes (and possible presents) in hand!
St. Mark’s in-the-Bowery Church
Luckily, merriment and cheer is not limited to Washington Square Park during the holiday season. At this time of year, it seems as if every street corner and store window is decked out in festive decor. One of our favorite festive spots, St. Mark’s Church in-the-Bowery, is in the East Village (behind the sea of Christmas trees that are sold during this season on the sidewalk bordering its perimeter).
The church’s roots date back centuries. In 1651, the Governor of New Netherlands, Peter Stuyvesant, purchased the site’s land from the Dutch West India Company where he had a private chapel built atop his bouwerie (farm) or his family. And in 1795, after Stuyvesant’s death and the land’s $1 acquisition by The Episcopal Church in 1793, construction for what is now known as St. Mark’s Church in-the-Bowery began — making the church the oldest site of continuous worship in Manhattan. The Church finished its initial construction in 1799 and officially opened. Over the past two centuries, St. Mark’s Church in-the-Bowery impact has extended beyond worship, immersing itself in its community as a haven for the arts, social justice, and more.
And Christmastime is no stranger to St. Mark’s Church in-the-Bowery. For decades, the church has staged concerts, held holiday markets, and Christmas craft fairs, and continues to offer religious services open to the public on Christmas Eve and day.
As the holiday season continues to unfold, it’s obvious that Christmastime in Greenwich Village and the East Village are uniquely festive. From the sparkling tree lighting in Washington Square Park to the historic warmth of St. Mark’s Church in-the-Bowery, our neighborhood is filled with tradition, joy, and community spirit. This holiday season, we invite you to join us in celebrating these timeless traditions and creating new memories in one of New York’s most beloved neighborhoods.