Scotia Plaza elegance
Don’t believe the critics who go on about the crass commercialism of Christmas.
And don’t believe the religious people, either, who fervently tell you that their brand of religion is “the reason for the season.”
Oh yes, all of that is wrapped up in Christmas (pun intended), there’s no doubt. But what’s really important – the real reason for the season – is the same as it’s been in the Northern Hemisphere almost since the beginning of human history.
It’s a dark, gloomy time of year, and we need the light. It’s no coincidence that virtually all northern festivals connected to the winter solstice, religious or cultural, involve lots of twinkling lights. The religions may change, and marketeers may overlay everything with commercialism, but the underlying reason for our traditions is constant, and simple: light.
So I went downtown a few days ago, looking for it. And found it everywhere, because if there’s one thing those corporations can afford, it’s to make their building decorations pretty elaborate. That’s what I’d been counting on.
Berries!
Case in point. My favourite place in recent years has been 145 King Street West, here in Toronto. They decorate their lobby and the entire underground complex beneath it with one of the most creative designs I’ve seen anywhere. They take an entire string of round red lights and clump them together so they look like a cluster of red berries. These clusters nestle all through their trees, garlands, and wreaths. They use LED lights, so the energy usage probably isn’t bad, and the result is a lot of quite beautiful decorations and a gazillion lights. Very happy-making.
Honkin' hyuge Christmas balls!
Meanwhile, the Exchange Tower replicates the type of balls that hang on Christmas trees – except that they’re huge. The Tower has a very high lobby ceiling on the main floor, over a wide opening overlooking the concourse below, and the huge blue and silver balls hang in that space. It’s fun to look straight up from down there, but even from the main floor, those decorations are glittery and delicate.
Christmas solar system
First Canadian Place has a similar open floor arrangement in a wider space. They decided this year on a bright, sparkly, sort of metallic Christmas ball/solar system look.
Scotia Plaza, always going for the elegance, went entirely with white decorations and lights on dark trees. And they added another festive element, the day I was downtown: a free noon-hour concert by the Barra MacNeils! Scotiabank is the sponsor of the family Celtic singing group’s Christmas tour. The group was to appear at the Danforth Music Hall that evening. But we visitors were treated to a great sneak peek that filled all the listeners with cheer and seasonal spirit.
Because that’s another age-old element of the solstice time. All through history, people have gathered together at this time of year for feasting and singing, probably induced by the need to find a defence against the potential loneliness and the literal darkness of the season. We didn’t have the feast, but we sure had the singing. And the clapping and foot-stomping in the audience, with a brief treat of line dancing on the stage to polish things off. And Lucy, the lone female member of the group, gave us goosebumps of bliss as she perfectly hit the extremely high note in the chorus of ‘O Holy Night.’ That song alone was worth the entire trip downtown.
Barra MacNeils
So I got exactly what I needed that day: the coming-together with other people for some solstice companionship, and the brightness – the downright prettiness – of the lights in all the buildings.
If you ignore everyone else’s motives for the season – both the commercialism and the religious clamour – the companionship and the light still serve the purpose they have served for thousands of years. They push back against the darkest time of year, and help keep the human spirit burning brightly, as the twinkling lights signify the rebirth of the sun, that even now begins to turn back toward us with its promise of summer brilliance in just a few months.
Nathaniel Dett Chorale at Sounds of the Season
It’s like the official start of the festive season, at least for me. CBC Radio One holds its “Sounds of the Season” event at the Glenn Gould Studio, where several Toronto-based programs either broadcast live or tape their show in front of a live audience. Special musical guests abound all day long, and it’s a rare chance for faithful listeners and the radio personalities to meet and interact, as well as to come together as partners to help the Daily Bread Food Bank.
Jill Dempsey tells a story
And there’s just nobody like CBC Radio listeners to fill the void when the Food Bank needs help, in this year of dwindling jobs and an ever-rising need for rescue services. With cash and food donations, they meet and exceed the set goals every year. But outright donations are not the only option; the radio personalities themselves donate things that listeners can buy or bid on, and those proceeds also go to the Food Bank. And this year, Toronto artist groups donated art works as well, to auction for still more money. The Toronto Musicians Association and ACTRA both contributed, and supported this CBC event.
I’ve been meaning to come to this special day for many years. Usually, though, I was working, and couldn’t manage to get away even for part of the day. But today, at last, I made it. Though I still couldn’t – just couldn’t – get up early enough to see the entirety of my favourite show, Metro Morning, which starts at 5:45 a.m. (I don’t even know how they get up early enough every day, frankly.) I did make it for the last half hour, though, and then watched the taping of Big City, Small World as well.
Garvia Bailey prepares for taping Big City, Small World
One woman in line with me in the CBC Shop later remarked that it was just like being at home in the morning: sitting in the chair sort of dozing while Jill Dempsey gives you a news update, Scott Regehr recounts sports highlights, and Jim Curran warns of traffic snarls. Except that we could watch them as they did it, and watch Jane Hawtin guide the proceedings under the watchful eye and ear of the producers and camera and sound people. Everyone was in a happy, festive mood (despite the hour), and the music was wonderful.
It was wonderful all day long, with singers like Jackie Richardson, Mark Nadjiwan, and Sarah Slean, and groups like the Nathaniel Dett Chorale, the Barenaked Ladies, and several “house bands.”
Kevin Sylvester - "I can get up any time I want to"
We could mingle in the lobby and chat with various CBC personalities between tapings. Passing by Kevin Sylvester, the former national and Metro Morning sports guy, who still drops in to the CBC as a fill-in host while pursuing a freelance art career, I heard him telling someone, “I don’t work here any more so I can get up whenever I want.” But he seemed quite happy to have gotten up early today, to help Jane Hawtin on Metro Morning in regular host Andy Barrie’s absence.
The event was an immense success, as always, with Radio One listeners being their usual remarkably generous selves, and Radio One personalities rewarding all of us with great music and programming.
I may just find a way to get there by 5:45 a.m. next year. It was that much fun.
(Followup note: CBC has a slideshow from the day’s events. And the latest count posted on the “Sounds of the Season” site has the total raised for the Daily Break Food Bank at $277,590 and 8500 pounds of food. Hurray!)
by Rabbi Robert N. Levine
This book is a bit of a mixed bag, and may defeat its own purpose. What one expects from the title is the encouraging, even inspiring material in the last half of the book. There, Rabbi Robert Levine’s goodness and compassion shine through, and make you wish you could spend a few hours talking with him. He demonstrates that people can behave morally and kindly whether or not (sorry, Rabbi) they believe in God.
But the fact that this inspiring material is preceded by something less inspiring may turn away people that Levine clearly hopes to reach, and who could have benefited from what he teaches.
Through the initial chapters, Levine’s defense of God seems rather…defensive. And full of straw men.
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