An Annual Tradition, A Small-Town Feel

By Larry Sacks

For a community of 117,200 residents, Santa Clara still has a small-town feel. That feeling was on display on Friday night, December 4, at the Civic Center Plaza as young, not-so-young, life-long and new residents alike, gathered for the annual Holiday Tree Lighting. The annual lighting of the Holiday Tree is definitely a Santa Clara tradition. Like many traditions, this one is full of its own stories and background.

What would the Holiday Tree lighting be without its own traditions? One enduring tradition that has gone on almost every December since 1911 is that of Teddy, the City’s own Teddy bear who has watched over the activities of Santa Clara from high atop his perch in the 75 foot Colorado Blue Spruce. As is the usual tradition, Teddy was taken aloft Silicon Valley Power (SVP). Thanks to the modern conveniences such as a bucket truck, the journey is easier on the person carrying Teddy aloft. This year, as in several previous years, Harry Janson was Teddy’s escort, along with Larry Orlando’s help. Harry, a SVP 25-year employee, related how much easier it is with the truck, compared the days before SVP obtained the bucket truck; climbing up the tree was the only way up and down.

Teddy has quite a view from his home away from home for the holidays. Sitting 70 feet above Santa Clara, he can see things most other residents can’t see or imagine. Besides having a different view of Santa Clara’ skyline than virtually all residents – in a word, it’s breathtaking - Teddy was able to see several other Santa Clara traditions. When Santa arrived on an antique fire truck, Teddy saw this and saw all the excited children who eagerly awaited their turn to sit on Santa’s lap. Teddy also saw the performances by the Buchser Middle School and the De’ Ja’ vu Jazz Bands. While other enduring traditions go through time with little to no changes, both jazz bands have a slightly different look this year as some of the student-players have changed from last year. But even though the faces making up the band have changed, the quality and dulcet tones enjoyed by everyone has remained the same.

Before Teddy was escorted up the tree, the assembled throng of over 1,000 people enjoyed the evening’s entertainment, provided by the Joyful Noise Carolers; the Parks and Recreation Dancers performing excerpts from The Nutcracker; Opening Remarks by Brittany Adams, Miss Santa Clara 2009 and a Holiday Dance performed by Britney Raudez. If that wasn’t enough, they also were treated to complimentary hot chocolate and snacks served by the Senior Center Volunteers, Kettle Corn, face-painting provided by the Santa Clara Youth Commission, the Fire Department’s Fire Safety Trailer and information provided by the Santa Clara Police Department and Silicon Valley Power.

All of the excitement, activities, food, entertainment and Teddy’s journey up the tree, and then watching over the evening has helped Santa Clara keep the small-town feel. Even though the size – both in square miles and population – exceeds the definition of “small-town” that many people have in mind, the overwhelming feeling remains that as Santa Clara grows, as it inevitably will do, it will still have that small-town feel that is unique among Silicon Valley cities.