Although every earthling – no matter how simple or sophisticated his life — is surrounded daily by blindingly flashy technology, Christmas remains an historic virgin, untouched, unviolated by the vagaries of onrushing modernity.
And so on the first day of Christmas in Culver City, City Hall’s 22-foot Christmas tree, a secular monument to the sacred tradition, was turned on at 6:20 last evening, as was a cheering, irrepressibly smiling crowd of children who brought their parents. Somebody had to drive.
As a well-practiced choir from nearby Lin Howe Elementary and a chorus from the Academy of Visual and Performing Arts at Culver City High School sang on stage at Town Plaza, several-year-olds, in their strollers and on parental shoulders, were the true stars.
The magical word and world of Christmas created brilliant glints in their eyes that will refuse to dim until Dec. 26.
Who needed a tree lighting?
As older folks faded into the invisible background, young families, identified by small children awash in joy, replace them in standing room areas adjacent to the Christmas tree and the stage.
Three generations of Chabolas were the first familiar faces to be spotted.
How do the Jerry and Janet clan – parents of two, grandparents of six — celebrate Christmas?
“Family,” Jerry Chabola said exuberantly in the glow of The Culver Hotel lighting. “It’s all about family, kids.
“In our house, we start our celebration (of Christmas) with Advent. We started last weekend, at the beginning of the Christmas season, and it will go all the way through Jan. 6, Little Christmas. For us, it’s more of a season, not just a day.
“Advent, for us, is a preparation for Christmas, for us the coming of Christ, the whole atmosphere of preparation and excitement.
“Our Christmas entails a Christmas Eve celebration at church – we don’t go to Midnight Mass anymore. I can’t stay up that late anymore. We go to the Children’s Mass at 4:30, and come home to a big dinner.
“The next morning we get up, open gifts and have a brunch.”
Son Casey Chabola, his wife Kim and their family go to Sacramento each year to celebrate Christmas with her family, and then the Chabolas host another huge family diner when that branch returns to Culver City.
Vice Mayor Andy Weissman , with his wife Doneil nearby, explained that they celebrate Dec. 25 with five grandchildren in three different households.
The Weissman family stars are Cambria, Luke, Jake, Ava and Ori.
