The Story of Christmas City
Walking up Main Street in Downtown Bethlehem on a December night, one sees a man playing Christmas songs on the saxophone while families and groups of friends rush in and out of the brightly decorated shops, looking for cards and gifts for loved ones. The lights of Hotel Bethlehem are shining bright as a couple gets into a horse-drawn carriage outside its doors, wrapping themselves in a large plaid blanket.
Walking past the old homes, with wreaths on the doors and candles in every window, one can almost forget about the world and step back in time. An area with such rich history seems to truly come alive for the season.
According to the city’s website, Bethlehem was founded in 1741 by the Moravians, and given its name on Christmas Eve of that year. The city has changed over the years, but it has never forgotten the origin of its name, and has kept holiday spirit alive throughout the years.
According to the city, Bethlehem officially became Christmas City after the Bethlehem Chamber of Commerce started a nationwide effort in1937 to claim the title by having other Chambers across the country send their Christmas Cards and thus receive the “Christmas City” cancellation. It is said that the Post Office in the little town of Bethlehem then received over 185,000 pieces of mail.
This same year, the Bethlehem Star on South Mountain was lit for the first time, and officially called Christmas City USA for the first time.
Each December from that year to this, Bethlehem, PA has not taken its title lightly.
While North Bethlehem is a popular center for this time of year, there is no shortage of history, or holiday spirit on the South Side of Bethlehem either. Just as Main Street is brought to life for the season, so too are the old Bethlehem Steel mills.
Every Thursday through Sunday at 5:30, 6:30 and 7:30 p.m. throughout the month of December, the SteelStacks are lit up with colors and designs to the sounds of Christmas music in the Holiday Light Show.
The SteelStacks plaza is also home to ArtsQuest, which sponsors many of the Christmas-themed events each year.
One such event is Bethlehem's Christkindlmarkt, which starts in the end of November each year and brings in upwards of 125 vendors to the SteelStacks area. On a Friday night the place is alive, as children can see Santa and adults can find a variety of special gifts while enjoying the live music.
Each event has a special touch, and patrons find themselves coming back each year to experience again the parts they love, while also seeing what is new.
However, keeping the city so fun-filled and festive is no light task.
According to Bethlehem’s website, “In the 1960’s the Citizens Christmas City Committee (of the Chamber of Commerce) was formed to help dignify the look of Christmas in the City of Bethlehem while at the same time absorbing a fair share of the costs of bringing Christmas to the public. The Committee continues to raise over $15,000 every year with efforts such as the Christmas City Seal to help purchase over 800 trees that will be lit during the Christmas season. Sparkling white lights adorn those trees in the Historic Moravian District and beautiful, LED colored lights have been placed in the trees in the SouthSide Arts District.”
While it takes a lot of time and effort from many to make the city perfect each year, it does not go unnoticed or unappreciated by visitors and residents alike.
Bethlehem was given its name centuries ago, but walking through the city on a December night as the historic streets come alive for the holidays, it’s hard to imagine it as anything other than the Christmas City.