Score Another One For Chicago

I think this blog long ago established that nothing about Wilmington, DE holds a candle to Chicago. This isn't so surprising considering Chicago is home to 7 million people, and Wilmington boasts a paltry 80,000 or so. But still. Sometimes, it just seems like Wilmington isn't even trying.

Today's unequal comparison is between the trees that each of us recognize as "Christmas trees", but may or may not be called "Holiday trees" by the cities...you know, because the tree is a traditional symbol of Hanukkah or Kwanzaa or something (each component of the aforementioned "holiday" which season we celebrate and complain about this time of year).

To the left, we have the Wilmington, DE tree. It's size is impressive, no doubt. The tree also sits in a prominent spot: Rodney Square, the city's centerpiece public park. I'm not sure whether they chose this location for it's central location, or because it would give all the loiterers in the square something to urinate on while they slouch around the park all day. It's the best location in the city, nonetheless, because there really isn't anywhere else to put it. So far we have two plusses in the Wilmington tree's column: size and location.

But what's the deal with the lame decorations? If you look really hard, you can see a bunch of red ribbons tied to the tree. I can also vouch for the existence of lights, which are positioned longitudinally on the tree. That's it. No star, no balls, no nothing else. There may be a rat nest in there somewhere or a homeless guy, but no other official decoration. Pure speculation here, but I bet there is no star because it is deemed a religious symbol, totally taboo here on the East Coast.

In other words, in the tradition of Wilmington, the tree is entirely uninspiring.

Now take a look below at the Chicago tree, located on Daley Plaza in the Loop. It's big, it's bright, it's festive. This is a humdinger of a Christmas tree. We have size, location, and the right holiday feel. In addition, what you can't see in the picture is that just beneath the tree is Santa Claus's House and the amazing Kristkindlmarket (a market selling German arts and crafts, sausages, pretzels, and big mugs of German beer and hot, hard cider). That's what I'm talking about! I could cite one example after another of how Chicago goes all out for the holidays, but it would take up more space than a blog reader has the attention span for. Downtown Chicago during Christmas is unmistakably holiday-rrifc.

Chalk up another for Chicago.





















My next installment will compare the rogue Nativity scenes placed near the trees in the respective cities. Credit goes to those trying to keep Christ in Christmas. But again, as you will see, the displays offer another study in personality between the two cities.