On Monday, December 8, the 40-foot-tall Christmas tree in Brooklyn Borough Hall Plaza—named by Time Out New York as one of the City’s trees “worth seeking out on a cold winter’s night”—sparkled with nearly 2,000 blue, green and white bulbs at the annual lighting ceremony hosted by Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz. Celebrants also enjoyed a performance of “Jingle Bells” in at least a dozen international languages spoken right here in Brooklyn. The balsam fir, from Vermont, was donated by the Brooklyn Terminal Market Merchants Association and decorated by the New York City Department of Parks and Recreation.

A flute trio from the Packer Collegiate Institute provided musical entertainment, as did the “Ericksen Elves” from Brooklyn-based Ericksen Translations, who sang “Jingle Bells” in English, Portuguese, Estonian, French, Romanian, Chinese (Mandarin), Swedish, Norwegian, Korean, Spanish, Japanese, Danish and German (selected translated lyrics, provided by Ericksen Translations, are attached). Of course, it wouldn’t be Christmas without a special guest appearance from Santa Claus, and 6-year-old Tymique Goodman of Brownsville was selected to flip the tree lighting switch along with Borough President Markowitz. Historic Borough Hall will be illuminated with festive red and green lighting throughout the holiday season.

“They say the fir tree was chosen as a symbol for Christmas because it remains green throughout the year,” said BP Markowitz. “Most Brooklynites and New Yorkers, I am very proud to say, are kind of like that magnificent tree that lights up Brooklyn Borough Hall Plaza every Christmas—we strive to treat one another with respect and dignity the whole year through, not just during the holiday season. Brooklynites hail from nearly a hundred nations and speak more than 130 languages, and we are the global model for living together in peace and harmony.”

Jingle Bells