Swift lights 40-foot State House Christmas Tree

The Statehouse Christmas tree, a 40-foot-tall Colorado blue spruce decked out with 1,080 lights, shone in the holiday spirit yesterday evening when Massachusetts acting Governor Jane Swift illuminated it to continue a 204-year tradition.

Swift was accompanied by her daughter, as well as Secretary of State Paul Galvin’s daughter and Santa Claus. The tree was donated by the town of Ludlow. The lighting has been a tradition since the Statehouse was built in 1798.

Prior to the lighting, the Holliston High School band performed a medley of Christmas songs they had been practicing since September.

Galvin welcomed the public and stressed the importance of charitable donations during the holiday season.

‘Christmastime is a wonderful time,’ he said. ‘It makes us think about our families, it makes us think about all the important things in life. [The season] should cause us to remember the needs of so many that perhaps have needs, whether it is to be sheltered from the cold or whatever it might be this year.’

The public can help in making up for a lack of state funding in difficult economic times, Galvin said.

‘The state has some severe financial problems and many of the state programs aren’t going to be able to meet the needs we’d like to. It calls upon all of us to do a little more personally in the way of charity,’ he said.

Galvin then turned the podium over to Swift, who expressed her daughter’s excitement for the event.

‘Elizabeth has been waiting for a couple of days for this great event,’ Swift said. ‘She is excited to help Santa turn the lights on for this giant Christmas tree.’

Swift then thanked the commonwealth for graciously accepting her family into the public spotlight and wished everyone a safe and happy holiday season. Swift only has a few weeks left in office; Governor-elect Mitt Romney will enter office on Jan. 1, 2003.