Beacon Hill is one of the most charming and visited neighborhoods in Boston. Streets are filled with beautiful old doorways, cobblestone drives, gas lamps, and crooked old trees. In addition to it's charm, the community is known for it's festive traditions. One of these traditions is the decoration of the 1,100 gas lamps that line the steeply pitched streets. On Saturday, I decided to help my neighboring friends with this annual decoration. The tradition of decorating the gas lamps dates back to 1995, and it is carried out exactly the same way every year.
Members gathered early in the morning, at the Harrison Gray Otis House. Laurels and bows were wired and ladders were borrowed from the Charles Street Hardware Store. I joined around midday with my longtime friend and resident of Beacon Hill. The process began with a tasty burrito donated by Anna's Taqueria and a quick briefing on how to wrap a lamp post. After, the garlands were moved into a truck for delivery on the street. My group was assigned the left side of Joy Street. Beginning at the bottom of the hill, our group quickly picked up a rhythm, and we were wrapping trees at lightening speed. Garlands were placed at the base of each gas lamp, then a ladder was brought over. A member of the group went up the ladder, as others held it in place. The garland was handed to the person above, and the wrapping process began. With the laurel leaves facing up, the garland was wrapped in a counter clockwise manner. Bows were then attached, facing up and down the street. Then it was on to the next gas lamp.
Images by AGA
Images by AGA
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