Chicago families kick off holiday season with MSI tree lighting festival
More than 40 years ago, Bernadette McGonagle brought her 4-year-old daughter to the Griffin Museum of Science and Industry to see the Christmas trees and kick off the holiday season.
She never imagined the visit would become an annual tradition, one her family continued every year since.
“I just always look forward to doing the things that we always do,” McGonagle, 66, said.
McGonagle and her family kept the tradition alive Saturday, returning to the museum for its annual Tree Lighting and Cultural Festival.
Her daughter, Jackie Lagonie, carried on the tradition with her own son, Jimmy, after he was born. Dressed in Christmas sweaters and shirts, the family eagerly awaited the moment the museum lit its four-story tree.
“We just love Christmas,” Lagonie, 44, said “And we love seeing the trees. Seeing what’s changed over the years.”
The tree lighting and festival mark the start of the museum’s annual Christmas Around the World and Holidays of Light exhibit.
The tradition began in 1942 with a single tree decorated to represent a different country each day for 12 days, symbolizing unity among allied nations during World War II, according to Matt Porth, the museum’s deputy director of guest engagement.
Now the museum displays more than 50 holiday trees decorated to represent countries from around the globe. Each tree is decorated by volunteers who sign up to represent a country.
“They're constantly stepping up their game,” Porth said.
Visitors can see trees adorned with handmade ornaments, oversized toppers and colorful ribbons, each carefully decorated to reflect the traditions and culture of its designated country.
The tree lighting was also followed by cultural performances, including traditional dances from Colombia, Ireland and Scotland.
Lagonie said the family always makes a point of searching for the trees representing Ireland, Germany and Denmark — countries tied to their heritage.
Among the visitors were Jocelyn Aranda and Jose Alvarado, who brought their 2-year-old daughter, Camila, to see the trees.
As the family walked through the exhibit, they pointed out their favorite decorations and said they were considering making the visit an annual tradition of their own.
“We have always loved Christmas but I think now it's even more fun celebrating because we have [Camila],” Aranda, 32, said. “It's more magical now. So we're trying to do all the Christmas activities we can now.”
The family, who is Mexican, said they’re raising their daughter to be proud of her heritage. But they also look forward to seeing her grow up and learn about other cultures.
“I think it's good for her to kind of see other cultures being represented and get a feel for how other people celebrate the holidays,” Alvarado said.
Chihling Chang and her family waited in the front row for the tree lighting, saying they take the holiday season very seriously.
Chang said she looks forward to Christmas every year and considers the tree lighting the official start of her family's holiday celebrations. The holiday also gives them an opportunity to gather with family and friends and spend time together, she said.
But Chang said the family is also a big fan of the museum and wouldn't have missed the chance to see the trees.
“If they're combining my favorite holiday and my favorite museum, I'm here,” she said.
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