By Thanksgiving, a tall Christmas tree occupies the center of the square, with a tree-lighting ceremony held each year on the Friday evening after Thanksgiving.

However, it was not until 1964 that a definite procedure was initiated and a tree-lighting ceremony established.

Each year through 1967 this tree was decorated and a tree-lighting ceremony was held.

Christ's birth inspires midnight church services, tree-lighting ceremonies, caroling in the streets and of course, a visit from Santa.

The first of many tree-lighting ceremonies will take place Saturday afternoon.

There was a drawing from a gold foil-covered box for several door prizes, then a tree-lighting ceremony in the courtyard, again accompanied by the brass quintet.

Gifts will be distributed to children, and a tree-lighting ceremony will follow.

Mr. Vigiano said he would attend church and go to the cemetery tomorrow and come to Manhattan for a tree-lighting ceremony.

During the Christmas holidays, he becomes a performance artist of sorts, carving ice Santas and frozen reindeer at municipal tree-lighting ceremonies.

There's a tree-lighting ceremony, for instance, and caroling.