The tradition that attracts thousands each year was highlighted in the December 2008 issue of Southern Living magazine. It has been named one of the “Top 20 Events” for December 2010 by the Southeast Tourism Society.

On December 3 and 4, Belhaven University will present the 78th annual Singing Christmas Tree on December 3 & 4.

Since 1933, Belhaven students have been donning robes and forming the shape of a tree to sing carols and celebrate the advent of Christmas. This is North America’s oldest outdoor annual concert of its kind.

The tradition that attracts thousands each year was highlighted in the December 2008 issue of Southern Living magazine. It has been named one of the “Top 20 Events” for December 2010 by the Southeast Tourism Society.

Belhaven’s Singing Christmas Tree is a rich Belhaven tradition, enjoyed by more than a thousand people each year. This annual event, started in 1933, is considered to be the world’s oldest outdoor singing Christmas tree tradition.

In the tree’s infancy, Belhaven music professor Mignonne Caldwell conducted an all female choir in a Christmas tree formation during an informal gathering for faculty and students before their holiday break. Realizing that members of the community would enjoy witnessing this event, Caldwell moved the concert outside, between Preston and Fitzhugh Halls. The first wooden tree frame for the choir was constructed by Mr. C. V. McLain, a College engineer. Thus, the outdoor Belhaven College (now Belhaven University) Singing Christmas Tree tradition was born.

Caldwell directed the outdoor Singing Christmas Tree event until her retirement in 1962. At that time, Henry Thomas Ford, Director of the Concert Choir, began directing the Tree. Belhaven had since become a co-educational institution so Ford added men to the chorus. A new, taller tree frame was constructed to accommodate the new male voices.

Today, members of the Belhaven Concert Choir, along with alumni, faculty and staff, typically perform the outdoor Singing Christmas Tree concert on the first weekend in December. A large new 35 foot tall wooden and metal tree structure accommodates up to 100 singers. Performers wear white robes with reflective collars and tiaras to heighten the visual impact of the tree. While singing, singers hold large strands of lights which change colors in various patterns and sequences according to the character of each Christmas carol creating a visual spectacle for the listeners.

Certain traditions have become expected elements to the tree. An auditioned soloist is positioned under the star located at the very top of the tree. This honored soloist performs “O Holy Night” near the Tree’s conclusion.

Other traditions include artificial snowfall during “White Christmas” and humorous “insider jokes” interposed into the lyrics of “Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer” and other secular carols.

The second half of the Singing Christmas Tree celebrates the birth of Jesus Christ through Scripture and sacred carols. The great sacred music of Christmas offers a great opportunity for Belhaven University to testify of the lordship and saving grace of Jesus Christ to the large numbers of attendees.

The Singing Christmas Tree tradition continues serving the Jackson community by providing a spiritually edifying, fun-filled event of visual and musical splendor.

This is a family-friendly event, and attendees are encouraged to bring blankets and chairs. The event is set to begin at 7:30 p.m. on both Friday and Saturday night (December 3-4) in the Belhaven Soccer Bowl. Admission is free. Call 601-974-6494 for more information.

Source: http://www.belhaven.edu/music/singing_tree.htm