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Sayville Christmas tree lighting ceremony is set for Sunday, Dec. 6

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Selfie alert: Sayville’s Christmas tree — as well as the community’s Chanukah Menorah — will be lit in the coming days.

The Greater Sayville Chamber of Commerce already has one of its holiday tradition in the books this festive season — last weekend’s Mini-Miracle on Main Street and Shop Small Saturday were a huge success.

Now come the highly anticipated Christmas tree and Menorah lightings. This Sunday, Dec. 6, at 7:30 p.m., Santa Claus himself will lift the switch during the chamber’s Facebook Live tree lighting in Sparrow Park. Dec. 6 just happens to be the Feast of St. Nicholas Day.

Click here for updates on the Facebook Live event.

Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, the chamber elected not to conduct the tree lighting this year during the annual Miracle on Main Street event, in order to lessen the crowd near the tree, chamber President Eileen Tyznar said.

In-person onlookers will be required to wear masks and social distancing measures will be strongly encouraged.

Sayville’s 2020 Christmas tree. Credit: Sayville Chamber

“The Facebook Live option will provide people who wish to watch from the comfort of their own home, a safe alternative way to avoid crowds,” Tyznar said. “This is our small way of doing our part to keep people safe, yet provide some cheer this holiday season.”

This year’s donated Christmas tree may look familiar. It used to stand on the property of the vacant Citibank in town. The tree was coming down because the owners were excavating the property.

“We plant a tree whenever someone donates one,” said Tyznar, who stood in the lofted bucket of a bucket truck last weekend to help decorate the tree. “We only accept trees that people are removing for one reason or another.”

What you need to know about Sayville’s Menorah lighting ceremony

Credit: Sayville Chamber

The annual Menorah lighting ceremony takes place Thursday, Dec. 10, at 6:30 p.m. on the front lawn of the Chamber house, located at the Shop & Stop plaza.

Social distancing and masks are required to participate in the event, which is being hosted by Tyznar; Rosalie Wartenberg, owner of Creations preschool in Sayville and director of the Sayville Jewish Community Center; and Rabbi Shimon Stillerman of Chabad of Islip.

“Beliefs and customs that have been passed on for generations here in Sayville provide a sense of community, a feeling of normalcy and a sense of security, which is needed so much during the pandemic,” Tyznar said.

Pictured above: A local couple take a selfie in front of the tree in 2019.

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