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Strange Behemoth Invades The Plaza

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The Tampa Tribune

Published: November 26, 2008

New residents were startled recently when they realized that all the furniture had disappeared from one corner of the Atrium; then they noticed a large red object with pronged feet squatting there, close to the floor. Soon it was holding a tall pole reaching up past the second floor balconies, tied to the banisters with clear fishing wire stretched across the high ceiling of the room. What kind of mechanical monster had invaded Freedom Plaza? What was happening?

Long-time residents hastened to assure their newer friends that this was normal procedure for this time of year: the Freedom Plaza Christmas tree was going up!

A full 28-feet tall, with lower branches reaching out 5 feet in every direction, the tree requires solid anchoring; thus the very large tree stand. Maintenance personnel spend hours erecting the pole, straightening it and securing it with invisible fishing wire before any branches are placed.

Those hundreds of branches must be separated according to size, then "fluffed," as they have been compressed for easy storage. The fluffing process requires another section of the atrium and many working hands, all gloved against the rough, prickly, material. Resident volunteers work tirelessly, but also enjoy coffee and cookies, as well as the opportunity to chat.

Next, the "cherry-picker" lift is brought in and a worker - an employee - is hoisted up to begin building the tree. The tree top is set in, first, and the lovely, blond, three-foot tall angel fits over it, its bulk holding her secure against all the shaking and moving that will come as row after row of branches are pushed into their sockets, strung with lights - more than 3,000 - from the center, outward, then decorated.

Growing from the top downward, one section must be finished completely before another is begun, because pushing the lift into a completely filled-out tree would demolish the decorations.

As the tree slowly takes shape an annual "game" begins among the residents who watch the process daily. Bets are taken as to how many days it will take to finish, and as the date for the tree-lighting ceremony is always set far ahead - Dec. 4, this year - the work intensifies as those days go by. The enormous, 12-foot wide, white brocaded tree skirt is brought out and waiting; the gold "packages" are wrapped and ready; and finally, the last ornament is put in place.

When the lights are plugged in and everyone steps back to stare, the collective sigh of relief, mingled with "ooh's" and "ahh's" is a Christmas carol in itself.

Peggy Burgess is the creative director for Freedom Plaza.

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