'Christmas' Village Restored In Philly
'City Hall Tree' Lighting Set For Thursday Night
PHILADELPHIA - Just days after being taken down and igniting a citywide controversy, the Christmas Village signs were going back up at Philadelphia's City Hall on Thursday morning.
Complaints led to Monday's removal of the word "Christmas" from the lighted signs over the entrances to the seasonal merchant fair set up next to City Hall, making it just a "holiday" village.
But on Wednesday night Mayor Michael Nutter ordered the word "Christmas" be returned to signs, and the work was completed Thursday morning.
Is the controversy over? Not quite. A big tree lighting ceremony happens at 5 p.m. Thursday near the Christmas Village.
The tree, which stands at 28 feet tall and weighs about 2,800 pounds, was donated by Comacast-Spectacor. It stood on the lawn outside The Spectrum for more than 40 years.
Most people would call it a Christmas tree, but Nutter says it's the "City Hall Tree."
Fox 29's Steve Keeley has more in this live video report from the Fox 29 News at 11 a.m.