The annual Christmas lighting display in the gardens of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints’ temple in Temple View, Hamilton began on Friday, 13 December.
Several hundred locals and visitors gathered early in the evening to witness the season’s first lighting.
This year’s display is new, using white and soft blue lights in the garden areas in front of the temple.
According to one visitor, “In the breeze, they look like twinkling stars in the heavens.”
For another guest, “The new display gives a feeling of simplicity, quiet reverence and peace as visitors walk up the stairs towards the temple, and then look down again on the beautiful grounds below.”
- Temple View Christmas Lights in Hamilton, New Zealand December 2013
- Temple View Christmas Lights in Temple View, Hamilton, N. Z
- Traffic assistants - Larry Cookson left and William Gudgeon at Temple View 2013
- Visitors at Temple View
- Mother and son at Temple Nativity Scene December 2013
- Sister missionaries help decorate the grounds around the New Zealand Temple
- Hamilton missionaries, Elder Hirsche (left) and Elder Lui hang Christmas lights at the Hamilton, N. Z. Temple, November 2013
- Kelly Peri decorates the palm trees in Hamilton, N. Z.
- Christus Statue Hamilton New Zealand Visitors' Centre
- Christmas display Hamilton
| Temple Square is always beautiful in the springtime. Gardeners work to prepare the ground for General Conference. © 2012 Intellectual Reserve, Inc. All rights reserved. | 1 / 2 |
The lights are turned on each night at 7:30pm and those who arrive early are able to see the rich colours of the beautifully maintained gardens, and then view the gradual appearance of the lights growing brighter as the evening continues to darken the skies.
Red and green lights show the way from the lower parking area near the Visitors’ Centre giving a welcoming effect as you climb the stairs, and the lights in the palm trees along North Temple Street welcome visitors coming from Tuhikaramea Road.
A beautiful Nativity scene located near the Visitors’ Centre adds to the spirit of each evening’s gathering, and the majestic Christus statue in the window of the Visitors’ Centre also reminds guests of the reason for Christmas.
North Temple Street is blocked from traffic giving visitors the freedom to cross from the Visitors’ Centre to the temple gardens.
William Gudgeon and Larry Cookson, two of the over 500 volunteers who are helping with traffic control over the 19-day-lighting-period, arrived early to set up traffic cones and be of assistance where needed throughout the night.
Both are long term residents of Temple View and remember coming to see the lights with their families when they were small children.
“This is awesome! The lights bring people together, including families,” William said.
Many visitors come with their local youth or community groups, enjoy a picnic, and then go to view the lights.
Kelly Haeta, from Auckland, has been part of this tradition for several years. “I like the new display, it is serene,” she says.
Some visitors come once, then return with friends. Many bring their small children who are delighted to be up close to the lights and to walk in the grounds, creating happy memories.
The lights will be on nightly through 31 December from 7:30pm to midnight at 509 Tuhikaramea Road, in Temple View. There is no charge for parking and admission.
Church leader, Elder David Thomson, says the event is for everyone. “We hope all of our friends and neighbours will join with us in reflecting on the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ at Temple View this Christmas season,” he said.
“Tours are available at the Visitors’ Centre, which are a wonderful way to stop and think about those things and people who matter the most in our lives.”