To get into Christmas spirit, Joanna and I went to the Cathedral of St. John the Divine for some Carols singing at an event they called "A Festival of Lessons and Carols". The event started at 4 PM, but we got there closer to 5. Only two thirds of the enormous cathedral was open to the public. The high alter area was closed for renovations. The clergy was positioned in front of a giant blue wall separating the area under construction.

We were handed the program with the sheet music and the words of Christmas carols as well as the words that the preacher was saying and what the people are supposed to be saying. Singing Carols was kinda weird with the huge amount of echo in the cathedral. When I tried singing I could only hear my voice since no one around me was singing (loud enough). I felt that I was doing a solo. So it's better to leave it up to the choir in front who I think had microphones next to them and sounded very nice thought the cathedral.

At the end of the ceremony was something that I have not seen in a church before. They brought out 3 giant puppets - first was an Angel, followed by the Virgin Mary carrying baby Jesus. I am not sure who the third puppet was supposed to represent. He looked like Jesus, but then how could he be following his mother carrying him as a baby? They proceeded up the center isle to the exit of the cathedral and stayed there until the end of the event. As people were leaving the kids got a chance to get blessed by the angel extending his giant arms towards them.