What does it take to light up a Christmas tree on the Boston Common? Fireworks, the Mayor, the Rockettes, a Boston Pops choir and more than a handful of Canadians.

Though the temperature was a brisk 38 degrees at the 39th annual tree lighting on the Boston Common people still turned out in the hundreds Thursday evening to see the 50-foot white spruce decked out for the holidays.

Michael and Brittany Seymour, Beacon Hill residents attending their first Boston Common tree lighting, were very excited to see it come to life.

"It's really cool to see it all live. Its great that everyone comes out for this" said Michael Seymour.

The couple, who moved to Beacon Hill  six months ago from Denver, Colorado, even brought their dog, Chandler, out for the festivities in their newly adopted neighborhood.

"We love it. We miss the Rocky Mountains, but our Christmas card this year is of us on Charles St., because there's nothing else like it back west. We just love the location, character, history, everything! Even our dog has adjusted very nicely because the area is so very dog friendly," said Brittany Seymour.

After various performances, Mayor Menino, with a little help from Santa Claus himself, officially lit the tree, commencing in a small pyrotechnics display near the edge of Tremont St. along the Park.

Donated by Gary and Roseann Meisner of North Alton, Annapolis Valley, Nova Scotia, and selected by Ross Pentz of the Nova Scotia Department of Natural Resources, the tree wasn't the only visitor from our northern border. Deputy Premier of Nova Scotia, the Honourable Frank Corbett, and members of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police also attended the ceremony.

Another Canadian, Archie Grace, a software developer from Cambridge, moved to the area from Ontario three years ago,  and attended the tree lighting for the first time this year. 

"It makes me proud to know that a little piece of Canada is here with me in Boston," said Grace.

Channel 5's Anthony Everett and JC Monahan were on hand to host the live broadcast of the event, which featured performances by the Radio City Rockettes, 2006 "American Idol" runner-up Katharine McPhee, Grammy-winning R&B singer Patti Austin, a capella group Five O'Clock Shadow, the Boston Arts Academy and the Boston Pops Gospel Choir.

Attendees were also treated to goodies at the Boston Common Tree Lighting Sampling Village, where tents and vans handed out free samples of Dunkin Donuts hot chocolate, Nantucket Nectars juices and Hood egg nog.