• The city of Boston has several annual Christmas activities.christmas-tree image by cilin from Fotolia.com
  
  Boston, Massachusetts is one of America's oldest cities. It was originally incorporated as a town in the year 1630. In 1659, a law banning Christmas was passed by the General Court of the Massachusetts Bay Colony. According to the website Mass Moments, the Puritans believed the holiday was a time of "seasonal excess" with "no biblical authority." In 1681, the law was repealed. Since then, Boston has been celebrating Christmas and today the city offers several activities throughout the holiday season for the whole family to enjoy.
  
  

Boston Ballet's The Nutcracker

• Every Christmas season the Boston Ballet puts on a performance of the play, The Nutcracker. According to the Boston Ballet's website, the play opens each November and continues through the end of December. The play is performed at the Boston Opera House on Washington Street. Throughout the play, the choreography of the ballet dancers is accompanied by the Boston Ballet Orchestra. The play itself tells the classic story of a little girl who receives a nutcracker as a Christmas present. The nutcracker later transforms into a young prince and the two go on an adventure together.
  
  The Boston Opera House
  539 Washington St.
  Boston, MA 02111
  617-574-7100
  Bostonballet.org
  
  

Beacon Hill Christmas Stroll

• The Beacon Hill Christmas Stroll has been an annual holiday tradition in Boston for more than 10 years. This Christmas activity is sponsored by the Beacon Hill Business Association and is organized to kick off the holiday shopping season. Every year Charles Street is shut down for the event. This allows visitors and locals to safely roam Charles Street and visit all of the shops and offices. According to the Beacon Hill Business Association website, children are encouraged to attend the event early and receive a free photograph with Santa at the Hill House fire house. Attendees can also enjoy free rides on a horse drawn buggy and listen to Christmas carolers singing amid the crowd.
  
  Beacon Hill Business Association's Christmas Stroll
  Charles St.
  Boston, MA 02114
  617-720-7888
  Beaconhillbusinessassociation.org
  
  

The Holiday Pops

• The Boston Pops are a well-known orchestra currently under the direction of conductor Keith Lockhart. According to the Boston Pops website, the orchestra has performed in concert halls and sports arenas across the United States. Every December the Boston Pops musical group performs a number of seasonal tunes for the annual Holiday Pops concert in Boston's Symphony Hall. The performance also features a narration of "Twas the Night Before Christmas" as well as Christmas sing-a-longs with the crowd.
  
  Boston Pops Symphony Hall
  301 Massachusetts Ave.
  Boston, MA 02115
  617-266-2378
  Bso.org