holidays

Those who want to experience a bit of the 'old country' may want to make plans to attend the German Advent Celebration at Bethel Park Retreat Center in Bridgman on Dec. 5. Office Manager Marty Helfman said it's a great way for people to see how their ancestors celebrated the start of the Christmas season. "We incorporate the European flavor to it, with decorations and the singing of German carols, as well as carols in English," Helfman said.  

I see you sitting quietly on my calendar. You may be the modest, middle child of the holiday season, the decorative no-man's land between clearing the moldy jack-o-lanterns off my porch and breaking out the 12-foot, inflatable Santy Claus, but you don't fool me. You're still a lot of work.  

Christmas, easter, april fools, Halloween, all have pagan roots, but that makes them no less legitimate catholic holidays. You know they had temples, religious texts, worship, faith and god before Christianity right? Does that invalidate churches, the Bible, worship and faith as well?  

Holidays are often occasions for redecorating, but the last space you'd expect to get a makeover, especially for winter holidays, is the garage. Perhaps you'd discard some junk to create added storage or parking space. But, pretty up the garage?  

The City of Gainesville observes its first mandated furlough day Wednesday, and three other local governments in the area will be taking extra days off around Thanksgiving this year, as well. Just a few weeks ago, the Gainesville City Council approved mandatory eight-hour furloughs once a month. Habersham, Jackson and Hall counties have had such plans in place for several months now.  

Linda St. Germain remembers when her young son asked her when Son Day was. Unsure why he was asking, she explained it came after Saturday. It wasn't until after he mentioned Mother's Day and Father's Day that she realized he was asking when his own day was.

This is a time when they can be appreciated and acknowledged. It's their day.   -Linda St Germain

 

Thanksgiving Day falls next week. Then, during coming weeks in December, there will be Hanukkah, Christmas and Kwanzaa to celebrate with gifts and more friendship. It is a jolly time of the year when families and friends join together to celebrate.  

Fall Festival , Mountain Home Berry Farm, Saturdays and Sundays through early November. Kids' program includes hayrides, corn maze, petting zoo and dune fun hill. Admission: $5. www.mountainhomeberry farm.com. 425-7028.  

The event will include a series of shows illustrating how the celebration of Christmas has evolved over the centuries. A cast of costumed actors will portray historic characters, taking visitors on a journey through the ages, from the origins of the festive season through to the present. They will highlight how the season's festivities have developed from early pagan ceremonies and Christian celebrations, through the dark days of Oliver Cromwell's Christmas ban, on to the times of Mary Queen of Scots.