It begins in October with Fall in the air. The air is crisp, the sky clear & the leaves are beginning to change. I love to decorate for Fall the end of August. By doing so, you get three months of Fall decorations compared to the one month in December. The farmers markets are bursting with color: orange, purple, yellow & white. They are loaded with every type of apples, pumpkins, gourds, mums, fresh vegetables & awesome baked goods. I have never seen a white pumpkin until I moved here.
Halloween night, the town shuts down. People dress up and families come from all over just for this event. The children stand in long lines for a piece of candy at each store. This has been one activity in town that we have missed out on since we don't celebrate Halloween. In my home I have stressed celebrating Fall.
Some activities that I did through the years with my children when they were home were making homemade apple sauce, caramel apples, making homemade apple pies, & popcorn balls. When the kids went off to college I began the Fall Box. The purpose was to help bring back memories for the kids to remember. One year I just didn't get around to it. Then my son reminded me about the Fall Box. I said, "I was so sorry that I didn't do it. I just got too busy." He said with a long face, "that was OK, I am 28."-meaning he was getting to old for it-NOT. I will probably be doing the Fall Box until I am 80 yr old. Now my daughter-in-love loves it.
Back to Highlands "Mitford". The Thanksgiving celebration begins with First Baptist Church putting on a dinner for the ladies in the community. The ladies of the church decorate their table using any holiday theme. They bring their china & linens. The room is beautiful! The men serve all the food, which is delicious by the way. There is always a special singer & an encouraging speaker which focus on the Lord.
This dinner is always a week before Thanksgiving. The following Tuesday is the community dinner where each church has a part in the dinner. Thanksgiving day is for families of course & the stores are closed. Then the weekend begins & the town is buzzing. Saturday night is when the count down begins for the town lights to be turned on. There is always a program, including the reading of Nativity story. Community sing. All of a sudden we all sing "Here Comes Santa Clause" & Santa & Mrs. Santa comes through the crowd. Then Santa leads the way in the count down for the town tree & lights to be turned on. I just love it every year.
December has such an old, small town feel.
FIRST WEEKEND: Begins with the town parade on Saturday. Anything that walks or can ride is in this parade. It is so much fun. The mayor leads the way. I few years ago Highlands had a mayor who definitely looked the part of Santa. So he would begin the parade, then you would see him again as Santa at the end of the parade. Too funny. Some of my favorites in the parade are the basset hounds wearing their Santa hats; the Garden Club singing & dancing their made-up song down main street; & the live Nativity with Mary on a donkey led by Joseph & the wise men & camels coming right behind.
The McKim family put on an over the top Christmas party that evening. This is an incredible, gifted family who loves the Lord. They have 13 children, almost all grown. All the children were home schooled except for the oldest. They all look a like & are gorgeous. The sons names begin with K & the daughters names begin with M. They decorate the house like Southern Living & they all help with the fabulous meal. Also, they all can sing. Once you are invited to the party, you are invited from then own. It ends up with the entire town coming.
SECOND WEEKEND: The joining of the churches for a
Christmas Cantata.
REST OF THE MONTH: Church functions & friends parties.
CHRISTMAS EVE: Churches candle light services
CHRISTMAS: Jesus' birthday
No matter where you are or how you celebrate all the holiday season, remember to enjoy it with people you love & savory the memories.
THE END-Highlands "Mitford"
ann :)
No comments:
Post a Comment