Every December 5th, children around the world set a shoe outside their bedroom door in hopes that St. Nicholas will fill their shoe with candy and toys, not switches or coal. Growing up as an Army brat in Germany, I remember celebrating this holiday tradition each year. If we were good, we would get candy, fruits, or toys. If we were bad, we would get switches or coal. Most years, we received a switch with toys and candy on it (after all what child can be good ALL year long?). It is a reminder that Santa Claus is real, and his name is St. Nicholas.
Our Christmas Traditions...Where Did They Come From?
Last week, the Edgerton Discovery Club kids made a few Christmas ornaments, and then decorated our Christmas tree. As we worked, we discussed some of our Christmas traditions and where they came from. For example, why do we put up a Christmas tree? Why do we hang our stockings? Where did the tradition of sending Christmas cards come from?
The day after Halloween, Christmas music begins to saturate the air waves. Some folks say, that’s too early to start playing Christmas music. Others think, there’s never a good time for Christmas music. In the spirit of Scrooge, I asked my coworkers to name their least favorite Christmas songs. Here are some of their responses:
Attention kids and parents. Santa and Mrs. Claus are making a special trip to the Excelsior Springs Branch on Saturday, December 11th at 2 pm. You will get a chance to hear them read a special holiday story. Then, kids will get a chance to sit in Santa’s lap and tell him what they want for Christmas. Parents, make sure you bring your cameras. For more information, contact the Excelsior Springs Branch at 816-630-6721.
Christmas is only two weeks away, just around the corner really. For the last few years, I haven't done much in the way of holiday decorating around my little home, but this year I decided the time had come to break out a favorite tradition.
Growing up, one of my favorite daily Christmas activities was turning on the Christmas lights. We had some outside around the living room window and then the ones inside on the Christmas tree, of course. My sisters and I would wait all afternoon until dark, and then whoever remembered first ran to switch on the lights.
Santa arrived at the Dearborn Branch with his guitar and familiar holiday music Tuesday, the 9th. The jolly man in the red suit got almost 40 peoples' toes tapping with familiar tunes and the chance to sing along. There was also an opportunity for kids to have their picture taken with Santa. With a twinkle in his eye, Santa said he knew who had been naughty or nice!
I’m very excited to be able to attend Gerald Dickens at his one-man performance next Wednesday, December 15th! Did you know that he got his start performing A Christmas Carol because of Mid-Continent Public Library? He was here in the Kansas City area in 1993 for the Dickens Fair and brought his great-great grandfather’s reading copy of A Christmas Carol with him.
