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Memories • 3
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Events • 10
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Food • 15
Decorating • 19 430229
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crowd, this event has everything you need to feel festive. The Stroll begins at 5:30 p.m. with the tree lighting ceremony, and the good cheer extends all the way ‘til 8:00 p.m. Stonington Borough is cozy and quaint anytime of the year, but for The Stroll, the local merchants shift the nostalgia and magic into high gear. Garlands and greenery deck the storefronts, windows sparkle with tinsel and lights, and even the merchants don their holiday finery to make the most of this annual celebration. “We go all out,” says Sarah Bliven, 28, a store manager at A. K. Dasher Jewelry and newly elected director of Marketing for the Stonington Borough Merchants Association. She is referring both to the holiday sweaters, jingle bell earrings and Santa hats that she and the staff of A. K. Dasher wear to bring some extra oomph to their holiday spirit, as well as to the decorations and refreshments that turn the village into a holiday Wonderland. The event is the perfect, stress-free way to get all your holiday shopping done and treat yourself to a taste of holiday cheer. Buy the perfect scarf for your sister and celebrate your purchase with a candy cane. Find gorgeous earrings for your mom and toast your shopping prowess and good fortune with a cup of hot cocoa. As you wander down the merry streets of the Borough, you’ll have endless opportunities to sample homemade cookies and sweets, as well as hot chocolate and coffee (with adult additives, if you feel so led). And all the treats are offered gratis by the merchants of the Borough.
Special to The Sun
year, there’s one chance to celebrate the season with no strings attached; just an opportunity to get out, spend time with friends, and enjoy the holiday spirit.
The holiday season comes with endless opportunities to celebrate all that’s good in your life — family, friends, good health and good cheer. But many of those endless opportunities carry responsibilities large and small so that by the end of the holiday season, you may feel exhausted by everything you had to make in order to make merry. But every
Mark your calendar for December 7, 2012, the first Friday in December, when Stonington Borough throws their annual “Stonington Borough Holiday Stroll.” Grab a few friends or family members and gather ’round the sturdy pine tree in Wadanuck Square to kick off the event at the tree lighting ceremony. With Christmas carols filling the air, hay rides and Jolly St. Nick mingling with the
BY CATHERINE BLANCHETTE
Unique gifts, holiday treats, and a chance to meander through light-filled streets with family and friends: what’s not to love? Kids of all ages will enjoy the Stroll, too. The hustle and bustle, lights and sounds will fill the youngest “strollers” with wide-eyed wonder; a chance to meet Santa Claus and sample holiday sweets will appeal to the elementary crowd; sweets work on tweens and teens, too, and they’ll love the chance to pick out stocking stuffers for everyone on your list. So bring the whole family, plan to meet a few friends, and start a new holiday tradition. The only thing you have to make is memories. H 3
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Creating Memories Considering an experience gift? Some hints for finding a winner (BPT) - “Experience is one thing you can’t get for nothing,” Irish playwright Oscar Wilde once said. But Wilde, for all his wit, probably never envisioned the modern practice of giving an experience as a gift. This year give a present your friends and family will enjoy and talk about for years to come: a memory, an experience to remember, not just an ordinary gift soon to be forgotten. This year, give a ticket for a hot air balloon ride or a soaring glider ride that will surprise and elate anyone on your gift list. And, they can take their ride almost anywhere in the country, near home, or at 200 locations nationwide.
HOT AIR BALLOON RIDES The crew chief will meet your friends at the launch site, where they can watch the balloon being inflated. They ascend
between 500 to 1,000 feet and float, with breathtaking views on every side, above the treetops and beneath the clouds, through valleys, winding rivers and lakes — wherever the wind goes. After landing, the adventure continues with a celebration toast of champagne or fruit, an old French tradition. Since each ride is led by a commercially certified, FAA-trained pilot, you can rest assured your loved ones will be secure and safe. The balloon gondola holds up to six passengers. Your gift will provide an experience never to be forgotten.
SOARING GLIDER RIDES
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Or, how about a thrilling gift for that hard-to-please special person? Send them soaring quietly and peacefully above the clouds in a silent glider that seats the pilot and one or two passengers. The soaring glider ride for two lets you and your loved one experience the ride together. And, on the ride for one, your pilot will let you take the controls to fly the glider if you wish. Forget about the boring gifts and choose an exciting adventure instead. Soaring Adventures of America, Inc., with more than 30 years of experience and a 100 percent safety record, offers gift tickets for Balloon, Glider and Skydiving rides you can use for up to two years at any of their 200 locations in the United States. Visit www.800soaring.com or call 1-800-SOARING or 1-800-762-7464 for more information, if you want to give an unforgettable gift.
MORE EXPERIENCES More exciting “experience gifts” for you to look for: White water rafting, cooking classes, spa days, helicopter rides, hang gliding, kayak lessons, bike tours, dance lessons, race car driving and flight lessons. H
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A quick poll of Westerly Sun employees yielded these Christmas memories: I remember the ribbon candy my grandmother used to tie to the top of our presents for the bow. When I was about 6 years old, I woke up Christmas morning and started running down the staircase. It was a very large staircase or maybe I was really small, but as I was running down the staircase a black & white fluffy creature with a big red bow starting running up the staircase! My Christmas present was coming to meet me, an Old English Sheepdog we named Heathcliff. He was the best present I ever received! Midnight mass, candlelight, 'Silent Night' My one holiday memory is when I realized that my dad was Santa Claus....recognized him under the beard....are you familiar with the Norman Rockwell painting of the boy who discovers the Santa suit in the bottom drawer of a dresser? That's how I felt! I was trying to fall asleep on Christmas Eve, which is very difficult for a 9 year old child and even harder when you are hearing hooves on the roof of our house. Could Santa and his reindeer really be on the roof getting ready to bring me presents! I needed to go to sleep fast or else. When I woke up Christmas morning the cookies and milk were gone from my bedside and their was a bright green bicycle with a banana seat a the end of my bed. How did Santa get the bike down the chimney? He must of sat in my room eating the cookies and building the bike, and I slept through it!!
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November 29 to December 1 Art Show “Small Treasures,” featuring the pre-holiday gift show of small artwork will be on display at the Artists’ Cooperative Gallery of Westerly, 7 Canal St., through Dec. 1. The Gallery is open Tuesday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. For more information, visit www.westerlyarts.com or call 401-596-2221.
November 29 Wreath Workshop Stonington Gardens, 154 Lantern Hill Road, Mystic, will hold a wreath making workshop Thursday, Nov. 29, at 6 p.m. Greenery provided, bows and embellishments available to add-on. Bring an apron or wear appropriate clothing as sap will stain. Cost is $25 and up. For more information, call 860-536-7720.
Deck the Walls Preview Party The Stonington Historical Society and the Stonington Garden Club will host a preview party for Deck the Walls 2012, (see listing following) Thursday, Nov. 29, from 6 to 8:30 p.m., at the Captain Palmer House, 40 Palmer St., Stonington. Donation is $20. For more information, call 860-535-8445.
November 30 and December 1 Deck the Walls 2012 The Stonington Historical Society and the
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Events • 10
music • 10
Food • 15
Decorating • 19
Stonington Garden Club will hold an exhibit and silent auction of custom designed holiday wreaths and small trees, created and donated by area designers, artisans, garden clubs, nurseries, businesses and organizations, Friday and Saturday, Nov. 30 and Dec. 1, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., at the Captain Palmer House, 40 Palmer St., Stonington. Other offerings will include a children’s topiary and wreath making workshop, a traditional Victorian Tea, a trunk show, and the historic house museum known as “Pine Point” will be open to visitors free of charge.
December 1
An American Girl Tea Party
Christmas Bazaar
St. Pius X School Christmas Bazaar
Holiday Bazaar
Mystic Girl Scout Troop 63210 will host an American Girl Tea Party Saturday, Dec. 1, at the Mystic VFW Hall, Route 1, Stonington. Seatings are available at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. Tea sandwiches and pastries will be served and all are welcome to bring their favorite doll to the tea. Scouts will be performing skits based on scenes from the American Girl series. A selection of doll clothes and accessories will be available for purchase. Tickets are $7 each and can be reserved by calling 860-536-3861 or email troop63210@gmail.com by Nov. 25.
The annual Babcock-Smith House Christmas Bazaar will be held Saturday, Dec. 1, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., at the Museum, 124 Granite St., Westerly. Linens, jewelry, collectibles, books, holiday decorative greens, homemade cookies and baked items will be for sale. Coffee and muffins will be served in the dining room of the Museum House. Joshua’s Store will also be well-stocked with handmade gifts.
A Christmas Bazaar to benefit the St. Pius X School will be held at St. Pius X Church, 45 Elm St., Westerly, Friday, Nov. 30, from 5 to 8 p.m., and Saturday, Dec. 1, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Take a picture with Santa who visits on Saturday from noon to 2 p.m.
First United Methodist Church, 23 Willow St., Mystic, will hold its annual holiday bazaar Saturday, Dec. 1, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Luncheon will be served from 11:30 to 1:30. Silent auction, holiday gift baskets, cookie plates, Christmas crafts and cards, linens, Rada Cutlery, and more. Call 860-536-3394 for more information.
November 30 to December 23
Annual Christmas Bazaar & Tea
It’s a Wonderful Life
United Congregational Church of Westerly, 9 Castle Hill Road, Pawcatuck, will hold its annual Christmas Bazaar and Tea Saturday, Dec. 1, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Event features a silent auction, gift baskets, fresh wreaths and greens, nostalgia boutique, children’s shopping, mission gifts bake room, our traditional tea luncheon, Santa, and more.
The Granite Theatre, 1 Granite St., Westerly, will present It’s a Wonderful Life, a live radio play, through Dec. 23. Performances are Thursday, Friday and Saturday at 8 p.m., Sunday matinee at 2. Tickets are $19, $16 for seniors, $12 children under 12. For tickets and more information, visit granitetheatre.com or call the box office at 401-596-2341.
Holiday Carnival Olde Mistick Village, 27 Coogan Blvd., Mystic, will host its annual Holiday Carnival Saturday, Dec. 1, from noon to 4 p.m. The outdoor festivities include music, caroling, stilt-walking Santa, roaming costumed characters, jugglers, hayrides and more. Most stores will be hosting in-store displays, children’s activities, demonstrations and surprises. For more information, call 860-536-4941.
Groton Lights Parade The Groton Business Association of the Greater Mystic Chamber of Commerce will hold its Annual Holiday Lights Parade Saturday, Dec. 1, at 5 p.m. The parade will follow Route 1 from South Road to the Groton Shopping Plaza. After the parade, join the community for hot
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chocolate, cookies, and tree lighting, and other holiday festivities.
December 4
L.U.N.C.H. Holiday Show
Stroll the streets of Historic Downtown Mystic, Tuesday, Dec. 4, from 6 to 9 p.m. Listen to the carolers rejoice in the holiday spirit, enjoy hot cider and cookies, shop late.
Local United Network to Combat Hunger (L.U.N.C.H.) will hold its annual holiday Show Saturday, Dec. 1, at 7 p.m., at the Stonington Community Center, 28 Cutler St., Stonington. Advance tickets are $10 for adults, $8 for children under 12, and are available online at www.lunchensemble.com or by phone at 860-572-9285. Proceeds will be used to provide food baskets to local families in need.
December 1, 5, 8 Wreath Workshops Stonington Gardens, 154 Lantern Hill Road, Mystic, will hold several wreath making workshops this holiday season. Greenery provided, bows and embellishments available to add-on. Bring an apron or wear appropriate clothing as sap will stain. Cost is $25 and up. For more information, call 860-536-7720. Dates and times: Saturday, Dec. 1 and 8, at 11 a.m. and 3 p.m., Wednesday, Dec. 5, at 6 p.m.
December 1, 8, 15 Mystical Nutcracker Mystic Nutcracker, a holiday tradition, will be performed by the Mystic Ballet at the Mashantucket Pequot Museum, 110 Pequot Trail, Mashantucket, Saturday, Dec. 1, 8 and 15, at 2 p.m. Tickets are $18 to $43 and are available online at www.mysticballet.org or by calling the box office at 860-536-3671.
December 2 Festival of Lessons and Carols for Advent Christ Church, 7 Elm St., Westerly, will hold its annual festival of Lessons and Carols for Advent Sunday, Dec. 2, at 5 p.m. A reception will follow in the parish hall. All are invited to attend. Childcare is available in the nursery. For more information visit christchurchwesterly.com, or call 401-596-0197.
Handel’s “Messiah” Singers from area churches and musical organizations will present the Christmas portion of Handel’s “Messiah” Sunday, Dec. 2, at 7:30 p.m., at Noank Baptist Church, 18 Cathedral Heights, Noank. A reception will be held following the performance. The event is free and open to the public. For more information, call 860-536-7129
Holiday Concert The Musica Dolce Youth String Ensemble will hold its 18th annual Holiday Concert Sunday, Dec. 2, at 3 p.m., at the George Kent Performance Hall, 119 High St., Westerly. The concert will feature the works of Corelli, Dvorak, Handel & Mendelssohn. Admission is $10 for adults and children are free. For more information, call 401-596-5225.
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Downtown Mystic Stroll
December 5 to 29 Opening Reception (12/5) and Holiday Gift Show (12/6 to 12/29) The Artists’ Cooperative Gallery, 7 Canal St., Westerly, will hold an Opening Reception for its Holiday Gift Show “Art as a Gift,” Wednesday, Dec. 5, from 5 to 8 p.m. The Holiday Gift Show “Art as a Gift,” runs through Dec. 29. Gallery hours are Tuesday to Saturday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., or by chance. For more information, visit www.westerlyarts.com or call 401-596-2221.
entertainment and complimentary refreshments in the Meeting House. At Mystic Aquarium & Institute for Exploration from 5 to 8 p.m. there will be carolers, holiday music, storytellers, costumed characters, face painters and a visit from Santa among the aquarium’s exhibits. Admission is $2 per person with a canned food item, $5 without. Proceeds will benefit area food banks and the Sea Research Foundation’s programs for at-risk youth.
December 7 to 31 Holiday Art Show Charlestown Gallery, 5000 South County Trail, Charlestown, will hold its Holiday Group Show through Dec. 31. The Gallery is open Thursday to Sunday from 10 to 5:30. For more information visit charlestowngalleryri.com or call 401-3640120.
Holiday Stroll and Luminaria
Tree Lighting
The Annual Holiday Stroll and Luminaria will take place Wednesday, Dec. 5, from 5 to 9 p.m., in downtown Westerly and Pawcatuck. Enjoy horse-drawn hayrides, strolling carolers, and a special visit from Santa. Co-sponsored by the Greater Westerly-Pawcatuck Area Chamber of Commerce and the Downtown Business Association.
Tree Lighting ceremony will take place at Charlestown Town Hall, 4540 South County Trail, Friday, Dec. 7, at 5:30 p.m. This is a free event which will include caroling, snacks, a craft and a visit with Santa.
The Tree Frogs Holiday Show The Tree Frogs return to Mel’s Downtown Creamery, 37 West Broad St., Pawcatuck, for their Annual Holiday Show Wednesday, Dec. 5, at 6 p.m. Christmas carols, special guests, and candy canes for all.
December 6 Artini Hour Mix cocktails and creativity at the Mystic Arts Center, 9 Water St., Mystic, Thursday, Dec. 6, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Instructor Laura Gaffke will teach how to re-use common household items to make gift cards, wrap and boxes. Cost is $15 and includes instruction, materials, and a featured martini. Registration is required. For more information, visit mysticarts.org, or call 860-536-7601, ext. 209, to register.
December 7 Stonington Village Holiday Stroll The Stonington Village Improvement Association and the Stonington Borough Merchants Association will sponsor the Annual Stonington Village Holiday Stroll Friday, Dec. 7, at 5:30 p.m. This family event will include tree lighting, caroling and Santa’s arrival at Wadawanuck Square, Santa’s horse drawn wagon rides, free hot chocolate at Cannon Square or stroll to your favorite shops which will be open until 8 p.m.
Festival of Lights Over 400 luminaria will be on display among the shops at Olde Mistick Village, Friday, Dec. 7, from 5:30 to 9:30 p.m. There will be live indoor and outdoor
home for the holidays 2012
Breakfast with Woodland Santa Enjoy a pancake breakfast, meet the animals of the woods, and visit with Woodland Santa at the Denison Pequotsepos Nature Center, 109 Pequotsepos Road, Mystic, Saturday, Dec.8, from 8 to 10 a.m. Cost is $10 for adults, $7 for children. Call 860536-1216 to register in advance due to limited space.
bands, multicultural music and dance performances, visits with Santa, reindeer procession, tree lighting & community carol sing. For more information, call 860-444-2489.
Christmas Bazaar Christ Church, 7 Elm St., Westerly, will hold its annual Christmas Bazaar and luncheon, Saturday, Dec. 8, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Luncheon for $10 will be served from 11 to 1. The bazaar features crafts, jewelry, baked goods, wreaths, books, knitted items, a children’s room for making gifts and a visit from Santa Claus. For more information call 401596-0197 or visit www.christchurchwesterly.org.
A Visit with Santa and Mrs. Claus Santa and Mrs. Claus will be at the Stonington Free Library, 20 High St., Stonington, Saturday, Dec. 8, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Mrs. Claus will read a story and everyone gets a treat. Registration is necessary. Call 860-535-0658.
Reception and Open House Charlestown Gallery, 5000 South County Trail, Charlestown, will hold its Holiday Group Show through Dec. 31. A reception and open house will take place Saturday, Dec. 8, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. The Gallery is open Thursday to Sunday from 10 to 5:30. For more information visit www.charlestowngalleryri.com or call 401-364-0120.
December 8 to 15
Ashaway Holiday Stroll
Celebration of Trees
The Annual Ashaway Holiday Stroll will take place, Saturday, Dec. 8, from 8 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. Events will take place at various venues throughout the village including breakfast with Santa at the Ashaway Fire Dept.; house tours; school and church bazaars; horse drawn wagon rides; book sale, holiday stories, letters to Santa, and community carol sing at the Ashaway Free Library; living nativity; roast pork dinner; luminaria; and fireworks. For more information, call 401364-7052.
The Babcock Smith House Museum, Granite St., Westerly, will offer a display of a collection of themed trees decorated by friends of the museum, daily through Dec. 15. Hours: Weekends 1 to 5 p.m.; daily 5 to 8. Admission for non-members is $10, children 5-12, $3.
Holiday Bazaar The Ashaway Elementary School, 12 Hillside Ave., Ashaway, will hold its 30th annual holiday bazaar, Saturday, Dec. 8, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Craft and jewelry vendors, Rafflemania basket raffle, food, baked goods, kid shopping room, Santa, juggling, kids crafts and more. Coincides with the Ashaway Holiday Stroll.
Celebration of Lights and Song New London Main Street’s Celebration of Lights & Song Around the World, a unique event celebrating different holiday cultures and traditions, will take place Saturday, Dec. 8, from 3 to 5:30 p.m., in Parade Plaza at the corner of Bank and State Streets, the historic waterfront district of New London. Activities will include a parade, marching
December 9 Breakfast and Photos with Santa Support the YMCA Leaders Club while eating breakfast at the WesterlyPawcatuck YMCA, 95 High St., Westerly, Sunday, Dec. 9, from 8:30 to 10:30 a.m. Cost is $4 to $7, and includes a free photo with Santa courtesy of The Westerly Sun. For more information call 401-596-2894 or visit www.oceancommunityymca.org.
Christmas Concert The Westerly Band will present its Christmas concert at the Westerly Armory, Railroad Ave., Sunday, Dec. 9, at 2 p.m. The program will feature holiday music and a visit from Santa. Admission is $5, which includes refreshments and benefits the Westerly Armory Restoration.
December 10 to 16 Holiday Craft Week Stop in to the Stonington Free Library, 20
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High St., Stonington, during regular hours through Sunday, Dec. 16, and make a little something for your holidays.
December 12 Boxwood Tree Workshop Clark Farms and the Charlestown Parks and Recreation Dept. will hold a boxwood tree workshop Wednesday, Dec. 12, at 10:30 a.m., at the Community/Senior Center at Ninigret Park, Charlestown. All materials/supplies are included for a cost of $35. Lunch is available for $3 following the program.
December 15
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a reception at the Ocean House, 1 Bluff Ave., Watch Hill, Monday, Dec. 17, from 6 to 7 p.m. Cost is $35 per person plus tax and gratuity. Proceeds from the reception will benefit the school.
December 18 Gingerbread House Workshop Learn to make whimsical and delicious gingerbread houses with pastry chef Adam at the Ocean House, 1 Bluff Ave., Watch Hill, Tuesday, Dec. 18, at 3:30 p.m. Cost is $25 plus tax. An apron is suggested. A portion of the proceeds will benefit a local charity.
Christmas Trees are for the Birds
December 19
The Denison Pequotsepos Nature Center, 109 Pequotsepos Road, Mystic, will show you how to decorate a tree in your yard for the birds. Everything needed will be supplied to make a garland of bird seed pine cones, bagels, peanut butter and other delicious treats, Saturday, Dec.15, from 1 to 3 p.m. Cost for non-members is $10 per family. Call 860-536-1216 to register.
Christmas in Song
Farm+Vine Brunch Class
Eggnog Competition & Tasting
Get tips for your Christmas Day or New Year’s Day Brunch at the Ocean House food and vine brunch class Saturday, Dec. 15, at 3 p.m. Learn how to make brunch cocktails and brunch dishes using fresh, local ingredients. Cost is $25 plus tax and gratuity. For more information or to make reservations, call 401584-7000.
Enjoy an eggnog tasting competition at The Ocean House, 1 Bluff Ave., Watch Hill, Thursday, Dec. 20, at 3 p.m. Event is free. Call 401-584-7000 for reservations.
December 16 Living Nativity A living nativity will be staged at Dunn’s Corners Community Church Presbyterian, 225 Post Road, Westerly, Sunday, Dec. 16, at 10 a.m. This event is free and the community is welcome.
Children’s Christmas Party The Ocean House, 1 Bluff Ave., Watch Hill, will host a children’s Christmas party, Sunday, Dec. 16, at 11:30 a.m. The party is complimentary, but all guests are asked to donate an unwrapped new toy for Toys for Tots.
Christmas Pops The Chorus of Westerly will present its Annual Christmas Pops Concert, Sunday, Dec. 16, at 4 and 6 p.m., at the George Kent Performance Hall, 119 High St., Westerly. The performance will last 70 minutes with no intermission. Tickets may be purchased in person at the box office, online at chorusofwesterly.org or by phone at 401-596-8663.
Local singers will perform Christmas hymns and songs at the Watch Hill Chapel, 5 Bluff Ave., Watch Hill, Wednesday, Dec. 19, at 5 p.m. Donation is $10. A portion of the proceeds will be donated to a local charity.
December 20
December 21 Cookie & Cupcake Decorating Workshop
December 25 Community Christmas Dinner A community Christmas dinner will be served at Dunn’s Corners Community Church Presbyterian, 221 Post Road, Westerly, Tuesday, Dec. 25, at noon in Fellowship Hall. The dinner is free to all. For more information call the 401-3220655.
December 30 The Festival of Lessons and Carols for Christmas The annual Festival of Lesson and Carols for Christmas will take place at Christ Church, 7 Elm St., Westerly, Sunday, Dec. 30, at 5 p.m. The Christ Church Choir, under the direction of George Kent, Organist and Choirmaster, will perform traditional Christmas hymns and carols by composers old and new. The event is free and all are welcome. A reception will follow in the parish hall. Childcare will be available.
31, from 4:30 to 7 p.m., at the Charlestown Town Hall, 4540 South County Trail. This event is sponsored by Dunkin Donuts. Please bring canned food for donations for RICAN.
January 11, 12, 13 A Celebration of Twelfth Night The Chorus of Westerly will present its annual Celebration of Twelfth Night Friday, Saturday and Sunday, Jan. 11, 12, and 13, at the George Kent Performance Hall, 119 High St., Westerly. This production, a rich tapestry of music, tragicomedy, dance, swordplay and mythical beasts, will feature a newlypenned original script with a cast of over 100 and the 200 voice Chorus. Friday’s preview performance is at 7:30 p.m. Saturday and Sunday performances are 1, 4 and 8 p.m. Ticket prices range from $18 to $68. A traditional Peasant’s Feast, for an additional $16 per person, is held at 6 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday. To purchase tickets or for more information, visit www.chorusofwesterly.org, or call 401-596-8663.
December 31 Annual Bonfire The Charlestown Parks and Recreation Department will hold its annual bonfire with free hot chocolate and donuts served by the Boy Scouts, Monday, Dec.
Ocean House pastry chef Adam Young will offer a cookie and cupcake decorating workshop Friday, Dec. 21, at 3:30 p.m., at the OH, 1 Bluff Ave., Watch Hill. Cost is $25 per person and a portion of the proceeds will benefit a local charity.
December 22
Shine
Living Nativity
Purity
Mother & Child
Success
Life
Wood River Baptist Church, 246 Kingstown Road, Richmond, will host its 12th annual living nativity Saturday, Dec. 22, at 6 p.m., with live animals, music and refreshments. Event is free and open to all. Call 401-539-2642 for more information.
Salt Marsh Opera Holiday Concert The Salt Marsh Opera will perform during dessert in the Seasons dining room at the Ocean House, Saturday, Dec. 22. A five-course tasting menu will be served at 7 p.m. Cost is $125 per person plus tax and gratuity. A portion of the proceeds will benefit the Salt Marsh Opera. To view the menu or for more information, visit oceanhouseri.com.
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Messiah Sing-along
Gingerbread Village Competition & Reception
Calvary Church, 27 Church St., Stonington, will perform its annual Messiah Sing-A-Long, Saturday, Dec. 22, at 7 p.m. This event is free to all who would like to sing or just listen. Seating will be by voice part (soprano, alto, tenor,
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Pastry students from a local technical high school will compete to create a gingerbread village of Watch Hill in December. Winners will be announced at
and bass) and will include a non-singing section for those who wish to come and listen.
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Christmas Music: A Brief History EARLY
PURITAN PROHIBITION
ROYAL RESTORATION
Music was an early feature of the Christmas season and its celebrations. The earliest chants, litanies, and hymns were Latin works intended for use during the church liturgy, rather than popular songs.
During the Commonwealth of England government under Cromwell, the practice of singing Christmas carols was prohibited, called “Pagan and sinful.” Like other customs associated with popular Catholic Christianity, it earned the disapproval of Protestant Puritans. Famously, Cromwell’s interregnum prohibited all celebrations of the Christmas holiday. This attempt to ban the public celebration of Christmas can also be seen in the early history of Father Christmas.
When in May 1660 Charles II restored the Stuarts to the throne, the people of England once again practised the public singing of Christmas carols as part of the revival of Christmas customs, sanctioned by the king’s own celebrations. William B. Sandys’ Christmas Carols Ancient and Modern (1833), contained the first appearance in print of many now-classic English carols, and contributed to the revival of the holiday. Singing carols in church was instituted on Christmas Eve 1880 (Nine Lessons and Carols) in Truro Cathedral, Cornwall, England, which is now seen in churches all over the world.
In the Middle Ages, the English combined circle dances with singing and called them carols. Later, the word carol came to mean a song in which a religious topic is treated in a style that is familiar or festive. From Italy, it passed to France and Germany, and later to England. Christmas carols in English first appear in a 1426 work of John Audelay, a Shropshire priest and poet, who lists 25 “caroles of Cristemas,” probably sung by groups of wassailers, who went from house to house. Music in itself soon became one of the greatest tributes to Christmas, and Christmas music includes some of the noblest compositions of the great musicians.
Ultimately, Christmas was legally abolished and its celebration was declared an offence by Parliament in 1647. There is some debate as to whether or not it was enforced in the country. Puritans generally disapproved of the celebration of Christmas — a trend which continually resurfaced in Europe and the USA through the eighteenth, nineteenth and twentieth centuries.
ALMS The tradition of singing Christmas carols in return for alms or charity began in England in the seventeenth century after the Restoration. Town musicians or “waits” were licensed to collect money in the streets in the weeks preceding See MUSIC, page 12
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Silent night, holy night All is calm, all is bright Round yon Virgin Mother and Child Holy Infant so tender and mild Sleep in heavenly peace Sleep in heavenly peace.
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Silent night, holy night! Shepherds quake at the sight Glories stream from heaven afar Heavenly hosts sing Alleluia! Christ, the Saviour is born Christ, the Saviour is born.
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MUSIC, from page 10
Christmas, and the custom spread throughout the population and up to the present day. Also from the seventeenth century, was the English custom, predominantly involving women, of taking a “wassail bowl” round their neighbours to solicit gifts, accompanied by carols. Despite this long history, almost all surviving Christmas carols date only from the nineteenth century onwards, with the exception of some traditional folk songs such as God Rest You Merry Gentlemen, As I Sat on a Sunny Bank, and The Holly and the Ivy.
CHURCH FEAST The status of Christmas as an important feast within the church year also means there is a long tradition of music specially composed for celebrating the season. A brief list of notable compositions: Thomas Tallis: Mass “Puer natus est nobis” (1554), Johann Sebastian Bach: several cantatas for Christmas to Epiphany and Christmas Oratorio (1734), George Frideric Handel: Messiah (1741), Hector Berlioz: L’enfance du Christ (1853–4), Camille Saint-Saëns: Oratorio de Noël (1858),
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Benjamin Britten: A Ceremony of Carols (1942), Various composers from Baroque to the 21st century: Christmas cantatas
TRADITIONAL CHRISTMAS CAROLS Songs which are traditional, even some without a religious context, are often called Christmas carols. Each of these has a rich history, some dating back many centuries. These songs hearken from centuries ago, the oldest (Wexford Carol) originating in the 12th century. The newest came together in the mid- to late-19th century. Many began in non-English speaking countries, often with non-Christmas themes, and were later converted into English carols with English lyrics added (sometimes newly created) as late as the early 20th century.
EARLY SECULAR CHRISTMAS SONGS In addition to these traditional carols, there are some popular secular Christmas songs from mid-19th
century America that pre-date the secular Christmas songs of the 20th century. These songs include Jingle Bells, Jolly Old Saint Nicholas and Up on the House Top.
POPULAR CHRISTMAS SONGS More recently popular Christmas songs, often introduced through film or other entertainment media, tend to be specifically about Christmas or have a wintertime theme. They are typically not overtly religious. The most popular set of these titles—which are heard over airwaves, on the internet, and on P.A. systems in shopping centres and lifts (even on the street) — have been composed and performed from the 1930s onward. The largest portion of these songs in some way describes or reminds of the Christmas traditions, how Americans tend to celebrate the holiday, i.e., with
Top 25 most-performed holiday songs written by ASCAP members, for the first five years of the 21st century: (tracking plays in the U.S. only, and in order of number of plays)
1 - The Christmas Song (Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire), Mel Tormé, Robert Wells (1944) 2 - Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas, Ralph Blane, Hugh Martin (1944) 3 - Winter Wonderland, Felix Bernard, Richard B. Smith (1934) 4 - Santa Claus Is Coming to Town, J. Fred Coots, Haven Gillespie (1934) 5 - White Christmas, Irving Berlin (1940) 6 - Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow!, Sammy Cahn, Jule Styne (1945) 7 - Jingle Bell Rock, Joseph Carleton Beal, James Ross Boothe (1957)
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8 - The Little Drummer Boy, Katherine K. Davis, Henry V. Onorati, Harry Simeone (1941) 9 - Sleigh Ride, Leroy Anderson, Mitchell Parish (1943) 10 - Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, Johnny Marks (1939/1949) 11 - It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year, Edward Pola, George Wyle (1963) 12 - I’ll Be Home for Christmas, Walter Kent, Kim Gannon, Buck Ram (1943) 13 - Silver Bells, Jay Livingston, Ray Evans (1950) 14 - Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree, Johnny Marks (1958) 15 - Feliz Navidad, José Feliciano (1970) 16 - Blue Christmas, Billy Hayes, Jay W. Johnson (1957) 17 - Frosty the Snowman, Steve Nelson, Walter E. Rollins (1950) 18 - A Holly Jolly Christmas, Johnny Marks (1964/5) 19 - It’s Beginning To Look a Lot Like Christmas, Meredith Willson (1951) 20 - I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus, Tommie Connor (1952) 21 - Here Comes Santa Claus (Right Down Santa Claus Lane), Gene Autry, Oakleyc Haldeman (1947) 22 - Carol of the Bells, Peter J. Wilhousky, Mykola D. Leontovych (1921/47)
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23 - Do They Know It’s Christmas? (Feed the World), Midge Ure, Bob Geldof (1984) 24 - (There’s No Place Like) Home for the Holidays, Bob Allen, Al Stillman (1954) 25 - Santa Baby, Joan Ellen Javits, Philip Springer, Tony Springer, and Fred Ebb (1953)
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caroling, mistletoe, exchanging of presents, a Christmas tree, feasting, jingle bells, etc. Celebratory or sentimental and nostalgic in tone, they hearken back to simpler days with memorable holiday practices. Many titles help to define the mythical aspects of modern Christmas celebration: Santa Claus bringing presents, coming down the chimney, being pulled by reindeer, etc. New mythical characters are added — and defined — by these songs, such as Rudolph the RedNosed Reindeer (first described in a book, but popularized by the related song) and Frosty the Snowman.
Wonderland, both published in 1934 — though some element of the song came along earlier for two titles (the source or music). Almost a dozen were released in the 1940s, the next largest group coming in the 1950s. Only two became popular in the 1960s; one each in the 1970s and 1980s. Do They Know It’s Christmas? (Feed the World) by Midge Ure and Bob Geldof is the only relatively new one on the list: Recorded in 1984 by Band Aid — an allstar band of British musicians — this benefit single assisted famine relief efforts in Ethiopia, and sold millions of copies over the ’84 holiday season.
The remainder of the songs are seasonal: celebrating wintertime with all its snow, dressing up for the cold, sleighing, etc.
Songs introduced through motion pictures include White Christmas from Holiday Inn (1942), Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas from Meet Me in St. Louis (1944), and Silver Bells in The Lemon Drop Kid (1950).
According to the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers in 2006, the sidebar at left reveals the Top 25 most-performed “holiday” songs written by ASCAP members, for the first five years of the 21st century: (tracking plays in the U.S. only, and in order of number of plays) Of these, the oldest songs are Santa Claus Is Coming to Town and Winter
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http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christmas_music
Johnny Marks has three top Christmas songs, the most for any writer— Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree, and A Holly Jolly Christmas. By far the most recorded Christmas song is White Christmas with well over 500 versions in dozens of languages. Approximately half of the 25 best-selling
Celebrating Our Savior This Season and Always
“THANKS BE TO GOD FOR His UNSPEAKABLE GIFT.” Rev. David Jordan
Christmas songs were written by Jewish composers, including White Christmas, Let It Snow, Winter Wonderland, The Christmas Song (Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire), Sleigh Ride, Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow!, Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, I’ll Be Home for Christmas, and Silver Bells. H
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Happy Holidays from all of us at Preston Trading Post.
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Sat.-Tues. 9am-6pm Wed.-Fri. 9am-9pm Closed Christmas
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Tips for going nuts with your holiday recipes this year (BPT) - Whether you’re roasting them over an open fire or cooking them into your holiday favorites, nuts can be used to enhance almost any recipe. You’d be hard-pressed to find an ingredient with more versatility, as nuts can be used to create a flavor accent or to provide some extra crunch and texture while keeping dishes fresh and light. Whether you’re using almonds, pecans or roasted peanuts, the possibilities are limitless. For celebrity chef Alex Guarnaschelli, regular judge on Food Network’s Chopped and executive chef at The Darby and Butter in New York, the holiday entertaining season provides a great opportunity to share some of her favorite recipes. “I’m a chef, but I’m also a mom and I want time to spend with my family during the holidays,’ says
Guarnaschelli. ’Nuts are one of those special ingredients that give a dish an extra special touch, but still allow me to keep it simple.” This holiday season Guarnaschelli has developed a series of exclusive recipes and tips to show at-home cooks how ingredients like nuts can easily create a chef-caliber dish. • Healthy holiday snack: Nuts add wonderful flavor and texture when mixed into recipes, but they can also be a healthy snack; season nuts with a little cayenne and quickly roast them in a little olive or nut oil. Try using ziplock bags with a re-sealable closure that will keep the leftover nuts fresh after the package is opened. • Simply delicious dessert: For a great See NUTS, page 16
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NUTS, from page 16
addition to your holiday dessert table, melt some sugar in a pan until golden brown and stir in some nuts. Transfer the mixture to a baking sheet to cook and then break into pieces for a quick and simple nut brittle. • Top off a side dish: Parsley and basil are great flavors to finish many holiday dishes. Try chopping parsley with some almonds for added texture and taste. • Spruced-up spice rub: For this year’s holiday roast, try adding some ground nuts to the spice rub. The nuts can mellow some of the heat from the spice and add needed richness to the mix.
Braised Parsnips with Maple Syrup and Pecans
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“I grew up eating braised carrots with brown sugar, so I always associate them with the holidays,” says Guarnaschelli. “I love the freshness and unusual sweetness parsnips have and they seem to naturally gravitate to pecans. It’s also great to feature pecans in other places besides pecan pie for the holidays.” 8 medium parsnips, ends trimmed and thoroughly peeled 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, divided 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin seeds, lightly crushed
1 teaspoon coriander seeds, lightly crushed 1/2 cup Fisher Pecan Halves Kosher salt 1/2 cup maple syrup 2-3 cups water
Place the peeled parsnips on a flat surface and cut them in half lengthwise. Heat a skillet large enough to hold the parsnip halves in a single layer and add half the butter. When the butter melts and starts to get brown, add the pecans, cumin and coriander. Stir in the pecans and “toast” them with the spices for a minute. Strain out the pecans and set aside. Add the parsnip halves and remaining butter to the pan. Season with salt and add the maple syrup. Continue to cook the parsnips over medium heat for another minute of two. Add some water and continue cooking the parsnips until they are tender when pierced with the tip of a knife. Parsnips can vary in size so feel free to add a splash of water to finish the cooking process, if needed. Stir the nuts back into the parsnips. Serve immediately. Serves 4 to 6. H
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Many Italian-Americans and southern Italians celebrate the “Feast of the Seven Fishes,” when seafood dishes are served on Christmas Eve.
Travel to southern Italy or even visit a friend with Italian heritage and there's a good chance that a vast feast of seafood will be served for Christmas Eve dinner. Although one Christmas Day is often viewed as the time for a big family meal, Italian-Americans gather around the table the night before and dine as they await for the symbolic midnight birth of Jesus (Vigilia di Natale). The “Feast of the Seven Fishes” features similar menu components for many families. Cod, shrimp, mussels, clams and anchovies all may be part of the variety of seafood served. The Feast likely developed around the Roman Catholic tradition of abstinence from meat, milk products and other rich foods on holy days. Fish was often considered peasant food and thus eaten in lieu of other more extravagant items.
There are theories why seven fish dishes are served (although some families enjoy even more). • The number seven could pertain to the seven sacraments of the Roman Catholic church: Baptism, Penance, Holy Eucharist, Confirmation, Marriage, Holy Orders, and the Sacrament of the Sick. • It took Mary and Joseph seven days to travel to Bethlehem before Jesus was born. • There are seven sins of the world: pride, envy, anger, gluttony, sloth, lust, and greed.
• Some other people have said it represents the seven hills of Italy, or even that seven is often considered a divine number. Families looking to celebrate the “Feast of the Seven Fishes” will certainly want to have baccala on the menu. Baccala, which is dried cod, is the most popular holiday fish. The menu can then be customized depending on the palates of guests who will be on hand to celebrate the holidays. H
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1. Stay with one theme and style for your holiday decorating. It makes shopping for decor easier and makes your space feel professionally finished. 2. Let your nose know it’s the holiday season. Place potpourri and scented candles near your entry and throughout your house. Or, better yet, bake some cookies shortly before guests arrive. 3. Choose two to three colors for your holiday palette and keep it consistent. Multiple color palettes can be too distracting. Try silver, blue and white or red, gold and brown. 4. Create an inexpensive family tradition that involves the kids. Purchase a ready-made wreath of greens then gather items to decorate it. Use pine cones, ribbons, crystals, feathers, beaded garland or homemade paper snowflakes. 5. Give your space a different look and feel for this special time of year. Rearrange your furniture so the focal point is the fireplace or wherever you hang stockings. If you don’t
Food • 15
Decorating • 19
have a fireplace, arrange the furniture to create the best layout for cozy conversations. 6. Colored lights can be costly if you change your color palette from year to year. Stick with white lights; they can be used with any color scheme. 7. Start investing in a collection - something that can continue to grow through the years and can be passed on to the next generation. Check out online auction sites for vintage decorations. 8. Use lots of candles. Nothing makes a room feel warmer and more inviting than candlelight. 9. Bring the holiday celebration into every room. Kitchens and bathrooms are a great place to put scented candles and smaller seasonal knickknacks. 10. The holiday season is definitely one time where “less is more” does NOT apply. Have fun and do it up big. hgtv.com
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Create your holiday home with lights (BPT) - When it comes to decorating with lights for the holidays, there are unlimited ways to add twinkle to the inside as well as the outside of your home. Some people favor an elegant, restrained sprinkling of lights around a door, while others go for a more exuberant display of illumination on virtually every surface. The American Lighting Association (ALA) offers some holiday lighting tips and ideas: * Make your home’s entrance a priority. The front door is more than just the entryway into your home; it’s also a welcoming first impression for family and friends. Start by
Image courtesy of Sea Gull Lighting.
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adding a few, easy-to-install landscape uplights to highlight trees and shrubs, or path lighting to illuminate a sidewalk or driveway. “Tree lighting uses the heights of trees to spread the light out in a soft and subtle way to bathe the area in light,” says Richard Lentz, owner of Dallas-based Lentz Landscape Lighting and its interiors division Lentz Services. Do-it-yourself tip: Go for low-voltage landscape lights, which are easy to install and consume less energy. * Add drama with color-changing lights. Newer LED lights can add custom color scenes that complement a specific holiday decorating mood. You can produce the exact ambiance you like at any moment during your party or gathering this season. Colors can be changed at the push of a button without changing the fixture, making these products useful year round. * Use lighting to create a focal point. Lights can draw attention to virtually anything — a centerpiece, buffet, unusual decoration — which helps guests know where to focus their eyes.
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* Add portable spotlights as highlights. These small, inexpensive fixtures typically work with a tabletop dimmer and can create pretty silhouettes, particularly under a Christmas tree, shining up through the branches. * Illuminate corners. When decorating with lights for the holidays, make your space feel larger by placing spotlights in room corners to illuminate dark spaces. * Swap out lighting accents. Replacing a neutral lampshade with one that is red or gold will soften the light and create a pretty atmosphere when decorating with lights for the holidays. Replace a chandelier’s crystal teardrops with gold, silver or red glass balls, or add a few shade charms, available at many craft stores, to add some sparkle and fun. “One of the great things about this time of year, when there are a lot of festive gatherings, is that it’s all right to break away from a few traditions and try some new things with lighting and decorating,” says Bruce Hathaway, national sales manager for the Vermont-based lighting manufacturer Hubbardton Forge. * Check your dimmers. “Dimmers are ideal
for creating that perfect look, regardless of the season, because they allow for the general lighting to play a supporting role,” says Joe Rey-Barreau, education consultant for ALA and an associate professor at the University of Kentucky’s School of Interior Design. * Update your powder room. “It’s often the smallest room, yet if you measure the worth of the powder room by the amount of traffic a room gets per square foot, the powder room could easily be the most valuable space in your house,” says Rick Wiedemer, president of Hinkley Lighting. A few simple, extra touches, such as a portable lamp with a colored shade, will make a huge impact. * Try novelty lights. Consider themed novelty lights for a bit of fun when decorating for any holiday. “Try string lights in shapes or LED crystal lights on a festive mantle,” says Edward Cook, president of National Specialty Lighting in Colorado. Visit your local ALA-member lighting showroom to discover more ideas for decorating with lights for the holidays. For information, visit www.AmericanLightingAssoc.com. H
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Did you know?
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Making a list when holiday shopping can help you avoid spending more than your budget allows. Rather than be caught off guard, carefully make your shopping list and include everyone you intend to gift. Purchase one or two extra generic gifts just in case something comes up. It is much easier to afford holiday giving when you can divide your budget by the number of gift recipients rather than having to add on gifts after the fact. Also, in the event you are left with extra gifts that were unnecessary, you can return them after the holidays and use the money to treat yourself to something nice or donate the gift or the returned funds to someone in need.
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