Special Features - Greetings December 2019

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Season’s Greetings

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Season’s Greetings The history of holiday lights The tradition of Christmas lights stretches back to early modern Germany when people used candles to decorate Christmas trees in Christian homes. Those candles were harbingers of what would come when electric lights replaced gas and other open-flame illuminating devices that were commonplace prior to the 20th century.

Thomas Edison, the inventor of the first successful practical light bulb, also created the first strand of electric lights that would be used in holiday decorating. By 1880, Edison had standard incandescent light bulbs well sorted out and desired a way to better advertise his invention, so he decided to make the most of the holiday season and put his light bulbs on display. According to a 2003 article in American Heritage magazine titled

“The Wizard of Your Christmas Tree,” Edison strung incandescent bulbs all around the compound of his laboratory. He constructed an eight-mile underground wiring system to power this grand light display. Because the laboratory was situated along the railroad that passed between Manhattan and Philadelphia, thousands of people were able to see the display.

The concept of electric holiday lights took a bit of time to catch on.

Edison’s friend and associate Edward Johnson was tasked with stringing together coloured lights in 1882 and placing them on an evergreen tree.

Johnson hand-wired 80 red, white and blue light bulbs. In 1895, President Grover Cleveland requested the White House family Christmas tree be illuminated by multi-coloured electric light bulbs.

Merry Christmas Chr

Best wishes for a wonderful holiday and a ha happy and prosperous new year.

Mayor & City Council

In 1903, when General Electric began to offer pre-assembled kits of holiday lights, stringed lights were reserved for the wealthy and electrically savvy. For example, in 1903 a single string of electric lights cost $12, or around $300 today.

It would take several more years before holiday lights became a national tradition. On Christmas Eve 1923, President Calvin Coolidge began the country’s celebration of Christmas by lighting the National Christmas Tree on the Ellipse located south of the White House with 3,000 electric lights.

Today, illuminated strands of lights have become a large part of holiday celebrations and have even been adopted for use during various yearround events. Such lights can be a beautiful and festive addition to many celebrations.

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Season’s Greetings to our Valued Customers!

Did you know?

The holiday season is rife with tradition.

Some holiday traditions, such as holiday lighting displays, are impossible to miss, while others are more subtle and possibly even unknown to many celebrants.

One tradition that falls into the latter category involves the placing of oranges into Christmas stockings.

The origins of Christmas stockings are rooted in legend, and one of the more popular tales involves a widowed father of three beautiful girls.

According to Smithsonian. com, this father was struggling to make ends meet and was concerned that his financial struggles would affect his daugh-

ters’ ability to find a spouse. As the legend goes, St. Nicholas was wandering through the man’s town and heard of his concerns.

Recognizing that the man was unlikely to accept charity, St. Nicholas slid down the chimney of his house and placed three gold balls in the girls’ recently laundered stockings, which were hanging by the fire to dry.

The value of the gold balls, which were discovered the following morning, was enough to ensure the girls could eventually wed.

So what does that have to do with oranges? Those who wanted to replicate the tale could not so easily come upon gold balls to place in stockings, so they chose something similar in appearance: oranges.

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Rudolph’s red nose Dr. G. Webb

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Rudolph almost had a blue nose and was nearly named Reginald.

Adults and children alike are familiar with the tale of “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer.” As the lyrics of the song illustrate: “Rudolph the red-nosed reindeer had a very shiny nose / And if you ever saw it, you would even say it glows.”

Popularized by the song written by Johnny Marks and sung by Gene Autry, Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer dates back to 1939. A copywriter named Robert L. May created the story of the misfit reindeer in 1939 when working for Montgomery Ward. The retail giant was producing marketing holiday colouring books for children and wanted to come up with a clever character.

Although Rudolph is now beloved, May’s original ideas included Rollo and Reginald.

Also, Rudolph’s famed red nose almost didn’t come to be. Because a red nose at the time was viewed as a sign of alcoholism, Montgomery Ward was hesitant to be on board with the bulbous, red snoot. A blue nose was considered, but later changed. In its first year of publication, Montgomery Ward had distributed 2.4 million copies of Rudolph’s story.

The catchy tune came thereafter, followed by a cartoon short in 1948.

In 1964, the stop-motion animated television special further propelled Rudolph to celebrity and became the most recognizable Rudolph adaption.

Today, Rudolph is known across the globe as the reindeer responsible for navigating Santa’s sleigh through tricky weather on Christmas Eve. He continues to be loved by many, young and old.

thank you

for supporting local charities this Christmas season.

Consider helping Abbotsford families and children in need this Christmas with a gift to the smart & caring community Fund.

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Season’s Greetings The origins of Christmas carolling farmers in some parts of Britain were still engaging in this ritual, and some were by now taking a wassail bowl filled with a toasting beverage around the streets. These wassailers would stop by neighbouring homes and offer a warm drink, all the while wishing good fortune on their neighbours.

During this period, wassailing had nothing to do with Christmas, but that began to change in Victorian England, when Christmas became more commercialized and popular. It was during this time when publishers began circulating carols, forever linking the tradition of wassailing with Christmas.

Christmas carolling as Victorian Englanders knew it might have fallen by the wayside. But while carollers may no longer go door to door singing Christmas songs and wishing their neighbours good fortune, those intent on seeing the modern manifestation of this tradition that dates back more than a millennium may be able to find some carollers at their local mall or church.

The festive nature of the holiday season makes it an ideal time to sing, especially in groups. Perhaps it’s no surprise then that carolling, a tradition that dates back many centuries, ultimately collided with Christmas.

Carolling and Christmas carolling are two different things. According to History.org, the origins of modern Christmas carolling can be traced to wassailing, a term that has evolved for more than a millennium. What started as a simple greeting gradually became part of a toast made during ritualized drinking. Time magazine notes that the word “wassail,” which appeared in English literature as early as the eighth century, eventually came to mean the wishing of good fortune on one’s neighbours, though no one can say for certain when this particular development occurred.

During medieval times, farmers in certain parts of Britain would drink a beverage to toast the health of their crops and encourage the fertility of their animals. By 1600,

Happy Holidays!

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All the best to you and your family during this holiday season.

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Christmas from our family to yours

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Holiday songs with storied pasts The holiday season is not complete without music. Holiday hits play in shopping malls, and families often trim the tree to their favourite albums.

Even if Elvis’ “Blue Christmas” or Johnny Mathis’ “Do You Hear What I Hear” reign supreme in your household, it can be interesting to learn about some of the other songs made famous this time of year.

Modern classics Classic carols may be the first Christmas songs that come to mind. However, less than a quarter century ago a pop singer managed to contribute to the holiday music pantheon.

Mariah Carey’s “All I Want for Christmas is You,” released in 1994, is considered to be the most popular modern Christmas standard.

With global sales exceeding 16 million copies, the song is one of Carey’s biggest hits.

Sad Origins “Santa Claus Is Coming to Town,” with its warning to children to be nice since Santa is keeping tabs on kids’ behaviour, has helped children tow the line for decades. Songwriter James “Haven” Gillespie was asked to pen the

tune during one of the darker times in his life. Gillespie was jobless and poor and his brother had just passed away – hardly inspiration for a Christmas tune. However, after thinking about the memories he shared with his brother, Gillespie was able to pull together an upbeat and catchy classic, changing his life for the good.

Bestseller Even though “Silent Night” is the most recorded Christmas song in history, another tune holds the title of the best-selling holiday standard of all time. “White Christmas” was written in 1942 and reminisces about an old-fashioned Christmas celebration. The version recorded by Bing Crosby has estimated sales in excess of 100 million copies worldwide, according to “The Guinness Book of World Records.” There are various accounts as to when and where Irving Berlin wrote the song. Some state he did so at a hotel in Hollywood, while others say it was the Arizona Biltmore. Wherever Berlin happened to be when writing the tune, there’s no doubt he was pining for the quintessential white Christmas.

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Season’s Greetings Lighting up your holiday season 5:30 to 9:30 p.m. The kids serve hot chocolate on Wednesdays from 6 to 7 p.m., and a red box is located at the end of the driveway all day for food bank donations.

2774 Maple Street Dave and Catharine Goldbaum have gone all out with their Christmas lights, and they’re always adding more. Lights are on from 5 to 11:30 p.m. every night.

33232 Keats Court This display by the Myrhe family takes a traditional approach with stars, wreaths , lighted bushes, Santa with his sleigh and reindeer, and more. The display is on nightly from 5 to 11 p.m. until Dec. 31.

ABBOTSFORD 3863 Kensington Court 1405 Kaslo Court The Hood family’s display inThis display includes inflatables cludes inflatable characters, handand thousands of flashing lights. made wooden cutouts, rope-light Open nightly from 5 to 10 p.m. figures and thousands of lights. until Dec. 31.

The lights are on from 5 to 10 p.m.

28192 McTavish Road until Dec. 31. Donations are colThe Kemle family’s display features a large Merry Christmas sign, lected for Cyrus Centre for at-risk a huge hay bale snowman, a large and homeless youth in Abbotsford. pickup truck and much more, 2148 Vinewood Street open for viewing every day from

white lights on display. The lights are on every night from 4:30 to 11:30 p.m.

A number of Abbotsford and Mission homes are sparkling for the holidays.

Here is a list of some of the Christmas light displays that can be viewed, as supplied to The News by homeowners.

To add your display to the list, send an email to newsroom@abbynews.com with the name of the family or individuals hosting the display, the address, a description of the display, hours/dates of operation and whether donations are being accepted. Please include a horizontal photo.

2136 Primrose Street The Harling family has been decorating their yard for the last five years. Each year it gets bigger and better. This year it includes more than 15 blowups, a large Christmas tree and dancing lights on the house. The display can be viewed daily from 4 to 9 p.m.

32381 Seal Way This is the second year for the

34314 Woodbine Crescent This display has been in the making for 30 years. Each year something new is added. The display features many handmade wooden cutouts and, of course, the traditional Santa and snowman. Something new is added each year. The lights are on daily from 4:30 to 11 p.m. and until midnight on weekends.

34964 Orchard Drive Darren and Leya’s festive North Pole is filled with lots of lights, A.S. Nigah family to have a big dis- a giant star, a 20-foot Christmas play. Theirs includes Santa riding a tree, reindeer with Santa’s sleigh and more. The lights are on from 5 big elephant with gifts, as well as to 10 p.m. nightly. other inflatable figures and flashing lights. The lights are on daily 3791 Balsam Crescent from 5 to 9 p.m. until Dec. 25.

The Johnson family is showcasing thousands of lights in 34458 Laburnum Avenue The Brownes have added to their true Griswold fashion, including winter wonderland display this Continued on A22 year with well over 5,000 blue and

From our Lifeline family to yours, wishing you a Wonderful Christmas and good health and happiness for the New Year!

May Christmas and the new year bring wonderful moments to you all.

Happy holidays!

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As we celebrate the joys of this holiday season, we are thankful for the opportunity to work with our clients, business colleagues, family and friends!

As well as, continuing our spirit of giving!

We exemplify the spirit of giving by getting involved with charitable organizations, continuing our “Service Above Self” with Rotary or community food and clothing drives. We look forward to continuing our spirit of giving in the New Year!

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From A21 Santa’s sleigh and a herd of reindeer, Frosty, penguins sliding down a vintage Noel sign, and lots more.

Lights are on nightly from 5 to 10 p.m.

32895 Harwood Place This display by Ken and Brenda Keis features more than 30,000 lights and unique figurines, including a Winter Wonderland, train, carolers and a nativity scene.

The lights are on from 5 to

10 p.m. until Dec. 31.

2136 Primrose Street April and Josh Blais and their four kids decorate their home with more than 40 Christmas inflatables on the roof and throughout the yard, as well as thousands of lights.

Donations are collected for the food bank. The display is on throughout the day until approximately 9:30 p.m.

34613 Somerset Avenue The Hodgins family presents a colourful and classic display of lights and holiday

cheer. The lights are on daily from 5 to 10 p.m.

MISSION

32228 Buffalo Drive The Vendrasco family features a display of more than 30,000 lights that play with music, as well as a nativity scene, flying reindeer, and a penguin scene.

Lights will be on from 5 to 10:30 nightly until Jan. 1.

The family collects cash and non-perishable food donations.

May the holiday season be a special time for you and your family.

Michael de Jong, MLA

Simon Gibson, MLA

Abbotsford West

Abbotsford/Mission

604.870.5486

604.820.6203

www.mikedejongmla.bc.ca mike.dejong.mla@leg.bc.ca

www.simongibsonmla.ca simon.gibson.mla@leg.bc.ca

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WISHING YOU A VERY

Merry Christmas!

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