HOMELIVING
PO Box 188 • 206 South Main St. Milford, IN 46542
800.733.4111/Fax 800.886.3796
Editorial ext. 2311 & Advertising ext. 2328 www.homelivingplacesandspaces.com
PUBLISHER
Ron Baumgartner rbaumgartner@the-papers.com
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Deb Patterson dpatterson@the-papers.com
EDITOR Lauren Zeugner lzeugner@the-papers.com
ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE Karen Johnson kjohnson@the-papers.com
aweaver@the-papers.com
Darlene Eichelberger deichelberger@the-papers.com Reagan Nichols rnichols@the-papers.com DIRECTOR
Jerry
jlong@the-papers.com
editor’s note...
It’s the week before Thanksgiving as I wrap up the DECEMBER edition of Home Living. Do you have a favorite Christmas commercial? So far I have two, one is for Aldi where Santa manages to fall off the roof of an apartment building ending up land-surfing on top of an Aldi truck and the other is for Rakuten which is a knock off of ‘Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer’ Christmas special, complete with the yeti.
The team and I had a blast putting this edition together as we sought out thoughtful and unique gift
ideas for you to try, found the towns that have their glittery lights up and how to make it through the holiday relatively sane.
And when you need an escape from the shopping crowds or the baking, we have you covered there as well. Take a day trip to one of these historical homes and see how they are decked out for the holiday. Each one is a short drive and highlights how Christmas was celebrated in another century. I’ve seen some of the photos, which while gorgeous, I am sure doesn’t do these homes justice.
We’re offering two recipes this month. One is for a breakfast casserole, perfect for Christmas morning or make it for dinner as a one pan meal. The other is a loaded BLT dip that is easy to put together and take to a holiday get together. I actually made this dip and it was a hit at a Kiwanis social I went to. The recipe says serve with chips, but it will go with anything you can dip- chips, veggies, crackers. It has six strips of bacon in it, it goes with everything.
As we close out the first year of HomeLiving: Places & Spaces and 2025 we would
Kim McKibbin stepping down as executive director of BANCI
By BethAnne Brink-Cox HomeLiving Feature Writer
Kim McKibbin, executive director of the Builders Association of North Central Indiana is retiring at the end of this year, and how she will be missed!
We have spoken with Kim so many times through the years, so I asked her just how many years are we talking about? She laughed. “Between 13 years for the Elkhart Builders Association and five for North Central, I’ve been involved for 18 years.”
McKibbin has been married “37 years to my husband, Ed, and we have one son, Ryan, who is 31.” She’s certainly young enough for retirement to mean more than a rocking chair, and she laughed again. “Nope, that’s too sedentary for me! My husband and I are going to travel. I am, in fact, in Colorado this very minute. We’re staying with my youngest brother, who is a colonel in the Air Force. If you look out the windows of his house, you can see Pikes Peak, and that’s
where he’s taking me on Friday. Every day we wake up and say, is there snow on Pikes Peak today? Everything is just breathtaking here.”
And where else might she want to go? “Arizona! I have another brother there.” We agreed that it is another breathtakingly beautiful state, and she’s looking forward to seeing everything there, as well. After that? Well, the sky is the limit.
As for BANCI, what was the best part of all those years? “Well, I met a lot of people, through both associations. I made some very close friendships and contacts; Carly Hopper and Rick Wadja were more than friends, they were and are mentors.” Because of that, what will McKibbin miss the most? “Again, probably the
friendships. And the Parade of Homes, and the golf outings. Those were always fun.”
But she still plans to be around, visible and involved. “Oh yeah! I’ll still go through the parades and home shows and all of those. I still went to Elkhart activities after I left, I still keep in touch, and I’ll do that here too.” We know she’ll be welcomed with great delight.
What’s McKibbin’s legacy, then? She thought for a moment. “I would say my knowledge of the associations! I know a lot of history, so much history. And I treat everybody fairly.”
We’d say that’s a wonderful way to be remembered, and we all wish McKibbin and her family many years of good health and enjoyable travels. n
aroundmichiana
YEAR ROUND | MIDDLEBURY TRAIL TALES
Bring the family outdoors to read a children’s book while walking a short path at Riverbend Park; book pages are placed in special kiosks along the path. New books are installed monthly. Event partners are the Middlebury Public Library and Middlebury Parks Department.
DEC. 1-31 | SOUTH BEND SOUTH BEND FARMERS MARKET
Indoor market featuring homegrown produce, dairy products, meats, eggs, maple syrup, jams and jellies, handcrafts, artwork, jewelry and more.
7 a.m. to 2 p.m. Tuesday and Thursday and 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday Free admission. 1105 Northside Blvd. (574) 282-1259 southbendfarmersmarket.com
DEC. 4 | WAKARUSA WAKARUSA BLUE GRASS JAMBOREE
A host of local musicians and bands gather to pick, play and sing bluegrass, country and gospel in an informal jam session. Meets the first Thursday of the month. 6:30-9 p.m.
Doc Able Pavilion 116 W. Waterford St. Downtown Wakarusa, 1 block west of stop light.
Free Admission, free will offering. (574) 862-2200 wakarusabluegrassjam.com
DEC. 4 AND 11 | ELKHART HOLIDAY WORKSHOP
Make your own vintage jewelry collage. Midwest Museum of American Art
429 S. Main St.
5:30-7:30 p.m. for each session. Create your own holiday design using vintage jewelry from the museum’s collection or your own.
Cost is $35 per session. Must be 21 to participate (Wine will be served) This class is limited to 15 participants To register call (574) 293-6660 or email r.roberts@midwestmuseum.us
DEC. 5 | WARSAW
DOWNTOWN TWINKLE LIGHT CELEBRATION
Enjoy the Twinkle Light Parade, Christmas Tree lighting, downtown open house, carriage rides, Santa ouse and more.
DEC. 5-6 AND 12-13
| NORTH LIBERTY LIGHTS
OF LIBERTY
6-8 p.m.
400 School Road
Holiday light walk. Come see Santa’s workshop, twinkling trees and even food trucks.
Admission: donation For more info call (574) 656-3220 or email northlibetychamber@hotmail.com
DEC. 6 | ELKHART
ELKHART ART LEAGUE
2025 HOLIDAY OPEN HOUSE
10:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
131 Tyler St.
Shop handmade art, pick up the league’s Art for All Seasons Calendar, meet artists and instructors and discover classes and workshops. Entry and parking are free.
DEC. 12 | SOUTH BEND HOLIDAY LIGHT PARADE
Jefferson Blvd.
7-7:45 p.m.
Rain date is Dec. 20
DEC. 13 | SYRACUSE BREAKFAST WITH SANTA AT OAKWOOD RESORT
9 -10 a.m.
702 E. Lake View Road Call (574) 457-7100 for details.
DEC. 17 | NORTH WEBSTER TEEN CANDLE MAKING
3:30-5:30 p.m.
North Webster Community Public Library 1110 E. North St.
Students in 6-12th grades are invited to learn how to make their own candles. Event is free and all supplies are provided.
DEC. 22 | WARSAW UGLY SWEATER AND STOCKING CRAFT FOR T(W)EENS
4-6 p.m., Warsaw Public Library • 310 E. Main St. The library will provide precut sweater and stocking shaped paper along with all the art supplies. Bring your wildest ideas and make something fabulously festive or totally tacky.
DEC. 23 | SOUTH BEND WINTER WONDERLAND ORNAMENT HUNT
10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
St. Joseph County Park locations
Elves have hidden ornaments around St. Joe County Parks and they want you to find them. Clues are unveiled every Tuesday in December on the Parks Facebook page. Locate the ornaments, snap a photo and submit them to mgohn@ sjcparks.com for a chance to win park prizes. n
Having trouble finding the perfect gift? Try the
Four Gift Rule
By BethAnne Brink-Cox
HomeLiving Feature Writer
Have you heard of the “Four Gift Rule?” It’s most commonly suggested for Christmas, in an attempt to hold down costs, encourage gratitude and remind us less can be more.
Something they want:
This category can cover just about anything. For a child, it may be a specific toy, as told to Santa Claus, who once got a request for a pink chain saw! For a movie lover, you could buy a package of movie passes. For a sentimentalist, it might be letting the right person know that a family heirloom would be most welcome: I cherish a cookie plate that my great grandmother used to serve many a cookie in her day. The painted flowers are fading and chipping a little, and I wouldn’t take any amount of money for it. I also have sheets and pillowcases my other great-grandmother cross-stitched in patterns of roses. Both ladies have been gone more than 50 years, and these items they cherished keep their mem ory evergreen. In these times when many are trying to downsize as they grow older, you might have some thing restored or repaired – a piece of furni ture, a childhood doll – and watch the faces of the recipients light up.
Something to wear:
I repeat, not socks and underwear – although silly socks are always fun; look for sock monkeys and Snoopy and the like. Maybe someone is never without a sweater during the cold months, or hats and gloves. For the right person, a specialized kind of clothing, like the type meant for travel, things that can be rolled and crammed into a very small space without wrinkling. You can do Christmas pajamas, or ugly Christmas sweaters but you can also do cute versions of the same clothes.
The four are ‘something they want, something they need, something to wear and something to read.’ That allows for a lot of wiggle room, so let’s take a deeper look at each of those four.
Something they need:
Okay, this doesn’t mean socks and underwear (although it can, if the recipient would be pleased with that practicality.) You can fix grocery boxes: canned goods and non-perishables – if you shop the sales regularly, you can gather a nice stockpile to fill those boxes. I once made a baking box for my grandmother: flour, three kinds of sugar, honey and molasses and spices and shortening. A music student might really welcome things like reeds for their woodwinds, or sheet music and guitar picks. You could buy a book of car washes, or take advantage of a sale and buy someone a gym membership (again, ONLY if that’s a gift that would be appreciated and not seen as an insult!) Maybe there’s a new quilt or pillows that are needed, or a rug (and that could include handmade for any of these items – especially if you collected sentimental t-shirts!)
Something to read:
There’s no question a reader, a true lover of books, will always welcome new books (and in my case, secondhand is fine too.) If they don’t have a list, you can always get a gift certificate or card for any bookstore, whether national chain or local independent. Another thing that’s always welcome would be a club card, the kind that gives a discount on every book purchased, and those are good for a year! Reading opens up a whole new world, as in the famous quote, “Books fall open and you fall in.” A lot of little girls have long asked for a boxed set of Laura Ingalls Wilder or Anne of Green Gables! And you can always renew a magazine or newspaper subscription for someone.
Take a look around, see what everyone already has, and listen to what they might mention wanting or needing. Just remember, the best gift of all is one that is thoughtfully chosen, no matter the cost, and given with great love. n
Day TRIPPING
By Julie Young HomeLiving Feature Writer
Who doesn’t love a getaway that’s not far away? Whether you are looking to celebrate the season, have an affection for architecture, or have a penchant for the past, a visit to an historic Hoosier home is a great way to spend a day. Not only do these grand old estates offer a cozy indoor experience, but they also feature festive displays and give you a chance to learn more about the people who lived there!
OAKHURST
Take a peek into the past at historic home sites BARKER MANSION BROOKSIDE
Enjoy the ambiance of the Gilded Age this Christmas at the Barker Museum in Michigan City. Constructed in 1857 for railroad car manufacturer John Barker, this 38-room, 35,000 square foot house turned museum is one of the most unique attractions on Lake Michigan’s South Shore. According to Michele Gustin, programs and events coordinator for the Mansion, 90 percent of the furniture, art and objects in the home are original including an inscribed silver exhibit in the dining room, the 1906 Steinway piano in the drawing room and a number of family photos. During the holiday season, the home is bedecked with 20 Christmas trees and on Dec. 17, Grant Fitch will present Yuletide Favorites, an evening of holiday storytelling including dramatic readings of “The Gift of the Magi,” “Yes, Virginia, There is a Santa Claus” and “A Christmas Story.” Be sure to take in the Barker Christmas Cottage for more holiday fun throughout the month. For more information, visit www.barkermansion.org.
Located on the Minnetrista Museum and Gardens campus in Muncie, Oakhurst is the Arts and Crafts style historic home of George and Francis Ball (of the Ball jar Company.) The Oakhurst Experience (now through Dec. 31) gives guests the chance to learn more about the couple through the eyes of their daughter Elizabeth (Betty) in the space where they once lived. The interactive presentation explores literacy, food preservation, nature and family. Visitors can read a book from the shelves or engage in a friendly challenge with one of the board games or digital games. Whether you are young, or young at heart, everyone is invited to lose themselves in a house that is full of history and wonder. Don’t forget to continue your adventure at the Ball Stores exhibition in the Heritage Collection Gallery to learn more about this beloved shopping destination with historical objects and artifacts. For more information, visit www.minnetrista.net.
Formerly known as the Bass Mansion, Brookside was the Romanesque summer home of John Henry Bass that was built in 1903. Today, it is an administrative building for the University of St. Francis in Fort Wayne that is open for one-hour guided tours from January-October during regular business hours. Each room in the 25,000 square-foot home has been lovingly restored and features phenomenal details and colors that help each space pop. Sr. Elise Kriss, who was heavily involved in the restoration, said the mansion is especially glorious during the annual holiday “Christmas at the Castle” open house event held the first weekend in December. For more information, visit https:// calendar.sf.edu/event/christmas. n
This season give the gift of giving back to the community
By Nicholette Carlson HomeLiving Feature Writer
One of the best ways to celebrate the holiday season is by giving back to your local community. There are multiple ways to do so both during the holidays or all year round. These can include volunteering time, buying gifts for those less fortunate or even simply donating blood. Whether it is giving only once or something that becomes a regular tradition, the gift of giving is one of the most precious gifts one can choose.
The Salvation Army has two primary ways to give during the holiday season. There is the Red Kettle campaign, which helps to collect money for the Salvation Army to assist those in need. People can give back by either donating money when they see a red kettle or volunteering to be a bell ringer at a local business. This typically involves standing next to the red kettle ringing a bell for a few hours and can be done as a single volunteer or as a group. There is also the Angel Tree program, which helps to provide hundreds of thousands of gifts to children throughout the country each year. Simply pull a tag from one of the Angel Trees at area Walmart stores and other stores and purchase the gift from the wish list. This helps provide presents for children who otherwise wouldn’t be able to celebrate the holidays.
Food is a staple of the holiday season and one of the best ways to donate time is by helping with food or meals for those less fortunate. At Cultivate Food Rescue, volunteers can sign up for a two-hour shift to help pack the meals or help with dish washing. If looking for a weekly volunteer opportunity, people can also volunteer for a specific shift to come in to process the food and make the meals. Another opportunity is to volunteer as a Meals on Wheels driver and deliver meals to homebound seniors.
The local Humane Society and Pet Refuge or other animal care organizations are always in need of volunteers. If cats and dogs are a particular passion, volunteers are always needed to assist with feeding, water and socializing the animals. Other volunteer opportunities include
doing laundry, washing the dish bowls, washing the kennels, giving dogs a bath and walking dogs. In Elkhart County, volunteers can also assist with sorting donated items, organizing, pricing and stocking shelves in the Red Barn Resale shop. Fosters help provide a loving home to an animal until it is adopted through the animal shelter.
A great way to volunteer with both animals and people is through LoveWay. LoveWay helps to provide horse experiences to those with physical, emotional or mental disabilities and volunteers can help to prepare the horses and walk alongside the individuals during a class. ADEC is also a great way to volunteer by spending time with clients throughout the day and perhaps sharing a skill with them. Heart to Heart Hospice helps provide volunteers opportunities to give the gift of time and companionship with those on hospice care by reading books, writing letters, making calls and just spending time sitting and talking with them.
A simple and always needed way to give back is by donating blood through any American Red Cross blood drive. Many businesses and organizations also have Toys for Tots bins to place donated new toys to give to children less fortunate. n
Cities prepare for holiday events
By Nicholette Carlson HomeLiving Feature Writer
Once the holiday season starts, cities start work on their holiday decorations. Each city has to begin early to ensure the various decorations are set up in time for the Thanksgiving, Christmas and other holiday events held throughout the community. Other organizations typically also assist the cities in decorating with Christmas tree lighting events, light shows and even visits with Santa.
City of South Bend
While the city focuses on holiday decorations throughout South Bend and at the O’Brien Fitness Center and Pinhook Park, Downtown South Bend helps to spruce up the downtown area for the holidays. The work begins in early November and takes about a month since it is done in phases so it is complete before December. They place a large holiday tree in the Gridiron with a tree lighting ceremony on the first Friday of December. There are colored tree lights or warm white lights on the majority of the street level trees throughout downtown. A wall of lights is placed on the former College Hall of Fame building. Lighted snowflakes are installed along the light posts and with holiday lamp post banners. Businesses are invited to sponsor holiday trees in flower bowls they can then decorate and a vote is held on social media to choose the favorite. In the Courtyard Marriott, there is a Gingerbread Village with gingerbread houses made by the community on display in the lobby for the public to vote on their favorite. Garland and lighted garland are also around lamp posts. In mid-December DTSB partners with the city and the Jewish Federation to place a menorah in John Hurt Plaza.
Wellfield Botanic Gardens, Elkhart
Winter Wonderland Holiday Lights is a huge light show each year sponsored by Welch Packaging with Landscape Illumination as a partner to put up all the lights throughout the gardens. Typically lights start to go up in September around Labor Day and they are all taken down by Memorial Day. They also partner with between 10 and 15 nonprofits in the area as giving tree partners. These partners then get to choose a night and bring in volunteers to help run the light show that evening. The Holiday Lights light show starts the Friday after Thanksgiving and goes until the end of the year. This year it has been extended to Jan. 3. This light show has been going on now for nine years and originally started with 200,000 lights. They are now up to 1.8 million lights with only an eighth of the lights visible from the parking lot. One of the major differences is they own all their own lights, so light cost is only for some replacement bulbs or strings each year. The lights are strung all around the trees with some wrapped around branches and others hanging from limbs so the environment and nature is included as much as possible. It is also unique since it included a professional light show with a walking tour of about three-quarters of a mile. With the new visitor’s center and pavilion, there is now also a large Christmas tree inside with hanging garland and lights. For the first two Thursdays in December, Santa will also be at the gardens.
Wakarusa Chamber of Commerce
The Wakarusa Chamber of Commerce is well-known for having the oldest outdoor tree lighting in the state. A 30-foot Christmas tree is donated each year and is placed in the center of town. Decorations begin in November. On Dec. 1, the tree is placed in the center of town unlit. Lights are then strung up and tested before the official tree lighting on Dec. 5. The local school choirs gather around and sing Christmas carols and then a countdown leads to the lighting of the tree each year. A Christmas market is held that night and the next day as well. The tree then stays lit through Christmas and is taken down at the end of the year. This year the chamber is placing colored lights along the light poles instead of white lights. Outside the chamber window will be decorative white lights in the trees. Store fronts will also decorate their windows; many typically in line with the original star theme. n
Photos provided by Wellfield Botanic Gardens.
Photo provided by Downtown South Bend.
A Teacher’s P O V
A Look at Pledge Patriotism in the Schools
By Christi Lee Ziebarth Guest Writer
With October barely in the rear view mirror and November upon us, I’d like to reintroduce the words of the pledge of allegiance. Outside of school, opportunity is not presented much to say it.
our children.
In education, the presence of the flag is expected. A flag rests at the front of every classroom and is raised high at the front of every school.
However, reverence for the flag is harder to teach. It must be modeled. This is an example I see here within Wawasee Community Schools. It’s worth knowing about. Just as our children are the center of our legacy, our schools are at the very heart of our community.
Reverence for the flag is modeled by administration to teachers, teachers to students and from students to students. It is. From the Friday night football national anthem to the Veterans Day assembly…to the daily pledge of allegiance. I see it. I feel it. I know it. Patriotism is alive and well here.
I caught a glimpse of this not too long ago in a small moment. Small moments are preambles to big moments. For this reason I share.
Last year, a freebie poster by modern artist, Michael Alberts, was found stuffed in my school mailbox. Delighted by an example that fit well with an upcoming collage project, the poster was taped high just behind the shoulder of a traditional flag mounted on a wooden dowel mounted at the front of the classroom. The mosaic poster made of red, white, and blue cereal box snippets reflected modern culture in historic symbolism.
Not long after the poster went up, the traditional flag fell down for no apparent reason. While it was lying on my desk awaiting the ladder, the intercom crackled to life. It was time to say the pledge. All rose. The traditional flag they were used to seeing on the dowel every day was
In the seconds that followed, students seemed confused and unsure if the mosaic flag poster was
worthy to say the pledge to. A leader among them saw the flag lying on my desk and proclaimed in a near battle cry, “It’s right there! I see the flag.” Ankles pivoted and the pledge was said to the fallen flag lying on my desk.
A few students preferred to pivot back and say the pledge to the artistic flag representation. It was an interesting moment and good conversation came of it later.
I’m not here to say right or wrong or decipher appropriations, but I did witness a discerning of respect and for this I was glad to see. They cared to make the best decision they could in the moment to honor the flag.
Our student’s generation has not witnessed a flag flown on a battlefield, blowing in the wind over a warship, blown to shreds by a grenade or draped over a POW coffin in real time. These versions of the flag have been seen in person by thousands in war preceeding. I have not, but I have heard these stories from my grandfathers and uncles and seen the flame of remembrance flickering in their eyes.
It’s not a bad thing when the biggest stress on this generation’s shoulders during the pledge is which version of the flag to look at. It also means lives were not given in vain as peace is still realized.
*This article was inspired by a quote by Mr. Geoff Walmer, Wawasee High School principal, heard over the intercom and reiterated in email communition. He emboldened teacher’s, staff and students regarding the pledge and the flag with this statement, “Each morning when we say the pledge, I encourage you to memorize these words and every time you say it, say it with pride and conviction, out of thanksgiving, to live in freedom the way in which we are able.” n
Breakfast For Dinner Casserole
allrecipes.com. This recipe was submitted to the website by Mrs4man.
This time of year the focus tends to be on the big Thanksgiving or Friendsgiving feast. But what about the next morning when you still may have guests in the house or you may want to get out the door fast to hit those Black Friday sales.
INGREDIENTS:
q 1 pound ground turkey breakfast sausage
q 1 (8 ounce) can refrigerated reduced-fat crescent dough
q 5 eggs, lightly beaten
q 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
q 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
q 2/3 cup milk
q 2/3 cup red bell pepper, chopped
q 1/2 cup chopped fresh spinach
q 1 scallion chopped
q 1 tablespoon minced parsley
q Salt and pepper to taste
INGREDIENTS:
q 1 - 8 oz. package of cream cheese, softened
q 8 oz. sour cream
q 1/2 cup mayonnaise
q 1 - 1 oz. package of ranch seasoning mix
q 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
q 1/4 head iceberg lettuce, finely chopped
q 2 roma tomatoes, seeded and chopped
q 6 slices of bacon, cooked crisp and crumbled
q Potato chips, crackers or toasted bread for serving
DIRECTIONS:
Preheat the oven to 400 degrees. Lightly grease a 9 X 13 inch baking dish
Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Cook and stir turkey in the hot skillet until browned and crumbly, about 5-7 minutes. Drain and discard grease
Unroll crescent roll dough and spread evenly over the bottom of the prepared baking dish
Bake in a preheated oven for 10 minutes
Mix sausage and eggs together in a bowl. Add cheddar cheese, mozzarella cheese, milk, red bell pepper, spinach, scallion, parsley, salt, pepper, stirring well after each addition. Pour the egg mixture over the baked crescent rolls.
Bake in the oven until eggs are set, 25-30 minutes. n
Loaded BLT Dip
Courtesy of allrecipes.com.
DIRECTIONS:
Combine cream cheese, sour cream, mayonnaise and ranch dressing mix in a bowl until well blended. Spread mixture evenly into a deep serving dish or pie plate.
Top cream cheese mixture evenly in layers with cheese, lettuce, tomato and bacon. Serve with chips. n
The Book Nook
Want to suggest a book? Send the title, author, a brief synopsis of the book and why you liked it to lzeugner@the-papers.com.
Check out these holiday reads. Who knew there were so many Christmas books out there? From military history to heart warming fiction to my personal fave, mysteries, here’s a small sampling of what’s available. — Lauren
A CHRISTMAS CAROL
by
Charles Dickens
Miser Ebenezer Scrooge is visited by three ghosts one Christmas Eve in a bid to change his ways. This is a classic Christmas book and actually one of five Dickens wrote around the holiday. This is a favorite in the Zeugner household to the point my dad and I can recite passages by heart.
A DOG NAMED CHRISTMAS by
Greg Kincaid
A developmentally challenged young man hears the local animal shelter is seeking temporary homes for all the dogs in its care during the holidays. His family agrees to foster a lovable pooch he dubs Christmas.
THE LIFE AND ADVENTURES OF SANTA CLAUS
by L. Frank Baum
Baum may be best known for writing “The Wizard of Oz,” but here he provides a charming and original tale about Santa.
SILENT NIGHT: THE REMARKABLE CHRISTMAS TRUCE OF 1914 by
Stanley Weintraub
This book tells the tale of how the Germans and Allies threw down their arms and came together across the front lines to sing carols, exchange gifts and letters and even engage in friendly games of soccer.
HERCULE POIROT’S CHRISTMAS by
Agatha Christie
As a mystery lover, I love Poirot and Christie is a favorite author. In this book he is called in after a family reunion at the holidays ends in murder.
WINTER SOLSTICE by Rosamunde
Pilcher
Five strangers find themselves together in a large, neglected estate near the Scottish fishing town of Reagan. On the shortest day of the year, their lives will be changed forever. This is a novel of love, loyalty and rebirth. n
Happy Holidays
Beyond Christmas, there are other reasons to celebrate in December
By Julie Young HomeLiving Feature Writer
Bohdi Day
Traditionally celebrated on Dec. 8, Bohdi Day commemorates the day when Siddartha Gautama (aka Buddha) achieved enlightenment underneath the Bohdi tree. Most commonly celebrated in East Asian countries such as Japan, Vietnam and Malaysia, it is acknowledged through meditation, acts of kindness, chanting and decorating trees with lights to symbolize the great awakening that led to the foundation of Buddhism. Special meals of rice and milk are also prepared. Note: not all Buddhists celebrate Bohdi Day.
Our Lady of Guadelupe Feast Day
Mexicans and Mexican-American Catholics often celebrate the day in which they believe the Virgin Mary appeared to Juan Diego on Dec. 12, 1531. Her image on his tilma (poncho) led to the mass conversion of millions and re mains an import ant feast day for Hispanics across the Americas who honor this occasion with a Mass.
While “Merry Christmas” remains a time-honored, traditional greeting throughout the month of December, the term Happy Holidays may be more appropriate. It not only comingles a Christmas/ New Year’s wish but is an inclusive phrase that commemorates several occasions before and after Dec. 25. To help you stay in the know of the cultural and religious traditions your neighbors may be celebrating, here’s your guide to the December holidays and why they are important.
Hanukkah
Celebrated from Dec. 14-22, 2025, Hanukkah is the eightday Jewish festival of lights that commemorates the rededication of the second temple of Jerusalem. Centered on the story of a small jar of oil that miraculously burned for eight days after the Maccabees reclaimed the temple, Hanukkah is marked with the lighting of candles on the menorah, eating foods cooked in oil such as latkes, a gift exchange and by playing Dreidel games.
Kwanzaa
St. Lucia Day
St. Lucia Day: Popular in Sweden as well as the US where large Scandinavian populations exist, St. Lucia Day is celebrated on Dec. 13 as a way to honor the patron saint of light. A breakfast of saffron buns, gingerbread cookies, and coffee is customary and, in many families, the youngest girl will dress up as St. Lucia wearing a crown of battery-operated candles on her head. St. Lucia Day also commemorates the return of longer days after the dark winter.
Created in 1966 by Maulana Karenga, Kwanzaa is a secular celebration of African-American and Pan-African culture that is held between Dec. 26 and Jan. 1. The name Kwanzaa comes from the Swahili phrase for “first fruits” and is based on African Harvest festivals. Each day of Kwanzaa is dedicated to one of the seven principles: unity, self-determination, collective work and responsibility, cooperative economics, purpose, creativity, and faith. Traditions often include family gatherings, a gift exchange, music, dance, storytelling, and a large “karamu” feast on Dec. 31.
Zartosht No-Diso
Founded by the Prophet Zoroaster over 3,000 years ago, Zoroastrian religion is one of the world’s oldest monotheistic religions. Followers of this ancient religion honor the death of their prophet on Dec. 26 by visiting a fire temple and offering prayers. n
10 facts about december Did You Know?
In December 1773, the Boston Tea Party took place with colonials boarding British ships and dumping 342 containers of expensive tea into the harbor.
Japan attacks the U.S. naval base at Pearl Harbor in December 1941, leading the U.S. to enter World War II.
Rosa Parks was arrested in Montgomery, Alabama, in December 1955, for refusing to give up her seat to a white man and move to the back of the bus. This resulted in a boycott of the bus system and legal action ending racial segregation on municipal buses.
Slavery was abolished in December 1865 as the 13th amendment to the U.S. Constitution was ratified.
New Year’s Eve celebrates the final day of the Gregorian calendar and is typically celebrated with late night fun with family and friends to ring in the new year.
Multiple holidays are celebrated throughout the month of December. A popular holiday is Christmas, celebrating the birth of Jesus of Nazareth or the arrival of Santa Claus, typically with a Christmas tree and exchange of gifts. In the United Kingdom, there is Boxing Day, in which gifts are given to employees and service providers. An African American holiday is Kwanzaa, celebrating traditional harvest festivals focusing on family unity and concluding with a community harvest feast on the seventh day. Those of the Jewish faith celebrate an eight-day festival known as Hanukkah. ) 1 ) 2 ) 3 ) 4 ) 5 ) 6 ) 7 ) 8 ) 9 ) 10
The movie “Gone with the Wind” had its world pre miere in Atlanta, Georgia, in December 1939, with appearances from Vivien Leigh and Clark Gable.
In December 1903, after three years of experiments, Orville and Wilbur Wright successfully achieved the first powered, controlled airplane flight. There were four flights near Kitty Hawk, NC, with the longest lasting approximately a minute.
Jane Austen was born in 1775 in Hampshire, England. She became the author of multiple famous books including “Pride and Prejudice,” “Sense and Sensibility,” and “Northanger Abbey.” These books continue to be read today and have been made into multiple successful movies and television series.
Beethoven was born in Bonn, Germany, in 1770. He is considered one of the greatest composers to ever live, despite suffering from hearing loss and composing music while completely deaf. He created multiple symphonies, sonatas, concertos, string quartets, an opera and more. n
... and now you know!
