Michiana House and Home - December 2022

PO Box 188 • 206 South Main St.

Milford, IN 46542

800.733.4111/Fax 800.886.3796

Editorial ext. 2311 & Advertising ext. 2362 www.michianahouseandhome.com

PUBLISHER

Ron Baumgartner rbaumgartner@the-papers.com

PUBLICATION MANAGER

Bill Hays bhays@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

BUSINESS MANAGER

Annette Weaver aweaver@the-papers.com

DIRECTOR OF MARKETING Steve Meadows smeadows@the-papers.com

FEATURE WRITERS

Beth Anne Brink-Cox, Dani Messick, Julie Young

GRAPHIC DESIGNER

Kimberly Zellers

MARKETING ASSISTANTS

Darlene Eichelberger darlene@the-papers.com Taelynne Ousley tousley@the-papers.com

DIRECTOR OF CIRCULATION

Jerry Long jlong@the-papers.com

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Copyright © Michiana House and Home All rights reserved, 2022

editor’s note...

Where has the time gone! It’s December which means shop ping, baking, holiday concerts, running to the Post Office to send packages and cards.

Hopefully, you’ll find some down time to enjoy this issue of Michiana House and Home. We’ll get you in the spirit by showcasing Copshaholm, the Oliver Mansion in South Bend, and Tippecanoe, the Studebaker Mansion. Both his toric homes will be decked out in their finest for the holiday.

In this issue you’ll find articles on selecting the perfect Christmas tree whether real or artificial. We’ also discuss how to have a safe holiday through the proper use of Christmas lights, both indoor and out, and power strips.

Editor

Email: Lzeugner@the-papers.com

While December is associated with Christmas and Hanukkah, it’s also known as the darkest month of the year with the winter sol stice on Dec. 21. So with the weather being frightful outside, we did an arti cle on hygge, the Danish

idea of cozy, for inside. And we found ways to do it with out breaking the budget.

For recipes this month, I took two from “Cooking with Love” a recipe book from LoveWay Inc. LoveWay is therapeutic riding center in Middlebury. It has been serving students of all ages with physical, emotional and mental challenges for almost 50 years.

I’ve been a volunteer at LoveWay for over 25 years assisting kids with special needs as they learn to ride. The two recipes I chose are from Dale Tharp, a long-time LoveWay volunteer who passed away in 2011. I met Dale while covering the Middlebury Summer Festival. He was manning LoveWay’s booth and encouraged me to sign up as a volunteer.

Amy Moore was the volunteer coordinator when I started. A lovely woman, she was always encour aging and had a smile for everyone when she was in the barn.

Both of these recipes are quick and easy, just per fect during this hectic time of year. So enjoy the magic of the holiday and I’ll see you in the new year.

shutterstock.com

Enjoy —

Lauren Zeugner,

Real or artificial: picking the perfect Christmas tree

By BethAnne Brink-Cox House and Home Writer

No matter how you celebrate Christmas, it’s quite likely that you have a Christmas tree or two (or more!) in your home. The Christmas tree went up in our house after Thanksgiving dinner when I was growing up, and it came down the day after Christmas, without fail. In my house these days, the tree goes up as soon as we can manage it and it stays up well into the new year, because the glowing warmth is too beautiful to cut its stay short. We have one outside in our backyard, too, and there’s not much prettier than a deco rated tree with its lights shin ing through fallen snow.

In Wakarusa, you can visit the cozy Flickinger family farm. Andy Flickinger grew up on the farm, and in 2014 was trying to think of an interest ing side business. “I’m the fifth generation, and I wanted to do something that would keep me involved with the farm – I love local agriculture – and I thought, why not Christmas trees. I can do this basically on my own. We’re not huge, but there’s enough to keep us busy. People forget there’s more to a Christmas tree farm than just Christmas; the trees need care all year long. I have three young kids, 11, 9 and 3, and the older boys like the Christmas part of the season. And my wife, Amanda, manages all our social media.” Indeed she does: her photo “Christmas is Coming” was a 2022 Indiana Agriculture Photo Contest winner in the Agritourism category.

Flickinger said they offer “Canaan, Douglas and Fraser Fir, and Scotch or white pine trees, grown on the farm. Scotch and white pine are the major ity available for cutting; we also have pre cut fir trees for sale. And we re purpose, too – trees that aren’t as prettily shaped, we cut and sell boughs from them for wreaths and Christmas arrangements.” Flickinger’s also sells wreaths, tree stands and ornaments to complete your holiday decor.

Maybe you’d like to start a new tradition? You can bring the family for hayrides and hot chocolate. Bring your pets on a leash, but be prepared to clean up after them! Flickinger said “One thing we didn’t envi sion was renting blocks of time for photo sessions–family photos, even proposals, and people post a lot on so cial media.” What a great time and place to preserve for posterity. Flickinger said reservations are available year round, but there are limited times during hours of operations, “So there’s no photobombing!”

Neither business offers potted Christmas trees; while the idea is a lovely one, if the tree isn’t properly cared for, it’s not going to survive. In Germany, a fast grow ing business is renting out potted trees!

While artificial Christmas trees are more realistic in appear ance than ever before, live trees are still most pop ular, according to Jeff Alexander of Eby’s Evergreen Plantation in Bristol. Eby’s is the largest grower of Christmas trees in the state of Indiana, an 800 acre farm with three quarters of a million trees. In 1980, Eby’s won the Grand Champion Grower award from the National Christmas Tree Association for its white pine, and they provided a tree to the Carter White House. Alexander said he is the third generation, and “Don’t know yet if there will be a fourth!” Eby’s sells pine and fir trees; the pine trees range from 5 feet to 9, and the fir trees are 5 feet to 11 feet, so you’ll have no trouble finding the exact, perfect tree of your dreams, whatever says ‘Christmas tree’ to you.

You can avail yourself of Eby’s “something else to do when it’s not Christmas,” as Alexander said, and go roller skating at their rink!

While the hope is always that the family will plant and care for the tree, the grow ers welcome the chance to rescue a tree and give it another chance to live on. A Chinese proverb on the Flickinger website

says simply: The best time to plant a tree is twenty years ago. The second best time is now.” What will you choose to do? Whatever you decide, make it beautiful and meaningful. n

Photos courtesy of Flickinger Farms

Photos courtesy of Eby’s Evergreen Plantation

HazardsHoliday

By BethAnne Brink-Cox House and Home Writer

Remember the illustrations in old storybooks of a Christmas tree decorated with gingerbread cookies, popcorn and cranberries, and…lit candles? Those days, beautiful as they were, are long gone, and with good reason. But that doesn’t mean you can’t have wonderful decorations for the holidays; it just means you have to do it carefully and wisely. Aaron Bolinger, assistant fire chief at Warsaw’s Wayne Territory Station 2, told us how.

Christmas lights are quite different from the old style, the ones that got so hot a strand of tinsel would melt across it (and when’s the last time you saw strands of tin sel on a tree these days, now that we know our pets and kids will eat it?) “LED lights are safer. They do not draw as much power, and they are cooler to the touch, as well,” said Bolinger. Those hot strings of lights, coupled with live trees that might or might not have been watered enough, were often blamed for fires at Christmas time. And while many families choose artificial trees, for any num ber of reasons, Bolinger said “Live trees are still popular. The thing is to keep them watered! If the needles are showing brown and brittle, that tree isn’t taking in any more water. If you haven’t cut the tree yourself, cut two inches off the trunk of the tree, so it’s a fresh cut.” And a not-so-wellknown trick: immerse the trunk of the tree in a bucket of boiling water for five minutes be fore putting it into the stand (being careful, of course, to keep children and pets away from it and also making sure the bucket is heavy enough it won’t tip over.) This opens up the pores of the trunk even further, al

lowing it to absorb more water. You should check the water levels in the morning and evening.

So you’ve got your tree cut, and drinking lots of water; what next? Bolinger says to be careful with your lights. “Stay away from power strips, and don’t talk to me about those skinny little brown cords! I mean, I’ve seen those used as household wiring! Almost a third of fires are started by electrical problems. You need to use an extension cord that is sized for the power you’re going to be giving it. “ Common household extension cords are available in 16 gauge, which is the smallest, through 14, 12 and 10 gauge, which is the largest. The lower the number, the bigger the gauge and the greater the am perage and wattage is. Bolinger continued, “Make sure you’re using the right lights in the right places. There are some meant for indoor use, some for outdoor use, and you need to use them as rec ommended. You also need to replace any strings that are broken or frayed. And you need to hang them properly: use clips, not nails.”

Bolinger said there are other

guidelines too. “Don’t block any doorway with a Christmas tree. Keep lit candles away from decorations, curtains and anything else that can burn. More than a third of seasonal fires are caused by candles! And keep those match es locked securely in a high, out of reach place. Choose only holiday decorations that are flame resistant and flame retardant. Two of every five fires start because things are too close to a heat source: a Christmas tree should be at least three feet from any heat source.”

As any good fire chief or firefighter would tell you–and Bolinger did–use the common sense principles you should have in place

24/7. “Make sure your smoke detectors have fresh batteries, make sure your fire extinguishers are charged, and be sure everyone in the house knows the safest, swiftest escape plan.

ALWAYS turn off the lights when you are leaving your house and before going to bed.” (Don’t worry, Santa can safely find his way through in the dark. It’s part of his magic.)

Merry Christmas, every one. Stay safe and enjoy every n

around michiana

DEC. 1-31 (SELECTED DATES)

| SOUTH BEND FARMERS MARKET

Indoor market featuring home-grown produce, dairy products, meats, eggs, maple syrup, jams and jellies, hand crafts, artwork, jewelry, more.

7 a.m. to 3 p.m. Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday 1105 Northside Blvd. 574-282-1259 southbendfarmersmarket.com

MULTI-EVENT VENUES

LERNER THEATER | ELKHART

• Dec. 7, “A Motown Christmas,” 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, $46 to $66.

• Dec. 8, Travis Tritt, 7:30 p.m. Thursday, $55 to $95.

• Dec. 16-18, “Elf the Musical,” 7:30 p.m. Friday, 3 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. Saturday, 3 p.m. Sunday, $12 to $25.

• Dec. 21, Lunchtime Kimball Organ Concert featuring Celia Weiss, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Wednesday, free admission. 410 S. Main St. 574-293-4469 thelerner.com

GOSHEN THEATER | GOSHEN

• Dec. 10, Free Movie Night: “National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation,” 7 p.m. Saturday • Dec. 10-11, Goshen Theater Education Department Presents: “The Art & Design of Light Painting Workshop with Steve Puttrich (Part One),” 10 a.m. Saturday and Sunday, $250/student.

• Dec. 16, Goshen Theater Drama Club Winter Showcase 2022, 7 p.m. Friday, free admission.

216 S. Main St. 574-312-3701 goshentheater.com

ST. JOSEPH COUNTY PARKS | SOUTH BEND

• Dec. 8, 15, 22, 29, “Searching in a Winter Wonderland,” scavenger hunt for hidden ornaments, all day Thursdays, vari ous parks, free admission.

• Dec. 9, “Cocoa, Candy Canes, and Crafts,” handmade project, 5:30-7:30 p.m. Friday, Brown Barn, SP, $5, registration and payment required by Dec. 6.

• Dec. 10, Cookies with Santa, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, Brown Barn, SP, $6/child, registration required by Dec. 5.

• Dec. 21, Solstice Yeti Lantern Hike, 5-7 p.m. Wednesday, Brown Barn, SP, $3/per son, registration required by Dec. 19. St. Patrick’s County Park (SP) , 50651 Laurel Road, South Bend; Bendix Woods County Park (BW), 56960 Timothy Road, New Carlisle; Ferrettie/Baugo Creek County Park (F/B), 57057 Ash Road, Osceola 574-654-3155 sjcparks.org

MORRIS PERFORMING ARTS CENTER | SOUTH BEND

• Dec. 9-11, Southold Dance Theater: “Nutcracker,” 7 p.m. Friday and Saturday, 2 p.m. Sunday, $25 to $65.

• Dec. 12, Zach Williams: “I Don’t Want Christmas to End Tour,” 7 p.m. Monday, $23.25 to $73.25.

• Dec. 13, Straight No Chaser, 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, $25 to $59.50.

• Dec. 17-18, South Bend Symphony Orchestra: “Home for the Holidays,” 7:30 p.m. Saturday, 2:30 p.m. Sunday, $25 to $60.

211 N. Michigan St. 574-235-9190 morriscenter.org

WELLFIELD BOTANICAL GARDENS | ELKHART

• Dec. 1-31, “Fabulous Fall” hours, noon to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday, also 5:30-8:30 p.m. Dec. 2-4, 9-11, 16-23.

• Dec. 6, 13, 20, 27, free admission to Elkhart County residents every Tuesday. $10/adults, $5/children 3-12 1011 N. Main St. 574-266-2006, ext. 105 wellfieldgardens.org

POTAWATOMI ZOO | SOUTH BEND

• Dec. 9-11, 16-18, Gift of Lights 2022, 5-9 p.m. Friday through Sunday, regular admission.

$12/adults 15-61, $10/children 3-14 and adults 62+, free for members and children 2 and under.

500 S. Greenlawn Ave. 574-235-9800 potawatomizoo.org

RUTHMERE MANSION | ELKHART

• Dec 1-30, Merry Mousely Christmas during regular tour hours.

• All events at Ruthmere, 201 E. Beardsley Ave., unless other wise specified.

Havilah Beardsley House (HBH), 102 W. Beardsley Ave.

Ruthmere: $10/adults, $4/students, free for children under 5 with adult

Havilah Beardsley House: $5/adults, $2/students, free for children under 5 with adult

Tour times on the hour from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday, 1

photos: shutterstock.com

Flowering Plants Winter

By Susie Klepinger Guest Writer, Michiana Master Gardener

Can you believe it? The Christmas season is here, and we’re wondering if we can be ready. The stores are filled with colorful displays of Poinsettia plants, Christmas cactus, amaryllis, cyclamen, miniature roses, and many more flowering plants to brighten our homes until crocus peek through the snow.

We somehow manage to keep our treasures alive through December, but then the reality of their winter care sets in. Now what? Nurture or compost pile? I vote for nurture and give some helpful suggestions below.

By far the most popular Christmas plant is the Poinsettia. I’ll bet you have one or more gracing your home right now.

One of the most important things you must do now is poke holes in the base of the decorative foil that surrounds it. Put a leak-proof protective plate under it, but do this first so excess water can drain.

The best water tester is our finger. Poinsettias do not like to remain wet, so make sure the top two inches of soil is dry before watering thoroughly and allowing to drain. They also like bright light, but can tolerate less until the season is past. I have chosen to grow mine as a houseplant this year. It has received bright light throughout spring and summer, but now a routine has begun. In order to bloom again, it needed to receive 14 hours of total darkness and 10 hours of light each day starting in October. Even a car headlight can interrupt the cycle. In truth, it will not look as glorious as when it first arrived last December, but even a little red leaf color can make me proud of a green thumb.

The Thanksgiving and Christmas cactuses are also

favorites. Many are even passed through generations. Two kinds differ in their leaf shape. (I’m omitting the Easter cactus here because it is a different genus.) The Thanksgiving cactus has clawed edges, and the true Christmas cactus has a more rounded leaf. According to Michigan State University, both plants need the cool-short day cycle in order to set bud. This means several weeks of at least 16 hours per day in cool, dark conditions. (Could be coordinated with the poinsettia schedule, but this absolute darkness is not so strict.) Sometimes an unused room where no lights are turned on will suffice. Our trusty finger watering test still applies, but as fall and winter approach, less water is recommended. One of the main reasons a plant blooms is to make seeds in order to per petuate the species. If the plant feels endangered from less water, it is more likely to set buds. Once those buds have formed, do not rotate the plant as the bud will lean to follow the light source, weaken at the joint, and fall off. Rest the plant after blooming.

One of the most striking flowers is the amaryllis. Soak the bulb in lukewarm water before planting. (I always look for a bulb that already shows the beginning of a flower stalk.) Keep the shoulders above the soil level, and place it in a sunny

location. Flowering may take a few weeks, but it is great fun to watch it grow daily in front of your eyes. When blooming has finished (often multiple flowers), cut off the spent stalk and allow the leaves to develop. I set mine outside for the summer, fertilizing often. When dormant, I put it in a cool, dark area to rest until the cycle begins again.

The tropical cyclamen has an interesting flower shape. It is a bulb which will bloom for about 8 weeks. It needs a cool, bright area with moist, but not wet soil. Water it from below and drain when satuated. This technique is becoming pop ular for houseplant care as well. Bottom watering allows the whole plant to absorb moisture rather than only the top one-third. When it goes dormant, put it in a cool, dark place for at least 2 months. At the first sign of growth, water, and hopefully it will re bloom.

We could add so many more winter flowering plants: the narcissus which blooms and is discarded, and the miniature roses we see in plant stores. The miniature roses can be planted outside in the spring.

If you check, there is a theme at work here: lots of use of the words cool, dark, day length, rest, etc. The point is these plants can be nurtured to repeat their show if we just know how to treat them. The internet is a great source of informa tion. Winter doesn’t have to be dull. Add some color to both your living area and your

Deck the Halls historic homes get ready

for the holiday season

By Julie Young House and Home Writer

There is no place like home for the holidays, especially if that home has a rich and colorful history intrinsically connected to the community. While these houses have a lot to live up to all year long, the holidays are a time when they really sparkle and shine. Owners and cura tors are hard at work decking the halls to make these South Bend institutions ready to welcome you this season, so be sure to stop in to celebrate old traditions or create a new one with your family and friends!

CHRISTMAS AT COPSHAHOLM

Christmas in the Oliver mansion is an experience like no other. Once the Halloween decorations are put away, the curatorial staff gets to work festooning Copshaholm with over 15 decorated Christmas trees that can be found in rooms on all three floors. There are also decorated mantles, table tops and special programs throughout the holiday season so the whole family can enjoy the house and see Christmas the way the Olivers might have celebrated it.

According to Skylar Stasney, curator for Copshaholm, the Oliver family placed a Christmas tree in the den and there is a photo of one in the library as well, so there is an effort to recreate an aesthetic that would be in line with the family’s cus toms.

“The museum does not have any original Christmas decorations that belonged to the Oliver family, (but) the tree in the den is decorated to be period appropriate for the Victorian era,” she said.

“Christmas at Copshaholm” is presented on Dec. 11 where visitors can enjoy self-guided tours of the mansion, enjoy live music and participate in an “Elfon-the-Copsha-Shelf” scavenger hunt. Reservations are strongly recommended. Call 574-235-9664 or visit www.historymuseumsb.org for more information.

Twitter@TheHistoryMuseumSB

southbendtribune.com

southbendtribune.com

southbendtribune.com

TIPPECANOE PLACE RESTAURANT

Built by Clem Studebaker from 18861889, the Tippecanoe Place Mansion has 40 rooms and approximately 24,000 square feet of living space. According to restaurant owner and manager Kevin Jakel, his team begins decorating for the holidays in mid-November to get ready for their busiest time of the year (between Thanksgiving and New Year’s Eve.)

“We use the same décor year after year, but we work to refresh parts of it,” he said, noting all the management team as well as four others work over several days to com plete the transformation. “It’s a labor of love, but seeing the kids and families enjoy it makes it all worthwhile.”

Jakel said his guests enjoy the themed trees found in various areas of the restaurant and especially get a kick out of the 4 foot by 8 foot gingerbread house on the bar/lounge level. He said it’s not uncommon to welcome the same guests year after year as they take part in a beloved ritual of the holiday season.

“Some of them have visited Tippe over mul tiple generations from 1980 on,” he said. Book your holiday reservation by calling 574-234-9077 or visit www.tippe.com. n

Creating Coziness

HAVE A HYGGE HOME ON A

By Julie Young House and Home Writer

BUDGET

Hygge (pronounced Hoo-gah), a Danish concept for cozy living, is more than a decorating style – it’s a way of life. Hygge allows you to find happiness in small things while connecting you to your surroundings and above all, can make your home feel like a warm hug. Best of all, it’s a concept you can achieve on a budget!

Debbie Hochstetler ASID and owner of Sweet Water Interiors in Goshen says a Hygge home is warm and comfortable, but it is not dark and deary. It brings together a variety of textures, good lighting, and a hint of the outdoors to offer homeown ers a sensory experience like no other. For those looking to add some coziness to a room without breaking the bank, she suggests a few simple pieces can make a big difference.

“A runner can add color to a table and really warm the room,” she said. “There are also some well-priced area rugs that can add texture and make a huge difference to a space. Wall color is another inexpen sive way to make a room feel cozy and canvas art is very af fordable these days. I also rec ommend stationary panels at the windows in various fabrics as well as some live greenery if you have a green thumb. If not, there are some wonderful silk selections.”

NATURAL ELEMENTS

For Andrew Miller at Legacy Wood Creations in Syracuse Hygge is all about natural ele ments making your house feel like home. And there is nothing more Hygge than creating a book nook to relax after a long day. While this nook can range from a corner chair and table to a full library with built in shelving, the wood (and paper) you incorporate connects you to the larger world.

“A lot of the woods we in corporate are walnuts or white oak,” he said. “Walnut has always been a timeless choice and while white oak isn’t as warm as other choices, both have nice grain patterns that offer a nice texture to a space.”

A SIMPLE SPACE

While the concept of Hygge is designed to evoke a feeling of coziness, it is not merely an atmosphere and it’s not a spectator sport. Tracy Magyar, interior designer at C Kramer Interiors in Granger said pillows, blankets, music, photos and soft lighting are all part

of achieving Hygge in your home. The latter sets the tone and feeling for the space and is probably the most minimalistic way to add ambiance to your bed room, family room or book nook.

“Any room can be made to feel cozy, but the bedroom and family room are usually the ones that evoke the most coziness,” she said.” n

OTHER TERMS TO KNOW

Lykke (pronounced Loo-ka): a Danish word for happiness that can found in everyday pleasures such as together ness, money management, healthy living, kindness, and more.

Lagom: Scandinavian term for balance in every aspect of life. Not too much and not too little, Lagom literally translates to “just right.”

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Did You Know?

By Dani Messick House and Home Writer

Christmas isn’t your only option when it comes to holidays this season. Religious or otherwise, there’s a lot to celebrate worldwide through the entire month of December.

ST. LUCIA’S DAY

In the Northern-most part of Europe, another Christian saint is celebrated on Dec. 13, for her martyrdom in 304. Lucia of Syracuse, according to the legend, brought food and aid to Christians hiding in the Roman cata combs, wearing a candle-lit wreath on her head to light her way in order to leave her hands free to carry as much food as possible. She is honored, mostly in Scandinavia and Italy, with a procession al through towns, featuring a girl representing Lucia at the head. The processional features candles or lanterns, and ginger cookies or saffron buns, depending on the country.

LAS POSADAS

Honoring the journey of Mary and Joseph to Bethlehem, the Hispanic festival known as Las Posadas, or “The Inns”, features a small child as an angel leading a processional of children, traveling from hometo-home, seeking lodging for Jesus’ parents.

Each night ends with Christmas carols, children breaking open starshaped piñatas, and a feast. It is celebrated Dec. 16 - Dec. 24. In some communities, a Midnight Mass also follows.

HANUKKAH

Changing yearly, the Jewish holi day Hanukkah is also known as the ‘Festival of Lights,’ for its nightly menorah lighting, special prayers and fried foods. It’s actually a lesser Jewish festival historically but due to its closeness to Christmas has become well-popularized. It takes place on the 25th day of Kislev, or Dec. 18-26 this year, although it changes yearly but is always in December. Hanukkah is an eight-day celebration commemorating the reded ication of the Temple in 165 BC by the Maccabees after its dese cration by the Syrians. The hallmark of the celebration is the reenactment of the kindling of the eight lights or candles on the menorah.

BOXING DAY

Christmas in the U.K. is not for gift-giving. That day for the British and many other European countries is Boxing Day, Dec. 26. Historically, the working class would get the day off and receive a box or monetary gift. Modern Boxing Day traditions also include sporting events and shopping. Boxing Day vendor sales have been compared to American Black Friday sales. In some countries, Boxing Day is also celebrated alongside Saint Stephen’s Day, honoring the first Christian martyr and marking the second day of Christmastide (Dec. 25 - Jan. 5.) The religious commemoration includes carol singing, gift giving, Nativity plays, Mass, and eating special food, such as Christmas cake.

KWANZAA

A pan-African holiday, Kwanzaa focuses on the “Seven Principles,” or Nguzo Saba in Swahili, seeking a continued commitment to cultural values. It’s a newer holiday, cre ated in 1966 by Black nationalist and professor of Africana studies Maulana Karenga, and is based on several harvest festival traditions from West and Southeast Africa

During the early years of Kwanzaa, Karenga said it was meant to be a black alternative to Christmas. The seven principles are Umoja or unity, Kujichagulia or self-determination, Ujima or col lective work and responsibility, Ujamaa or cooperative econom ics, Nia or purpose, Kuumba or creativity, and Imani or faith. It’s celebrated Dec. 26 - Jan. 1.

OMISOKA

The Japanese New Year, like the Western one, is celebrated on Dec. 31. Omisoka is considered one of the most important holidays in Japanese culture, second only to Jan. 1, known as Shogatsu, New Year’s Day.

Parties on Omisoka are intended to help remove goers from the previous year and include writing cards to friends and family, and sending gifts. Other activities in clude house cleaning, repaying debts, purification and various tra ditional foods to bring them into the new year such as Toshikoshi soba. n

... and now you know!

by Amy Moore

Dale Tharp, 1929-2011;

Freshen up your home with our design ideas! We can help with décor inspirations, room layout (with new or existing furniture), accessory arrangement, lighting ideas, and problem areas you just don’t know what to do with. Hourly consultation available, and no project is too small!

Call or stop in to talk to a designer today.

212 West Washington Street, Suite 9, Goshen, IN 46526 574-534-3989 www.sweetwaterinteriors.com

Remember to visit our Baby Boutique featuring unique outfits, Mud Pie & much more.

See Jean’s Vintage handmade Santa’s Available for the Holidays. Customize Your Own!