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Back by popular demand - it's gonna be a blue, blue xmas,
the new, open-for-business signal during the off-season. |
Winter-2015 on the Cape has certainly gotten off to a slow start weather-wise, but if you recall, last year's did, too, and it was unforgettably snowy. So, we shall do the only sure-fire thing - just wait and see what winter has in store for us.
Every town has their own holiday traditions, and Eastham focuses on children. Our Chamber of Commerce, with help from local businesses and neighbors, puts on an annual festival with toys, Santa, pony rides, yummies to eat, and lots of kid-friendly activities. It's always a well attended event. This year, there's also a town-wide collaboration for a month-long celebration of special savings offers from local retailers.
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| Quintessential Cape Cod |
Wait, did I really just publicly admit to being a holiday-phobe? Guilty, if that's someone who cringes at the first sound of Christmas music in the stores right after Halloween. You know the song, the one that goes around and around without end, and you can't get it out of your head even hours after you get home. Yes, that's me, and as long as I'm kvetching, I think red and green are a great look for holly trees and nandina bushes, but electrification is, well, a little too Vegas for my taste. And, it really and truly makes me sad when I see crash commercialism encouraging struggling families to bankrupt themselves, buying the latest must-have's for their kids to make up for the time they can't spend with them because they're working extra jobs to make ends meet. Many of these gifts become obsolete by New Year's Day, and I also wonder how many of us really stop to see whether we're contributing to our local economy, or China's smog problem? And, OH NO, what if everybody wants to come to our house this year? OR, what if nobody wants to come to our house this year? Not to mention, how have so many people been convinced that Christmas was so under attack that seasonal greetings have become awkward, politically incorrect mumbles and shrugs? People, people, people...please, just take your holidays back and be happy with whatever you choose.
But, a funny thing happened to me this year...
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| Chandler, our voice of Christmas |
Pagans don't have many holiday traditions, but one that has become dear to us is attending the local Christmas Cavalcade, hosted by our good friend, Chandler Travis. It's a tremendous undertaking that raises money for a local homeless shelter, and none of the dozens of talented performers who joyously participate would even think of taking any payment for their time. This was maybe the fifth one we've been to, and as I greeted all these friendly, talented people and sat down to see what Chandler came up with this year, I found myself actually looking forward to hearing what turns out to be, my favorite holiday songs. NO, make that my favorite Christmas songs. There, I said it. They're not the ones you hear relentlessly in the stores, or I would probably grow to hate them, too. But, the lovely "Santa Will Find You", a song performed by Tripping Lilly about a child spending Christmas Eve away from home, always lingers comfortingly in my sub-conscience as a soundtrack for the rest of the season. Another favorite part of the Cavalcade for me is Christine Rathbun Ernst's annual "rant". She always manages to come up with something topical and cleverly ties it in to a poignant holiday message, bringing the audience to a standing ovation. Last year's started with the Pajama-Gram ads on NPR. This year, I was sure we'd be hearing something about Starbuck's red cup debacle, but her surprise topic was about something she had seen about parthenogenesis, and gently suggested it could finally scientifically explain the virgin birth. Look it up, or if you're too sensitive about such matters to poke fun, maybe don't. A new favorite this year was a rendition by Chandler and two other accomplished penny whistle players [they must have practiced at least once after purchasing them] of "Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire". They played this classic in three-part harmony, and then just to show off, again blindfolded. And the Ticks, an all-woman band known for their clever, comedic style, who usually present an anything goes, holiday-based musical play for the occasion, absolutely dropped everyone's jaws as they sang Handel's Hallelujah Chorus in four-part harmony, borrowing Fred Boak from Chandler's band. Fred also rose to the occasion in a lovely green tulle skirt, in the "all-girl" Ukelele Elf Band accompanying Steve Shook's new classic, "This is no time for fun (this is Christmas)". And, I must say that from our first row seats, staring up into tiny Sioban Magnus' mighty windpipes as she belts "Christmas [Baby Please Come Home]" with the band, is a bit of a religious experience in itself. The Cavalcade isn't a "holiday" celebration; it's a Christmas celebration that gives even a big pagan a solid case of the warm fuzzies. I hope you can open the following link. Grab a cup of cocoa and enjoy:
Even though pagans eschew traditional holidays based on religious events, our celebration of the winter solstice, though much simpler, has some similarities. Lights, lights, and more lights to brighten the inky darkness of a small seaside town in the winter. Up to my elbows in cookie dough, I reminisce about past holidays and if the weather cooperates, a big "Yule log" in the fireplace as we cozy up in the evenings with hot cider and a big cinnamon stick. Snowflakes and icicles decorate the centuries old beams in the kitchen, and savory aromas from the oven turn into gifts of the heart. I celebrate this special, sparkly season not least of all for the rest period that nature [and resort innkeepers] deserve before the next grand show in the Spring. For now, I choose to see the humor in the Happy Chanukah pillow slips and the HO, HO, HO sheet sets, the Santa dog and cat costumes and the sparkly bows placed on each package of meat at the grocery. And, if a blanket of white were to tuck us all in for awhile, all the better. It makes Spring all the sweeter.
From the :
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| Ron Daniels sports a top hat and tails to read his portion of Charles Dickens' "A Christmas Carol" on Saturday in Wellfleet. Steve Heaslip photos/Cape Cod Times |
WELLFLEET — An empty stage with a single lectern and microphone was the setting for what was a surprisingly touching rendition of Charles Dickens’ “A Christmas Carol,” read aloud Saturday at Wellfleet Harbor Actors Theater.
About 15 volunteers — some actors, some not — read 21 sections of the story, which dates from 1843. Dickens' tale tells the story of a miser named Ebenezer Scrooge who on Christmas Eve learns about generosity through a series of encounters with ghosts.
Twenty-five people were in the audience, many wearing touches of red such as a Santa hat or holiday vest. One reader wore a dark suit and a top hat that seemed to hark back to the 1840s.
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| Best holiday advice I saw this year. |
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"Solstice Eve" brought us the gift of our first bluebirds of the season. We usually don't see them until February, and only for a few days. No matter what we're doing, the excited proclamation of "BLUEBIRD" brings the other one running to the window.
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And, best gift of the year!
Welcome, little one. |
