Emden Community Christmas - Lapsed
tradition returns warm memories for future generations
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[December 03, 2018]
Saturday, December 1, Emden held its first Community Christmas. The
event was organized by the Women’s Auxiliary, American Legion, and
Sons of the American Legion and is planned to be held annually.
As the children anxiously waited for Santa Claus, they sang “Jingle
Bells,” “Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer” and “Frosty the Snowman.”
Santa soon appeared in a carriage pulled by Clydesdale horses to
light the Christmas tree.
Everyone was then invited to the Emden Community House for food and
activities that included games, crafts, a movie, and pictures with
Santa.
Children lined up to sit on Santa’s lap and tell him what they
wanted for Christmas and receive a goody bag full of candy.
Games included a snowball toss, reindeer ring toss and candy cane
fishing, and those who wanted to do crafts could make Santas,
decorate plates with construction paper to look like stained glass
windows, paint wooden snowmen, and color snowmen bags.
Those who were hungry could enjoy chili, hotdogs, popcorn, cookies,
coffee and hot chocolate.
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Toward the end of the evening, several gathered to watch “A Charlie Brown
Christmas.”
Sarah Kennedy of the Women’s Auxiliary helped organize the event. Kennedy
remembers how exciting it was as a child to see Santa and watch a movie at the
Community House. She said, “We wanted to recreate that for the kids in the
community. The tree lighting was a way to involve the whole community.”
Women’s Auxiliary member Deb Wagner said remembering how much fun those
activities were are why they decided to revive the tradition.
Women’s Auxiliary member Hannah Fitzpatrick said they thought of organizing the
event last year, but there was not enough time to plan it, so they put something
together for this year.
Women’s Auxiliary member Donna Struebing also grew up in Emden and said the
event reminded her of her childhood when the men of the American Legion Post
would host activities and movies at the Emden Community House.
Betty Jo Lessen and Lee Reiners both recall visiting Santa the week before
Christmas and getting bags of candy and oranges, then watching a movie.
Many families came out to enjoy the community Christmas event that will
hopefully become a favored holiday memory for new generations.
[Angela Reiners] |