Ark Valley News - The View from Sunflower Gardens

The View from Sunflower Gardens
By Marilyn Bentley
Last Updated: December 10, 2015

Some traditions come from other countries

Our Christmas traditions in America are a mix from many countries. We like candlelight, firelight and electric lights of many different sizes on Christmas trees. Candles glowing in windows show Danish hospitality. We like starlight, too. Mistletoe is an English tradition. Glass ball decorations on a Christmas tree are a remnant of Victorian times.

Christmas is a wonderful time for children.

The season is aglow of color.

We love candles, our country, our colored lights, cinnamon and cookies, with cloves and candy.

We like jingle bells, silver bells, sleigh bells, dinner bells and church bells.

We also enjoy receiving Christmas cards, and it's fun to send them to family and friends.

We like Rudolph. We are aware of Santa Claus and his reindeer. On Comet, on Cupid, on Donner, Prancer, Blitzen, Donner and Vixen.

Quaint nutcrackers of funny men are often a decoration as well as useful.

We remember the wise men and the nativity scene, which includes shepherds, the holy family, sheep, cows and small goats. It's the manger.

We have angels overhead.

So it's make a memory time.

Folks enjoy making and receiving homemade gifts of clothes or of socks, foods, candles, cookies, fruitcakes and homemade candies.

Some people make green wreaths of pine, ribbons, fake flowers, and decorating supplies.

This is a special holiday season soon to share with family and friends.

Folks at Sunflower will "deck the halls with boughs of holly," bake cookies, put up our tree and share many lights of Christmastime.

It's a time for peace, music and joy and foods. It's time to send cards and for some folks to shop, shop, shop.

We still like our coffee chats, Bible study, game nights, special music and dinners and parties.

Happy birthday to Pauline, Cliff, Marj Hovda, Wanda Coward, Jackie, and Donna and Donna.

Keep in prayer all our troops and all veterans.

Last but not least are the Christmas carols. We like "Away in a Manger," "Jingle Bells," "Silent Night," "Joy to the World," "Come Thou Almighty King," "O, Come All Ye Faithful," "We Three Kings of Orient Are," "O Little Town of Bethlehem," "Hark the Herald Angels Sing," "Deck the Halls," and "The First Noel."

"Silent night, holy night. All is calm, all is bright. Round yon virgin mother and child. Holy infant so tender and mild. Sleep in heavenly peace."

Remember: "Be kind, anyway." — Mother Teresa