<strong>MainStreet</strong> <strong>Libertyville</strong> <strong>Holiday</strong> Scenes The best gift... Massage Therapy Sports • Relaxation • Muscle Therapy Prenatal • Acupuncture • Ear Candling OFF A <strong>Holiday</strong> Gift Certificate or your First visit - expires 1-1-06. $ 5 00 C L I N I C Center for Muscle Therapy & Relaxation 128 Newberry Avenue, <strong>Libertyville</strong> • 847-680-0077 —14— <strong>Dickens</strong> <strong>of</strong> a <strong>Holiday</strong> <strong>Book</strong>
Christmas Memories “A holiday tradition begun several years ago has become very special to our family. On Christmas Eve we have a formal dinner served later in the evening. It is during that dinner that we relive holiday memories <strong>of</strong> the past and look forward to creating new memories for the future. After a leisurely dinner, we then make our way to church for the 11:00 P.M. candlelight service where the Hume family generally participates as ushers and communion assistants. It is during that quiet, solemn service we celebrate the true meaning <strong>of</strong> the season”. Submitted by: Pam Hume, Design Chair “Every year when my wife, Rose, would bring home their Christmas tree, she would gather her three girls around. They would set the tree up in the front living room window, open the drapes, and bring out their big box <strong>of</strong> every ornament collected over the years. She would put “The Nutcracker” on the stereo, at a holiday induced window rattling volume. They would start decorating while dancing around the tree. They would order pizza (apparently the traditional Christmas time meal on the South Side) and continue dancing while eating pizza and decorating the tree. I’m guessing that the chemicals in the pepperoni only add to the frenzy. Although she denies that the neighbors called in the authorities upon seeing this strange ritual, I’m not sure I can believe that part <strong>of</strong> the story. Despite events such as these, the girls appear to be perfectly normal today.” Submitted by: Randy Nelson, Organization Chair “When we were kids, all the cousins, 20 <strong>of</strong> us, would have dinner and after dinner the mom’s would clean up and the dads helped us on with our pj’s and all the dads and dads would pile into a couple <strong>of</strong> cars and we would drive downtown St. Louis to look at the department store windows. When we got back, the moms would be in the kitchen finishing up and we would rush into the living room and Santa would have arrived. The moms, busy talking and finishing up the dishes that they always claimed they never heard a peep from Santa!!!! Santa is so sly!!!! We would take turns opening gifts, sipping hot chocolate, eating homemade cookies until we couldn’t eat any more and singing Christmas carols. My Grandmother played the piano. We would head home in our pj’s with our new loot from Santa that magically appeared and our parents would carry us to our beds. The good ole days. I still believe.” Submitted by: Katie Oakes, Promotions Co-Chair <strong>Dickens</strong> <strong>of</strong> a <strong>Holiday</strong> “Christmas Eve is when we gather for the Polish traditional Christmas Eve dinner (wigilia) from my side <strong>of</strong> the family. This is a meatless meal that has an odd number <strong>of</strong> dishes, usually 9 or 11. An even number <strong>of</strong> dishes would eliminate any hope <strong>of</strong> an increase in wealth, children or anything desirable. This is also the time <strong>of</strong> forgiveness and looking forward to a fresh start. The typical Polish table setting includes a white linen tablecloth, the best china, crystal and polished silverware (chore done by the children the day before). An extra place setting is set to remember the absent (deceased) family member. The meal does not begin until the 1st star (gwiazdka) is in the night sky. This represents the birth <strong>of</strong> Christ. The meal begins with the oplatek, a blessed wafer that represents unity and communion. The head <strong>of</strong> the family breaks <strong>of</strong>f a piece and passes to the next person who in turn breaks <strong>of</strong>f a piece; this continues around the table. A prayer is said and a toast is made by the head <strong>of</strong> the family. Typical foods are herring, mushroom barley soup, pierogies, sauerkraut, fish, dried fruit, noodles with poppy seeds, honey and almonds, kolacky and poppy seed cake. We would open gifts from the family that evening and go to midnight mass to celebrate the birth <strong>of</strong> Christ. Over the years the traditional meal has changed somewhat, by adding meat for our spouses who don’t eat seafood, but we still share the memories and laughter <strong>of</strong> past Christmas Eves.” Submitted by: Donna Goodwin, Promotions Chair Pride is something we have. Vanity is something others have. Have a Wonderful Winter! Darlene Davis YOUR Hometown Realtor Darlene Davis, Realtor 847-932-5587 Caring makes the difference,”I care” www.darlenedavishomes.com P R E M I E R R E A L T Y 410 Peterson Rd. • <strong>Libertyville</strong> <strong>Dickens</strong> <strong>of</strong> a <strong>Holiday</strong> <strong>Book</strong> —15—
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