The Courier

Kiwanis rings the bell for Salvation Red KettleEvery year around Thanksgiving, the Salvation Army Red Kettle campaign begins collectingdonations in the familiar red kettle to help those in need and make for a happier holiday season.Many clubs and organizations, as well as individuals, volunteer to ring the bell. Picturedis Kiwanian Bill Long of the Kiwanis Club of Greater Ocean Pines - Ocean City as he rings thebell at the Wal-Mart in Berlin. Members of the Kiwanis Key Club of Stephen Decatur HighSchool also join in, manning the kettle and bell after school. Kiwanis has been recognizedseveral times for their work in the Red Kettle Campaigns of years past.December 21, 2011 The Courier Page 13Christmas traditions goback through historyMany Christmas traditions areolder than some celebrants mightthink. The tradition of lighting up aChristmas tree, forexample, datesback to the daysbefore Christmaslights. Before electric-poweredtwinklelights wereinvented and evenbefore electricitywas discovered,people used actualcandles to adornthe Christmas tree.As one can imagine,having an open flame next to adried-out tree made for some fast fires.That is why it was customary to keep abucket of water next to the tree as well.As if fire was not enough, the tinselused to decorate trees was made fromstrips of silver and even lead — somethingthat is now known to be a healthhazard to adults and children alike. Althoughwe’ve come a long way fromcandles and lead, trees that are overlydry paired with lights that have frayedwires can just as easily lead to fires.Plus, plastic tinsel can be a chokinghazard for children and pets.One Christmas staple thathas lost its status as a safety hazardis the poinsettia plant. Poinsettiasare a tropical plant thathave become a fixture during theChristmas season. It has longbeen thought that poinsettias arepoisonous to people and animals.While there is some toxicityto the plant, it would requirethe ingestion of hundreds ofleaves to get a toxic dose of aplant’s poison. Ingestion may simplycause a case of vomiting or diarrheainstead. But poinsettia leaves are saidto have an unpleasant taste, so onebite and most children and animalswill probably turn away.Perhaps one of the biggest hazardscome Christmas — both then and nowis not having enough turkey or eggnogto go around for holiday guests!The Courier goes digitalwww.delmarvacourier.comRead The Courier online in yourhome or office, on your iPad, onyour iPhone anywherearound the world!On vacation? You can still readyour favorite weekly features!Sign up for a for freee-subscription!www.delmarvacourier.comThe Courierwww.delmarvacourier.com