An Old Fashion Christmas

One of the pleasures of living where we do is that we have access to modern services like healthcare and good education systems, while at the same time having the feeling of tradition that comes from living in a tight knit community, rather than a bedroom subdivision. The town in which we live dates to 1640, making it one of the oldest communities in the U.S.

This respect for history and tradition protects our sense of community, despite the nearby Interstate highways, shopping malls, and cineplexes.
Every year in our little town we have what is billed as an "Old Fashioned Christmas Parade." Not an Old Fashioned Holiday Parade. Not an Old Fashioned Winter Solstice Parade. An Old Fashioned Christmas Parade.

New this year was "The Running of the Elves" to start things off on the big night. The Elf Run was followed by Christmas carols on the courthouse green, right near the Christmas tree and Nativity creche--set up on public property. Following the lighting of the Christmas tree, the parade stepped off like it has every year for the last 31 years.

This year it was particularly good. A bakers' dozen (that's 13 for you younger readers) high school marching bands. Antique tractors and fire engines. A parade of classic cars from '39 Fords to '57 Chevys. Clowns and South American indigenous dancers. And finally, the big man himself-Santa Claus atop a the biggest fire engine of them all.

Perhaps the biggest thrill of the night was the sight of the Lone Ranger suddenly galloping around the corner. Parade watchers were stunned as Silver reared on his hind legs while the Lone Ranger, with a hearty "Hi-ho Silver!" squeeze off a few rounds into the cold night air.

We're basically a conservative community concerned about our neighbors and concerned about celebrating our values. So we'll let other people argue about separation of church and state at Christmas time. I just know that in an increasingly complex era, the parade packs 'em in. Thousands of people lining the streets of a little town. And not just old timers. Young parents with infants swaddled in fleece. Grandparents. Even teenagers jaded by what the world has to offer them, crane their necks for a look as the bands march around the block.

And in a world seemingly gone mad the Old Fashioned Christmas Parade appeals to the sense of community and tradition in all of us.

You see, when you boil it all down, the world is still a pretty simple place. We're the ones who have gotten complicated.

                                    Just thought you might like to know.