MAC: Merry Christmas to All!

Did you know …

Now that Santa Claus has read his mail, made his list, and checked it twice, he and his sleigh are ready to deliver tons of presents to those who didn’t pout or cry and reportedly have been good. As usual, his loaded sleigh will be powered for his worldwide trek by his group of eight dedicated tiny reindeer; and if the weather is foggy, they will probably be led by a special reindeer with an unusually bright red nose. In addition to all the nice gifts, Santa will also be carrying a special bag with lumps of coal for those who have been naughty, but happily there haven’t been many that have earned a lump of coal. Santa will be making the long trip from his home at the North Pole, where his large crew of elves busily spent a whole year making all those gifts he gives away on Christmas to a large number of sleeping kids and adults who anxiously await his arrival. When Santa and his reindeer-led sleigh leave your rooftop, he reportedly will again call out to all within earshot, “A Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night!”

The next time you go by the Veterans Memorial Park at the Canton Corner Cemetery off Washington Street, drive in and see the individual white spotlights that tastefully light each of the town’s six war memorials, which also have individual Christmas wreaths with red bows hung on them. In addition, there is the 15-foot decorated fir tree behind them in blue lights. The overall patriotic scene is another fine production by Canton’s veterans agent, Tony Andreotti, and seeing the war memorials together at night is an impressive, unforgettable, and some say haunting experience.

The Christmas Tree Association estimates that 25 million Christmas trees are sold in the United States each year; and according to the U.S. Commerce Department, 50 percent of all artificial trees worldwide are manufactured in China.

You may not realize it, but the popular winter song “Jingle Bells,” which is about 150 years old, never mentions Christmas and is instead about old-fashioned winter fun. Most people know and sing it, and it has been recorded by hundreds of singers.

Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer was created in 1939 in Chicago for the Montgomery Department Stores for a Christmas promotion. The lyrics were written as a poem by Robert May but were not set to music until 1947. Gene Autry recorded the hit song in 1949.

Like many years in the past, you probably will see at least one copy of the letter that 8-year-old Virginia O’Hanlon wrote to the editor of the New York Sun in 1897 questioning whether or not Santa Claus really existed. When you see it, take a moment to reread the editor’s response. It explains it all.

The Canton Council on Aging had a very successful holiday party at the Canton Town Club on December 15. Entertainment was provided by Tom Bruhl’s one-man band, and Foley’s Backstreet Grille provided great food. Over 180 seniors attended the event, including MAC. Also in attendance were Canton Town Administrator Charlie Aspinwall, selectmen Bob Burr, Vic Del Vecchio, and Mark Porter, and state Rep. Bill Galvin. Selectman Burr entertained the crowd with his outstanding rendition of the song “Bill Bailey Won’t You Please Come Home.” According to COA Director Diane Tynan, this year’s holiday party was the 26th annual Christmas party. Everyone had a fantastic time, and judging from all of the fun, music, and dancing, you could truly say that 70 is the new 50!

December is here and it’s time to think about winter’s overnight parking restrictions. Town bylaws specify that all overnight on-street parking (1 a.m. to 6 a.m.) is prohibited between November 15 and April 1 so that streets are kept clear for snow removal. Violators are subject to a fine for each violation.

Members of the Canton Housing Authority and its executive director, Mark Roy, held a Christmas party on December 13 for those senior residents in Canton at the recreation room in the Hemenway building on Washington Street. And kudos also go out to senior Dottie Morris for setting up the room and for doing the cooking. A great time was had by all the seniors.

The Canton Recreation Commission held is annual Senior Citizen Christmas Party on Sunday, December 4, at St. Gerard’s parish hall. The Cactus Gang country and western band entertained the well-attended party, and food was provided by Queen Anne’s catering and served by members of the Canton Recreation Commission and the Board of Selectmen.

The Canton Association of Business and Industry held its annual holiday event on Wednesday, December 7, at Brookmeadow Country Club.

You may or may not know that December 21, the first day of winter, the winter solstice, also marks the shortest day and longest night of the year and the birthday of MAC’s daughter, Joanna. Happy birthday JoJo!

Fifty-six children attended the annual Canton American Legion Post 24 Christmas Party, one of the largest parties in recent years. Other Canton clubs have seen a significant decline in attendance.

MAC will end this week’s column with one of his favorite Christmas quotes, which typifies a Christmas message of joy: “An artist once drew a sad picture of a wintery twilight, the trees heavily laden with snow and a dark, dreary house, lonely and desolate in the midst of a storm. Then, with a quick stroke of gold paint, he put a light on in one window, transforming the entire scene into a vision of warmth and life and good cheer … the birth of Christ was such a light in the dark world.”

MAC wishes everyone a Merry Christmas and a happy holiday season.

That is all for now folks; see you next week.

Joe DeFelice can be reached at manaboutcanton@aol.com.

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Posted by Joe DeFelice on Dec 23 2016. Filed under Featured Content, Man About Canton, Opinion. Both comments and pings are currently closed.