Isn't it time for the networks to show that Charles Dickens
classic "A Holiday Carol," starring Alastair Sim? Who
can forget Bing Crosby's biggest hit, "White Holiday"?
Have you seen the latest Tim Allen movie, "Holiday with the
Kranks"?
Ridiculous, isn't it, but it seems as if the word Christmas is
creating as great a stir as the word "Voldemort" does
in the Harry Potter films. Shhhh. It's become the word that must
not be spoken.
Federated Department Stores banned any mention of the words
"Merry Christmas" in preholiday advertising or store
displays, so as not to offend anybody. A California group,
Committee to Save Christmas, has started a boycott against the
department stores, but let's get real, shall we? Macy's and
Bloomingdale's are stores doing business. They are not places
where we should be looking for uplifting spirituality.
It's just not worth getting upset about when there's so much to
enjoy in New York at this time of the year. The town is lit up
brightly. The huge tree in Rockefeller Center is drawing as many
visitors as it always has. Unfortunately, the major store
displays have become increasingly secular, and even pagans and
nonbelievers must miss the traditional winter scenes that harked
back to a time when December 25 was a time for generosity and
good cheer. For all those who want to take that nostalgic trip
back to a simpler time, I recommend a visit to Richmondtown
Restoration here on Staten Island.
Not many New Yorkers know that we have our own Williamsburg,
Va.-type historical center in New York City. Certainly, when I
was a Manhattanite, Staten Island was the outer borough commonly
referred to as the boondocks. But I've been living here for more
than 26 years and I am still surprised by the treasures available
to us, for little or no charge. 1166 1949 1338 1961
On the next two Saturdays, Historical Richmondtown is holding its
candlelight tours, and I was enchanted when I enjoyed one a
couple of years ago. Guests on the evening tour are given candles
to light their way around the grounds. The guides are dressed in
period clothing, and guests are treated to holiday treats and
sweets baked in the hearths of yesteryear. The homes are
authentically lit with candles and lanterns, creating a smoky
environment slightly reminiscent of what New York bars were like
before Mayor Bloomberg's smoking ban.
The hundred-acre Richmondtown has 15 completely restored
buildings, including homes and businesses from the 17th, 18th,
and 19th centuries. The oldest schoolhouse in New York, the
Voorlezer's House, dates from 1690.
The tour I was on included a stop in a general store, where five
musicians in period dress played a ditty on the order of
"Greensleeves." I felt as if I were on a movie set. All
the volunteers who work in Richmondtown remain faithful to their
roles. Other stops on the tour include one to an "olde"
tavern, where you will be treated to hot wine toddies and a game
of skittles - which is similar to miniature bowling. My tour
ended in the Richmondtown courthouse, where refreshments were
served.
Prepaid reservations are required and can be placed for the
December 11 and December 18 tours by calling 718-351-1611. The
tours start hourly between 4:50 and 8:50 p.m. and last about 90
minutes. The fee is $25. Take the No. 74 bus from the Staten
Island ferry terminal.
If this doesn't get you in the holiday mood, then perhaps you
should consider the adage "'Tis better to give than to
receive," and the most deserving of all this year are the
men and women serving in our military.
There are many deserving organizations that have been established
since the start of the Iraqi conflict. The one I have personally
found most rewarding is the one that allowed me to adopt a
soldier.
At http://www.soldiersangels.com one can link to the Adopt a
Soldier program that will furnish you with the name of a
deserving member of the military. The soldier my family adopted
was submitted by his sister, who wrote that her brother did not
have a mother to send him care packages.
We live in the land of plenty. Most of us get to sleep in comfort
and under warm blankets. I received an e-mail, which contained
photos of our men and women curled up on the ground or in
trenches. The idea of sending a lonely soldier any kind of
comfort from a grateful American is the perfect antidote to
celebrating this un-Christmas holiday.