CELEBRATE! Holiday Festival Saturday, December 10th

Let's celebrate together as the Holiday Season is upon us!

Holiday Festival at Walnut Beach is on Saturday, December 10th from 2pm to 6pm with an Opening Reception for December's Artist - Loretta Mack following at SoBoBo - a wonderful ending to the day's festivities!

Stop in the different shops as you meander down the Avenue! Enjoy all of what each business has to offer!

Fire House Gallery has an exhibit that has an array of different art work. They have a gift shop too! Think about that someone special you are looking for to give a unique gift to. Fire House Gallery will also be hosting ornament making from 4pm to 5pm. A Tree Lighting will take place on their patio at 6:00pm.

Stop off at Alfa's Pizza! I heard that it is the best in the area! The New Town Deli has an array of sandwiches, coffees, sodas and snacks!

Next stop...SoBoBo Art Gallery. Stop in for many surprises...

Walnut Beach Creamery will be on hand offering their famous handmade ice cream. It will be served from an old fashioned push-cart! You can ask about ordering ice cream pies to serve as a special dessert for your family.

A new business has joined us in the area... Taste & See Gourmet Cupcakes and Confections - (they will be opening at SoBoBo's old space 17 Broadway - soon)

They, too, will also be at SoBoBo, offering their sweet treats...

...put in your orders for the upcoming holidays!

Alfa's Jolly Jug will also be offering different flavors of liquIt will add the special touch to your holiday festivities. Buy a bottle as a gift for the friend who has everything!

Bring your kids as you continue strolling down the Avenue and around the corner onto Broadway because...

...Painted You will be doing glittered henna tattoos! How cool is that!

Live music will be filling the air! Tim Payson will be at Wild Expressions Florist

A unique service - Tarot Card Readings - at Wild Expressions

Carolers will be joyously singing! Join in singing with them!

At 6:00 pm make sure to go back to Fire House Gallery! Tree Lighting Ceremony will be taking place!

After the Tree Lighting join in at SoBoBo to end the days event by attending the Opening Reception for December's Artist - Loretta Mack! Meet Loretta and learn more about her style! the reception begins at 6:00 and ends when everyone decides to leave!

Please donate to "Koins for Kids" as we try to make the Holiday Season one of Joy for the children at Boys and Girls Village of Milford - an emergency service for the safety of children. Sometimes due to circumstances children are away from their familes over the holidays. So, please help us help them have a joyous holiday during a sad time in their lives.

Holiday Festival at Walnut Beach a wonderful way to celebrate the Holiday Season!!

IN THE MIDDLE OF IT ALL.. .THE TWELVE DAYS OF CHRISTMAS

SEASONS' GREETINGS TO ALL!!!

Chanukah is over. The traditional celebration of Christmas in the United States is over. Kwanzaa has ended. How sad. Some are glad the celebration is over. Some are thinking about next year's celebration and some are still thinking about their celebration to come this year. Yes, that's correct, there are many who have not yet celebrated their Season of Giving!

As we know the Twelve Days of Christmas according to the Western Calendar had begun on Christmas Day, December 25Th. So, if calculations are correct we should be celebrating the Ninth Day of Christmas....

Now according to the Eastern Calendar, which encompasses the orthodox religions, Russian Orthodox, Greek Orthodox, and so on, the Twelve Days of Christmas began in the evening of Christmas Day (December 25Th) and the actual First Day of Christmas is December 26Th. So, if calculations are correct we should be celebrating the Eighth Day of Christmas....

Traditions in both celebrations are almost the same since gifts are exchanged each night of the Twelve Days of Christmas.

But so many don't realize that all of this leads to the day (or the Twelfth Day of Christmas) the Three Wise Men arrived at the manger. The Three Wise Men were astrologers and/or astronomers who studied the stars in the Heavens. They used the stars as navigation in their travels.

As the story goes, they knew and understood the prophecies that upon the appearance of a new bright star showing in the Heavens a Great King would be born to mankind and that His birth would bring Peace On Earth. But with that knowledge, King Herod who had heard about it decided that all male infants should be annihilated (ethnic cleansing? or genocide?) for fear that his own existence would be overthrown by this Great King and he would then lose all of his riches. Such a hateful and greedy person...

The Three Wise Men, or Three Kings, arrived bearing gifts of Gold, Frankincense, and Myrrh in honor of Jesus. They told Joseph and Mary of King Herod's catastrophic deed warning them so that they would be safe. The Three Wise Men themselves were warned by an angelic vision that if they too returned, they would be killed. So they travelled a different route home.

The arrival of the Three Wise Men or Three Kings at Bethlehem is honored in the Eastern Religions. This celebration is the Twelfth Day of Christmas. Gifts are exchanged as well. Commemorating the Three Wise Men or the Three Kings giving gifts to Jesus.

Many Latin Americans and Hispanics also celebrate Three Kings Day or the Feast of the Epiphany.

How the feeling of ANTICIPATION still continues on and on and on....and SoBoBo is quite honored to have celebrated each of these holidays - Ramadan, Halloween, Thanksgiving, Chanukah, Christmas, Kwanzaa, the Twelve Days of Christmas and the Feast of the Epiphany or Three Kings Day. Because in each society, belief, tradition, and ethnicity we all share in common the anticipation of what we can give to others as gifts and also, what we all would like to receive as gifts from others. Age also has no bearing on this commonality...

Hence, "...As WE lay asleep ALL snug in our beds...WE ALL have visions of sugar plums dancing in our heads..."

After all, Judy's sugar plum is the handcrafted silver jewelry with green garnet or amethyst that Harry will give her. Dad's sugar plum is the leather wallet made from Sea Leather. Mom's sugar plum is the handwoven Thrawl. Harry's sugar plum is the lithograph of "Mama Said There Would Be Days Like This.." Sally's and Eddy's sugar plum are handmade Remember Me Teddy Bears made from Daddy's shirt so when he is away fighting for Democracy they can hold him close. Aunt Clara is hoping that her sugar plum is the painting or the collage she pointed out...

So, DO COME AND VISIT...ENJOY THE ENERGY AS IT INSPIRES YOU...CHOOSING THE SUGAR PLUM FOR SOMEONE CLOSE TO YOUR HEART! For "...As WE lay asleep ALL snug in our beds...WE ALL have visions of sugar plums dancing in our heads..."

As always,

WISHING EVERYONE THE BEST OF EVERYTHING!

BLESSED BE!