8 minute read
COUNTRY CHRISTMAS
Get in the Christmas Spirit at the Christkindl Market presented by Symphony in the Barn and the Friends of Glencolton Farm and Saugeen Academy.
The market returns after it had to be cancelled in 2020.
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The first recorded Christkindlesmarkt was in 1298 where vendors sold food during the Advent season. By 1384 villages all over Germany were celebrating Advent in markets selling local foods and crafts. The Christkindlesmarkt was a festive meeting place for people to gather and purchase handcrafts such as nutcrackers, ornaments and cakes.
These changes created some regional differences in the celebration of Christmas within German-speaking countries, which is why many traditions today vary and sometimes overlap. These regional differences are also the reason that many traditional Christmas markets in Germany or Austria are called Weihnachtsmarkt, Christkindlesmarkt. Or Christkindlmarkt. In the end, however, each regional version is simply a Christmas Market.
Martin Luther played a major role in our current Christmas customs. He encouraged gift-giving traditions to be held on Christmas Day, which became a boon to all the markets, and suggested that children receive the gifts from “The Christ Child”, the Christkindl. Hence, the name Christkindlmarkt. St. Nicholas came on December 6th to fill children’s shoes with oranges, nuts and cookies while the Christ Child delivered presents on Christmas Day.
Glencolton Farms, home of Symphony in the Barn with a long tradition of connecting Culture with Agri-Culture is opening its gates again for this year’s magic of the Christkindl Market.
In today’s world of on-line shopping, virtual concerts, and Netflix-entertainment, the social life of community is suffering and the longing for human contact becomes a real necessity for many. Coming together without being confronted with today’s commercialisation of Christmas, without the pressure to rush and buy and eat has been a truly new experience for all those who come to the Christkindlmarket.
The sense of beauty, the smell of European food, the chestnuts roasting on open fires, eggnog, mulled wine, warm pretzels and music wherever you go.
The setting of the farm with all its animals and the little outdoor huts with vendors and Christmas lights everywhere create an unforgettable experience for the whole family. People from far and wide meet in cozy corners and glowing faces reflect happiness amongst the young and old.
Why in the country and not in the town???
Too many distractions cannot create the intimacy needed to enjoy this rare event. When you walk along the candle lit path slowly approaching the market place, it will fill
CHRISTKINDL MARKET AT GLENCOLTON FARM
presented by Symphony in the Barn and the Friends of Glencolton Farm and Saugeen Academy. . Stay tuned for our upcoming events. www.symphonyinthebarn.com
you with awe and anticipation. Craft vendors surround the market in their individual huts.
Like the other years, Handel’s Messiah in the Barn will not be happening because of covid restrictions. Instead, there will be the reading of the Christmas Carol by Diego Matamorus; one of the founders of the renowned Soulpepper Theater in Toronto.
This event has been the vision of the Glencolton farmers for many years and became reality when Edge Hill Country School volunteered and helped to pioneer this concept as a successful fundraiser for the school.
This time the Saugeen Academy in Hanover will be participating and volunteering to become the beneficiary of this event to create education programs with the focus on the arts, drama and music. The cut in the funding of arts education in the schools requires a new approach to provide this essential part of education. Arts in general define the cultural state of society and its heritage. This event highlights the importance of creating traditions and memories which nourish generations to come.
The market takes place Friday and Saturday December 10th and 11th from 4-9 pm.
Tickets: $15 in advance and $20 at the gate. Children are free.
For more information please go to www.christkindlfarm.com
“I think I’m being friendly with someone, and I’ll sit in their lap. They think I’m flirting with them.” - Kyle Minogue
It’s been a difficult 18 months in so many ways.
Our schedules are suddenly getting busier as we have adjusted to the daily changes in our daily behaviour mandated by COVID-19.
We are no longer sequestered and placed under orders to stay at home, behind closed doors, only being permitted a freedom for necessities like medical appointments, groceries, and walking the dogs.
After so much time away from the real world, why not take some time out of your now busier schedules to connect with your community - we’ve all earned it.
With many having spent so much more time alone, now more than ever, it is extremely important to reconnect with others.
Beyond the obvious friends and family, the next best place to find these connections can be right outside your front door – your community.
Why is it important to also reconnect with your community?
Having a sense of community unites us. Being a part of a community makes us feel as though we are a part of something greater than ourselves. It affords us opportunities to connect with people, to reach for our goals, and makes us feel safe and secure. It’s important for every one of us to have a sense of community.
Being connecting with others is more important than you might think. By neglecting our need to connect, we put our health at risk.
It can have a negative impact on your mental health and research suggests that it can be associated with an increased risk of certain mental health problems, including depression, anxiety, low self-esteem, sleep problems and increased stress.
What is the importance of developing personal connections with others?
Connecting with others gives us a feeling of purpose adding significance and meaning to our lives, and it can also make a huge difference in someone else’s life.
I was going to come up with a long list of recommendations on how to connect with others, however, as I got to that part in this article and started with a list, I got stuck on a word - friendly. BE FRIENDLY, if that is the only thing we can do, then do so.
We can make a difference by being kind, caring and helpful to others. Think about a time when someone was friendly to you - maybe drawing you into a gathering, saying hello on the sidewalk, or smiling from across the room.
How did it make you feel? Did it make a difference in your day?
Being friendly to others doesn’t just help them, it works in your favour, as well. Friendliness will instantly boost your happiness.
Whenever I’m being kind to another being, I feel good about myself.
We all face challenges, and it’s not always easy to be friendly and polite but doing so can make a profound difference - for others and for ourselves.
It’s simple, really.
Smile, say hello to a stranger walking down the street, down the grocery isle, in the checkout line. Stop and have a chat as you walk past your neighbour’s front yard Connection with people is an inherent aspect of our human society. We seek out and lean on human interaction.
Be on the lookout today for someone - smile and say hello!
Be the reason someone smiles today.
For now, signing off from a place of calm, joy, and love.
AMANDA KIRKLAND
Personal Development Coach www.amandakirkland.com
If you are interested in making positive changes in your life, let’s book an initial consultation call. Tell me your story and we can evaluate where you are right now and where you want to be and identify what’s blocking you from achieving the results you desire. My coaching programs use specific ENLP tools that can rewire unhealthy strategies and break through existing challenges to find more ease and joy in your life.
These tools are different because they uncover the root cause of surface-level problems. We will clear these blocks at the unconscious and cellular level allowing you to see effective results over a short time.
I am passionate about my work because I’ve experienced first-hand the life-changing results and shifts possible when working with the unconscious mind.
CANADA
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Tis’ the season for all things Santa, shopping and snow! Bodhi Day, Pancha Ganapati, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, Omisoka, and many more holidays or religious celebrations are also observed in December!
The holidays can be a great time of excitement, joy, and togetherness. They can also be quite stressful and lonely. There are great personal and financial demands that can arise. Planning ahead and preparing for what may come your way can be the best way to set yourself up for success.
Say no and be realistic.
Choose a few things to focus on, rather than overloading yourself, and only do things that bring you joy. Give yourself permission to say no to stress and conflict. Set a budget (and stick to it). If you cannot afford to pay cash (or use your debit), don’t buy it. Acknowledge your feelings; sadness and grief are normal emotions during this season. You cannot force happiness just because it is the holidays- and that is okay! Don’t abandon healthy habits. Your usual self- care routines are more important than ever this month. Reach out! Don’t let your feelings of sadness, grief or stress keep you isolated. Reach out to trusted friends or family members. Seek
TALISA HASKINS
professional help if you need it.
Wishing you a warm and safe holiday season, and a very Happy New Year..
Talisa Haskins Registered Psychotherapist www.talisahaskins.com 519.800.5602
