Season's Greetings!
May the blessings of the season gently descend upon you and blanket you and your loved ones in warmth and love, bringing you relief from pain and a renewed optimism for the future.
Many years ago, (1875 to be exact), Uriah Stoop, Elias Fuselot and their families and friends came to settle in the area now known as Spondyville. As Uriah Stoop's grand-daughter, Marie (Stoop) Strumpell, recalled in her landmark historical essay, "The Early Days of Spondyville":
"Christmas was always a joyous time. The hearth was warmed by a cracklng fire scented with pine needles. The glittering evergreen tree stood proudly in one corner of the parlour. Its delicate ornaments seemed to radiate with joy, while my kitten, Flossie, enjoyed playfully batting about a shimmering silver icicle which hung from one of the lower branches. Peppermint candy canes hidden amongst the decorations were always a treat for the children and mother made sure that any Carolers that stopped by were rewarded with nutmeg topped egg nog and a bit of plum pudding. The windows with their bayberry candles, let the warmth and cheeriness of the parlour spill out into the snow-covered yard for all to see. It was during that time, that all seemed well with everything and everyone. At Xmas, everyone's pain was forgotten, all their troubles minimalized, their feuds mended. Neighbors forgot old grudges and everyone opened their hearts and succumbed to the gentle magic of the season. Spondyville was always the most beautiful and peaceful place on Christmas ... just as it is, in my heart, all the rest of the year ..."
c 1957 'The Early Days of Spondyville' by Marie Strumpell
A Merry Christmas and a Happy Chanukah
to all the residents of Spondyville.
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I hope you enjoy these Holiday Classics:
(Click on the titles)
"Christmas in Spondyville"
"It's a Wonderful Snowspondy ..."
And
Sing-along with the Snowspondy Singers:
Spondyville Xmas Carols
And
Here is a non-Spondyville related story I wrote many years ago,
which I stuck in a drawer and only recently re-discovered:
"Christmas with the Condiments"
I have one more NEW Spondyville Christmas story, which
I will be posting in the next week or so. Stay tuned.
