So many elements of parish life have changed in my lifetime. One could begin with Mass in the vernacular and then go from there for hours.
But there is something that hasn't changed much in parochial life and that's the Parish Christmas Fair. Our parish Fair was held this weekend on Saturday and Sunday morning. I walked into our parish hall yesterday afternoon and I might as well have been walking into St. Mary's Hall in Annunciation Parish in the Danvers of my youth! A time warp back to the 1950's. Both yesterday and in yesteryear there were tables of home baked muffins, pies, cakes and dinner rolls. Over there was the table of warm and fashionable accessories knitted by parishioners. There was the white elephant table (but still, after all these years, not a single white elephant on that table!). There's the kids' table with stuffed animals and toys all for sale for ridiculously low prices. Plenty of opportunities to buy chances for drawings of baskets of cheer, baskets of baked goods and baskets of party items. Over there's the table of costume jewelery of varying degrees of artistic and fashion value!
Same stuff, just 50+ years later! People seem not to tire of walking around a hall perusing and purchasing junk, jewels, jams and an occasional jack-in-the-box. Lots of the kids love it, too.
My thanks goes to all who worked so hard for so long on making the fair a fun-raiser as well as a fund-raiser - and to all who came to the fair.
I told some of the organizers that next time 'round, I'll volunteer to put together a Guys' Table.
There's gotta be stuff out there in closets, basements and garages that guys would love to look at and take home for a steal!
The Parish Christmas Fair: it's nice to know that some things last!
I mentioned this to a couple of people at the Christmas Fair yesterday, but perhaps this might be a good spot to reiterate my thought for next time the Christmas Fair is held....Have the Christmas Giving Trees at Monument Hall on the days of the Fair, so that people can make their Giving Tree purchases at the Fair, if possible.
ReplyDeleteIt is comforting to learn that some events stay familiar and enjoyable particularly a function even peripherally related to the Catholic church. So much "dis"comfort has been associated with parishes that it is heartening to read something warm and fuzzy. A special thanks to all who pulled together to preserve the tradition.
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