By John Hall for Blue Mountain Town & Country Gazette
Well it’s Christmastime, which is the time of year when so much happens. Stockings get stuffed, presents get wrapped and people come over to visit. Then there are the family outings and family gatherings. At the end of it all, there’s the New Year ahead, which, especially here in Pennsylvania with its German-influenced Pennsylvania Dutch culture, can involve pork and sauerkraut. All of that is what this issue is about.
You know just down the road in Bethlehem, PA, there is a deep connection to Christmas. It is a connection that includes the first documented, decorated Christmas tree in America, as well as the City’s official nickname of “Christmas City USA,” established in 1937. Read “Visiting our ‘Christmas City’ of Bethlehem” for a touch of its Christmas history and all kinds of information on Bethlehem’s Christmas activities you can enjoy today.
Shifting to stocking stuffers, I find filling a stocking can almost be more difficult than buying a regular present for someone. Often stocking stuffers have a smaller budget than an actual “full-size” present, and then there is the smaller space it has to fit in. In “Last-Minute Stocking Stuffers,” we look at some favorites from a couple of people I know personally, and then we give you a quick-hit list of last-minute stuffers you might consider running out to buy this year.
One of the pleasures of the holiday season, if you enjoy entertaining and have put the effort into decorating you place, is having people over. The easiest party to throw in terms of advance planning and preparation is an “Open House.” If you do it right, it’s not only easy for you, but it’s a relaxed and comfortable thing for your guests to attend. Read “How to Throw an Open House Party” for everything you need to know.
In “A New York One-Day Holiday Excursion” we place our focus on excursions to Manhattan. During the holidays you can ditch the car and take advantage of an easy bus trip in. Spend a few minutes with this article for pointers on shopping, shows and sightseeing in The Big Apple.
Now a family gathering should always be a special occasion to look forward to, although they can be stressful – there’s no denying that. For insights into the benefits of bringing the family together, be sure and read “Benefits of a Family Gathering.”
And finally, since this is the last issue of 2024, we take a look ahead to the New Year and one of its most delicious traditions. The tradition came to this country with settlers from Germany and is embedded in our Pennsylvania Dutch culture. In “Pork & Sauerkraut: History and Recipe,” we start with a look at the origins and meaning of eating pork and sauerkraut to welcome the New Year, and then leave you with a simple recipe you could easily follow this New Year’s Eve or New Year’s Day.
As the holiday season comes to a close, with this issue we say [ITAL]Merry Christmas![UNITAL] We look forward to seeing you in the New Year.
