The month of December may be the busiest of the year, but it is filled with opportunities to celebrate traditions, make new memories, and experience joy. Here at Scotia Village, we keep the season festive and cozy for our community and families. There are events to participate in and places to enjoy quiet moments, illuminated by the beautiful holiday decorations.
Whether it’s watching a favorite Christmas movie for 24-hours straight, decorating a tree, or making cookies, there are many ways to celebrate during the holiday season. Christmas is also the time to reflect on faith, and the meaning behind December 25th. Pope Julius I chose the date to commemorate the birth of Jesus and the Feast of the Nativity. Celebrating what we now know as Christmas, has been recognized as a federal holiday since 1870. A jolly elf also makes an appearance this time of year to bring joy and help spread the Christmas spirit. Santa became a popular figure in 1804, when John Pintard, a member of the New York Historical Society, made wood carvings of St. Nicholas with stockings filled with toys and fruit hung over a fireplace. Each Christmas Eve, children and adults can now track Santa’s whereabouts on a website called NoradSanta.org.
Here at Scotia Village, we have many opportunities to stay in a festive spirit. Residents and staff joined in the effort to decorate the community at the end of November, and a sprinkle of Christmas is noticeable in many areas. You can even shop for Christmas in our gift shop to get a special gift for someone. The activities will continue all month long, giving residents time to socialize and share holiday traditions.
To begin the season, we honor our tradition of selecting 2 to 3 families in our area to sponsor for the season. The Christmas tree near the Magnolia Dining Room contains the tags listing the items on the wish lists. During the week of Christmas, families will visit the community to pick up their gifts. We appreciate the participation that allows us to continue to give back to our neighbors. Another way to give back is to visit our Tree of Giving, located at the entrance of Tartan Place. You can purchase a gift for a Healthcare resident and help someone celebrate Christmas.
The Scotia Village Repertory Theatre performed their Christmas show on December 9th, with a combination of humor, tradition, and music. The melodrama “Rollin’ in Dough in Mistletoe” gave the audience familiar holiday tunes and lots of laughter. The Nativity story was read in poetry, accompanied by a solo performance and the inaugural performance by the Scotia Choir. Another show you don’t want to miss is the performance put on by staff members for the residents. An annual treat, it’s an event that will guarantee some jolly laughter. To keep the Christmas cheer lingering, you can enjoy a choir performance on Tuesday, December 27th from 4-5pm in the MMEC. The Mormon Tabernacle Choir will give a recorded program of Christmas music and carols.
We are fortunate to live in an area that treasures the holiday spirit, and plans events throughout this season. From November through early January, you can head into downtown Laurinburg to go ice skating. The Christmas parade heads through the streets downtown in early December, with an assortment of displays. There is also an opportunity to pose with some wooden penguins that have taken up residence in a corner lot downtown. If you’re chilly and want to stay in your vehicle, there is no shortage of decorations and light displays to see.
No mater how you choose to celebrate this season, we hope that the memories made will carry joy into the new year. We have plenty to be thankful for in our community, and many opportunities to share the joy of the seasons with our Scotia family. We wish each of you a very Merry Christmas.