Hanging lights and making a list
It’s as if the Valley had been holding back a hot summer sneeze only to be released by the cooling breezes of fall. Achoo! Salud.
The release has been in street fairs, the Messiah performance, Christmas tree lightings, and parades. Cries of, “here comes Santa Claus.” Dec. 1 is a key date and not just for Santa appearing in downtown El Centro. We have a friend who holds his comments ’till December to pronounce his sentiments, “Bah, humbug.” I don’t believe he’s putting up lights, but we won’t cross him off our Christmas list.
It’s time to part with strings of lights that haven’t worked in years and decorations that just don’t seem to fit on the tree. I count a half dozen boxes of Christmas decorations. Do we use the contents of two of them? The remainders are destined for the WomanHaven Thrift Store on Broadway in El Centro. It’s an ideal time to share Christmas decorations.
We did attend the performance of the Messiah last week put on by the Imperial Valley Master Choral Society and Imperial Valley College in El Centro. We have wonderful voices and musicians in the Valley but precious few occasions for these talented performers to show their stuff. George Fredric Handel’s Messiah is simply a master work, a beautiful and rousing piece of music. Thanks to Denny Lang, the Master Chorale, Imperial High Chamber Singers, the chamber orchestra, and soloists. You must hear homegrown soloist, Esther Renee Rayo, soprano. She began in Brawley’s Sacred Heart choir and has matured into an accomplished performer with a heavenly voice.
You can hear the Imperial Valley Chamber Singers and the Junior Master Chorale at the Christmas Concert, Grace Lutheran Church, 8th St., El Centro, at 7 p.m. Dec. 15.
Maybe we should have Christmas in July. Pioneers’ Museum’s, 27th annual Holiday Tour Around the World is too much fun to hold only once a year. It could be renamed: eating around the world. As I recently emailed a friend, we stayed until the last cookie or cannoli was eaten. It’s a festive event with the participating galleries serving up Korean, Chinese, Swiss, Greek, Portuguese, Italian, Mexican, Filipino, French, etc. food. The Japanese gallery distributed beautiful cards and origami. The Irish gallery offered up music by the Jugless Jug Band, but the Irish festivities were subdued by news of the death of Father Tom Dermody, founder of the Irish Claddagh Club. There was a martial arts demonstration and more. Two Korean women wore beautiful traditional silk, embroidered dresses as they showed visitors the ornate wooden chests at their gallery.
An outstanding aspect of the evening was the hospitality shown by the gallery hosts to introduce their cultures to us lucky visitors. Along the way we were treated to baklava, tamales, lumpias, salads, cardamom tea, and some of the best cookies I’ve ever eaten. You don’t have to wait for the next Holiday Tour. Visit the Pioneers’ Museum for a look at the surprising variety of ethnic groups that have made Imperial Valley their home. It’s a unique museum even without the international cuisine.
For Thursday, there is Brawley’s tree lighting ceremony from 4 p.m. to 5 p.m. at the Plaza Park kiosk. Friday night, Imperial’s Parade of Lights starts at 6 p.m. on Imperial Avenue. On Saturday is the Calexico Christmas Parade, starting at 10 a.m., starting at Second Street in downtown. There will be nearly 100 entries from Mexicali and the Valley. It’s rumored that Santa will appear. Also, Saturday is Imperial’s popular Christmas in a Small Town. It starts at 9 a.m. on Imperial Avenue. Bring your Christmas list to shop the numerous gift booths and buy a Julian apple pie for yourself just for being nice.
Looking ahead, the Imperial Valley Community Foundation is sponsoring Mariachi Sol de Mexico for a “Merry-achi Christmas Concert” at Southwest High School’s Jimmie Cannon Theater for the Performing Arts at 7 p.m. Dec. 13. Doors open at 5.30 p.m. Tickets are $35 and $25.
Ho, ho, ho.