A merry holiday in Elk, then and now
Holiday traditions in Elk
“All the Christmases roll down toward the two-tongued sea, like a cold and headlong moon bundling down the sky that was our street…”
One of our family traditions is to read “A Child’s Christmas in Wales” by Dylan Thomas on Christmas Eve after the festivities have slowed and people need a little grounding before bed. Even though Elk missed out on many of its holiday traditions this year, I encourage us all to find those traditions that can still be practiced, however small, because it makes us feel connected to one another; you may even find new traditions emerging from this year’s version of holiday.
Hopefully, next year things will be more normal and we will be able to hold the Greenwood Community Church Holiday Art & Craft Fair at the Community Center, sing together at the Greenwood Community Church, and our newest tradition, the Holiday Street Fair — a cheery event where the town businesses stay open late and locals come and enjoy a festive evening of dining and shopping.
But until then, hold close our memories and don’t forget to find some good in this year we have just passed through.
“Looking out my bedroom window, out into the moonlight and unending smoked- colored snow, I could see the lights in the windows of all the other houses on our hill and hear the music rising from them up the long, steadily falling night. I turned down the gas, I got into bed. I said some words to the close and holy darkness, and then I slept.”
Christmas delivered: ‘The Little Town That Can’ food pantry
Submitted by Lynn Derrick: “Our Christmas boxes are ready! We are giving out 19 family boxes. Each box contains a 20-pound turkey, stuffing mix, mashed potatoes, cranberry sauce, crackers, cheese, olives, gravy, bake-your
own dinner rolls, fresh vegetables and apple cider. For dessert, there are homemade fudge brownie kits, Christmas cookies and an old-fashioned Jello fruit cocktail salad.”
“When we started ‘ The Little Town That Can’ Food Pantry, we had no idea how we would grow and how the need in our community would rise as we continued. Special thanks to the Greenwood Community Center, L and R Farms, Fort Bragg Food Bank, Greenwood Civic Club, and most importantly, to all of you who donated so generously. Donations can be made to the Greenwood Civic Club, P.O. Box 282, Elk, CA 95432.”
*Correction from the Thanksgiving Food Pantry Update: 15 families received boxes.