HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 2016-12-22, Page 17THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, DECEMBER 22, 2016. PAGE 17.
New ornaments mark Davidson Christmas
The most wonderful time of the year
This year's Brussels Citizen of the Year, Jean Davidson, makes sure she spends Christmas
every year with her family, which is the most important part of the holiday for her. The entire
gang is seen here at a recent holiday celebration. (Photo submitted)
By Denny Scott
The Citizen
In recent years, Brussels Citizen
of the Year recipient Jean Davidson's
Christmas has been a time for
friends, family and being a part of
the community and 2016 should be
no different.
Davidson was named Citizen of
the Year for 2016 for her work with
community groups including the
Brussels United Church and the
Brussels Lions Club. Her Christmas
plans this year include spending
time with her families, be they
relatives, friends or community
members she has worked beside for
years.
"I'm going to my great-niece's
house in Bluevale," she said,
explaining that the family gathering
usually has about 20 people attend.
"It's always exciting visiting with
the little ones."
Davidson's traditions at Christmas
focus around giving, and she said
that when she attends her family
Christmas she gives ornaments to all
the younger members of the family.
"I give them ornaments with the
year on them," Davidson said.
"Every year I get one for the nieces
and great-nieces, but it is getting
harder to find them. They get an
ornament until they get married and
then we start with the babies of the
next generation."
Davidson has also spent Christmas
with her oldest brother, which
carries on a tradition of family
Christmases that started years ago.
Wishing
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members
a safe
and
joyous
holiday
season.
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Growing up on Morris Road,
across from the former Morris
Township Hall, Davidson
remembers her mother and two
uncles would always have large
Christmas celebrations.
"We had two huge tables, with 30
to 40 people for dinner," she said. "I
remember that the celebrations
would go all day and we would have
dinner as well."
Davidson said that in her younger
years, she and her cousins would
play in the snow or skate and, later
on, there was a cousin old enough to
drive and if the roads were drivable,
the children in the family would go
to the theatre in Wingham.
New Year's was spent with her
father's family, which was smaller,
so the celebration made for an
intimate event.
One of her favourite memories of
Christmas is her family's trees,
which would always be harvested
from the bush on the family farm.
"Dad would take us out with the
horse and the stone boat and we
would cut the tree," she said. "Once
my brothers and I got older, we were
sent out on our own to do it."
When it came to the tree,
Davidson said the family always
looked for a shapely tree, though, by
the time it made its way home, it
wouldn't be quite as nice. However,
her mother always managed to
find a way to set the tree to make
sure any flat or bald spots were
hidden.
The trip wasn't always the most
pleasant thing in the world, said
Davidson, who recounted one year
when the weather was so bad that
she and her brothers, after finding
the perfect tree, travelled right past
their father on the road back home.
The snow was so heavy that they
couldn't see across the road.
Now Davidson is involved with
the bake sale at the Brussels United
Church during the holiday season
and always looks forward to the
Choral Christmas Concert held by
the Brussels Ministerial, which,
unfortunately, was cancelled due to
weather this year.
After that, Davidson enjoys going
to a Christmas Eve church service at
Brussels United Church and then
visits with friends and exchanges
gifts, a tradition that goes back to
when she first moved to Brussels in
1995.
Twas the night before Christmas, when
all through the house not a creature
was stirring...not even a mouse...
— Clement Clarke Moore
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" OIocy to Sob in tty C)lgfje�t, anb on cacti) peace,
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We'd like to join you and your family, in singing His praises,
as we share the spirit of this holy season.
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GLOWING CONCERN
Keepp-candles out of the
reach of children and pets.
Remember to snuff out your
candles if you are
leaving the room
or going to bed.
Over the past few years, the use of candles in the home has greatly increased — and
so has the number of fires caused by candle misuse. The Ontario fire service offers
the following tips for the safe use of candles.
Secure your candles in sturdy holders and, if possible, place glass chimneys or
shades on them. Keep lit candles out of the reach of children and pets. and well away
from any combustible materials. An unattended candle is an invitation to disaster, so
don't forget to snuff out your candles before leaving the room or going to bed.
Remember to keep all matches and lighters out of the sight and reach of children.
Mace a Aa4e and
Stew i'Pvciania s
horn, the 53'Ae&, and
q tett 3,i 4igt!iterA
J wurn &a 2 9.vte Depovttnzent