The Citizen, 2014-12-25, Page 35THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, DECEMBER 25, 2014. PAGE 35.
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Merry
Christmas
Thank you for your
business this year.
Have a safe and happy holiday
Don & Adam Cochrane
Wishing You A Blessed Holiday
Origin of the Candy Cane
The pure white symbolizes the Virgin Birth
and Sinless nature of Jesus.
The hard candy represents the Solid Rock; the
foundation of the church and firmness of the
promises of God.
The peppermint flavour represents the hyssop plant
that was used for purifying in the Bible.
The red stripes are for the blood He shed when
He died on the cross.
The green stripe is placed on the candy cane to remind us of
our new life in Christ.
The hooked shape is thought to have two meanings;
a shepherd’s staff and when turned upside down we see J,
this reminds us the reason for the season is Jesus.
Christmas about Christ, trees
for David Sparling’s family
One of the most important
Christmas traditions for the family
of David and Annie Sparling would
be the Christmas trees.
No, that isn’t a typo. The
Sparlings have two trees, one which
towers over their living room and a
second, a slightly smaller tree, is in
David’s home office that provides a
special home for some unique
decorations.
While the tradition used to involve
picking out a tree at Mathers’ tree lot
just south of Wingham, David
explained that now they go through
the Londesborough Lions for their
tree, and it all really started with a
neighbour.
“We had a neighbour that wanted
to get rid of a big tree around
Christmas,” Sparling said. “We cut it
down and put it up and realized that
having that big tree is kind of fun.”
After that, the big tree became a
tradition and this year’s tannenbaum
is no different.
“We get a really tall tree for our
living room” he said. “This year’s
tree is ‘ginormous.’ They’re all
usually over 12 feet tall, but this year
it’s just huge.”
Using a step ladder for the higher-
up ornaments, the family decorates
the tree together David said.
“Annie does the lights and the
garland while the kids do the
ornaments and odds and ends,” he
said. “I handle the tall stuff on top of
the ladder.”
The second tree is David’s own
and features special ornaments and
pieces that a common theme:
firefighting.
David, who, in 2013, was named
chief of the Fire Department of
North Huron, said that being a
firefighter seems to be something
people recognize him for and
associate with him.
“For years, people have given me
firefighter ornaments,” he said. “We
have a smaller tree for all those
ornaments. It’s the firefighter tree.”
Aside from having the two trees,
the Sparling family celebrates a few
other special traditions starting with
the stocking holders.
“Every year the kids get to hang
their stockings, but not until school
is over for the year,” Sparling said.
“When they get to put them up it
means that Christmas is close.”
The family also gathers around
every Christmas morning to read the
story of Christmas.
“We do that to keep the focus on
the true reason for Christmas and
make sure it’s thought of before the
presents,” Sparling said.
Prior to that story time, David and
Annie get together with friends on
Christmas Eve. While it’s not always
the same people, the tradition is a
longstanding and anticipated one.
“We always like to get together
with people, even if it is a rotating
crowd,” he said. “We get together
and celebrate the day, the season and
the company that it brings together.”
Pie features
prominently in
Claus family
Christmas meal
By Denny Scott
The Citizen
A tale of two trees
David and Annie Sparling’s family Christmas revolves
around two very important messages: faith and family. It
also revolves around two trees: the large one behind the
family above and a smaller one that showcases all the
firefighting-related ornaments David has received in his
years with the Blyth and North Huron fire departments. The
family consists of, from left: Reece, Annie, Sarah, Sam and
David. (Denny Scott photo)
Continued from page 32
cookies for dinner because he likes
them. He would eat five raisin
cookies and have chocolate milk
with them.”
Reid W.
“I think Santa has a blueberry pie
before he gets in his sled because
Santa likes them. I know he likes
them because I know a lot of stuff
and I’m very smart and I know he
likes blueberry pie.”
Nathan W.
“I think Santa and Mrs. Claus
have a turkey dinner because it’s
Christmas Eve and turkey is good at
Christmas. He would eat 100
turkeys.”
Peyton W.
“I think Mrs. Claus has potato
soup for Santa because he might get
cold. The soup would just have a
potato in the bowl and a lot of hot
water. That’s how you make potato
soup.”
Devyn W.
Get information
on Huron County attractions
on the
Stops Along The Way
section of our website
www.northhuron.on.ca