The Citizen, 2010-12-23, Page 27Continued from page 25have in a larger city centre.For the last five years the familyhas entered a float in the parade,
each one having a theme for the
construction of the float as well as
for the dressing of the family
members.
The first float in the parade was
entitled ’Twas The Knights Before
Christmas and it featured a fireplace
with Christmas socks hanging
above the fireplace. There were
plenty of lights adorning the float
and anyone aboard was asked to
dress in slippers, pajamas and
housecoats.
Brad says he had no idea what to
expect for the first year, but the
turnout was “fantastic” he said, with
members from all three generations
represented on the Knights’ first
float.
In addition, the Knights won the
award for best family float that yearand it became a Christmas staplefrom then on.“For a number of younger children
who come from bigger centres, they
have never had the opportunity to be
on a float,” Brad says. “They really
enjoy the experience.”
In subsequent years, the Knight
family float has appeared in the
parade with themes such as Silent
Knights, Hockey Knights in Canada
and Happy Holly Knights.
After the parade, the family
always returns to the Brussels
Legion where the large group is
welcomed with a meal catered by the
Legion Ladies Auxiliary, a gift
exchange and a visit from Santa
Claus.
Knight says that immediately after
one Christmas, the Legion is booked
for the next year. After this year’s
celebration on Nov. 27, the Legion
was booked for 2011 on the Saturdayof the Santa Claus parade onceagain.Plans are also underway for the
Knights’ 2011 parade float.
Brad says a large Christmas with
his family is the only way he would
want to celebrate the holidays.
“With a group this size, Christmas
is really the only opportunity we all
have to get together,” he said. “With
the younger children especially, they
change so much, you feel like if you
miss a year, you can really lose touch
with them.”
Brad says that many of his aunts
and uncles are in their 70s and 80s
now and with the younger
generation planning, he could see it
continuing on for a long time to
come.
“If you’re involved in planning the
Christmas, it really gives you an
appreciation of what the whole thing
means,” he said. “Having the wholefamily involved, planning everything, has really been greatthrough the years.”THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, DECEMBER 23, 2010. PAGE 27. Award-winning float the start of a tradition
Continued from page 24
cousins I don’t see as often as I
should, and to meet the significant
others that come into my extended
families’ lives.
With a younger generation, we’ve
found we had to split the ice time
between those seasoned skaters and
players and those just finding their
feet, but it’s a welcome sacrifice to
ensure that there will be some young
whippersnapper ready to deke me
out when I become part of the
generation responsible for
organizing this party.
I was worried, for a time, when
the gap between my generation of
cousins and the next grew to be at
least five years. With aging
grandparents and great-uncles and
great-aunts the teams were
becoming more and more sparse.
Fortunately, as I’ve grown older,
some of my more senior cousins
have had their own children, and my
own siblings, 10 years my junior,
have helped to ensure that the teams
remain at least an even four-on-four.
Of course we leave the ice for
dinner and a gift exchange, and for
those less athletic, or without the
desire to play, there are plenty of
card games, the 2011 International
Ice Hockey Federation World U20
Championship (also known as the
World Juniors Championship) on
television and lots of catching up to
do.
However, the heart of the party
for me is that red dot marking the
face-off of seasonal games
including every age group from tyke
up through old-timers.
To some it may seem an odd way
to celebrate Christmas, but seeing
the ice surface filled for more
than five hours has become a staple
of my “Happy Holidays” and
I wouldn’t have it any other
way.
Hockey for the holidays fits
in large family Christmas
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