Kansas Christmas Celebrations

Throughout Kansas, communities celebrated the Christmas season this past weekend. Dena O'Dell, Lifestyles Editor of the Abilene Reflector-Chronicle, reports on her community's activities: arts and crafts show, business district festival, parade, tree lighting ceremony, visit by Santa, a homes tour, a museum open house and a holiday cookbook. These are typical examples of how many Kansas cities welcome the holiday season. The arts and crafts show vendors have unusual gifts and holiday decor. The business district festival and longer store hours entice hometown shopping. The parade challenges the innovativeness of marchers' displays and the stamina of watchers braving December weather. A community tree lighting gathering with Christmas music and carols announces the official start of the season. Santa will show up at one or any number of the events. Gaily decorated homes are on put on display, sometimes for a slight fee to support Christmas charities. Abilene is fortunate to have the Eisenhower Center whose annual open house and free admission is an added attraction to round out a weekend of fun. Another money -maker is the release of an annual cookbook in this case by the local historical society.

This year Abilene revived a unique tradition by the recreation of the Abilene Reflector-Chronicle's historical Turkey Toss , which first appeared at the turn of previous century. Live turkeys were launched from downtown rooftops to the waiting crowds in the street below. I suppose if the birds could fly far enough and fast enough, they got a reprieve from the oven. For those who would consider the release of lives birds to the out-stretched paws of holiday revelers as a barabric practice, don't worry; the current event is announced as pitching toy turkeys clutching gift certificates to participants in several age categories. At least this new twist to the Turkey Toss demonstrates in one way that Kansans, at least those in Abilene, with the passage of time, have become a more caring people.

Although many other cities do similar events, in my opinion, Abilene by its full-fledged effort sets the standard for Kansas cities in welcoming the holiday season.