As the cold December darkness is warmed by the glow of festive holiday lights, the countdown continues. There are only 22 sleeps until Christmas!
By now, I’m usually almost giddy at the thought of Christmas; this year, that thought weighs on my mind. I know I’m not the only one.
How are you doing? Are you feeling it yet? Maybe it’s the weather – record heat and rain don’t tend to help make things festive. I’ll work on that!
I’m also doing my best to embrace tradition even though things are very different this year.
To get things rolling, many of us have a holiday trigger – for some, it’s the Chronicle Herald Holiday Parade of Lights. For 25 years now, the largest Santa Claus parade east of Montreal has made its way through the streets of Halifax after sunset, on the third Saturday in November.
Did you miss it?
Ah, fear not. I have wonderful news. This year, the parade was virtual. Again this year, I had the pleasure of co-hosting the magical affair with Eastlink's Michael MacDonald; it aired on Eastlink on Nov. 21. If you haven't seen it, you haven't missed the parade; you can watch the virtual, "best of ” parade online at www.saltwire.com until Dec. 26.
Like most, I’ve been going to Santa Claus parades for many years and I still get very excited when I see the magnificent floats and hear the marching bands. I saw my first Chronicle Herald Holiday Parade of Lights in 1998 and I remember the joy of seeing millions of twinkling lights. I had never experienced a nighttime parade before.
Beyond the enchantment of the lights and music, something else very magical was taking place – the giving. The true magic of the night could be found in the generosity of the people who lined the streets, regardless of the weather. Over the years, I’ve watched the faces of children light up as they handed over toys for less fortunate youngsters. I've seen kids empty piggybanks into collection boxes and look on as piles of non-perishable food grew into mountains ahead of Santa’s arrival.
I only recently learned that the Holiday Parade of Lights was the biggest fundraiser of the year for Feed Nova Scotia. It’s heartbreaking the venue is gone but the need is still here, and greater than ever.
This heartbreaking reality is not only unfolding in Halifax but many communities across Atlantic Canada. More people than ever will turn to food banks to get by this holiday season; people like you and me – our neighbours our friends.
So, this year, after you trim the tree, wrap the gifts or bake the cookies, pour yourself a cup of tea, sit back and watch the 25th annual Holiday Parade of Lights.
When it’s over, talk to your family about how you can make Christmas a little brighter for those who are not as fortunate this holiday season. If you give just one dollar for every year that the hundreds of volunteers worked tirelessly to bring the magic of a Santa Claus parade to you and your family, Feed Nova Scotia will be able to continue to spread their Christmas magic.
The joy is in the giving.
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Cindy Day is the chief meteorologist for SaltWire Network
