Hello Harlem

Hello Harlem! Harlem had a very busy December and one that was full of Christmas spirit. Many thanks to everyone who helped make life in this small town warm and welcoming this past month. Now that the town activities are over, it is time to relax with family and friends as we celebrate the Christmas holidays.

When driving around Harlem, there are plenty of nice Christmas light displays decorating the homes along with many trees glistening in front windows. Where did this idea about decorating and Christmas trees come from? Here is some interesting background. Long before the advent of Christianity, plants and trees that remained green all year had a special meaning for people in the winter. Just as people today decorate their homes during the festive season with pine, spruce, and fir trees, many ancient peoples hung evergreen boughs over their doors and windows. In the Northern hemisphere, the shortest day and longest night of the year falls on December 21 and is called the winter solstice. Many ancient people believed that the sun was a god and that winter came every year because the sun god had become sick and weak. They celebrated the solstice because it meant that at last the sun god would begin to get well. Evergreen boughs reminded them of all the green plants that would grow again when the sun god was strong and summer would return. In Northern Europe, the Druids, the priests of the ancient Celts, also decorated their temples with evergreen boughs as a symbol of everlasting life. The Vikings in Scandinavia honored the evergreen mistletoe for its role in the death of Baldur, a god of light.

Germany is credited with starting the Christmas tree tradition that we know today. By the 16th century, people were bringing decorated trees into their homes. It is a widely held belief that Martin Luther, the 16th-century Protestant reformer, first added lighted candles to a tree. In 1846, Queen Victoria and her German husband, Prince Albert, were sketched in a magazine standing with their children around a Christmas tree. Unlike the previous royal family, Victoria was very popular with her subjects, and what was done at court immediately became popular-not only in Britain, but also with American society. The early 20th century saw Americans decorating their trees mainly with homemade ornaments as well as stringed popcorn interlaced with berries and nuts. Electricity brought about Christmas lights, making it possible for Christmas trees to glow for days on end. With this, Christmas trees began to appear in town squares across the country and having a Christmas tree in the home became an American tradition.

The Library Wine and Cheese Fundraiser on December 4 was a big success. The funds raised by the Friends of the Library help support the many programs for kids and adults that the library hosts throughout the year. Thank-you to the 80 people who came out for a night of great food, wine and auctions. Also a big thank-you to the Friends of the Library for a well-planned and prepared event that everyone enjoyed. Karolee Kronk, in whose memory this year's event was held, would have been very proud.

The Christmas Stroll made its return to Harlem on December 12 after a long absence. It was a very cold evening, but downtown Harlem was hopping and warm with Christmas cheer. Many thanks need to be given to all who helped make this event such a huge success, and one that will be bigger and better next year. Thanks to Connie Zanto for setting up the vendor spots at the Little Rocky Apartments. Thanks to Ron Donceras, Vanessa Baleos and Celeste Comendador for some great Christmas music all night long. Thanks to Mary Kate French and Josh Morales for the awesome sip and paint event at Kennedy's Bar. Thanks to Colleen Brommer for set-up and use of the Library. Thanks to Melissa Henry for organizing the children's activities at the Assembly of God Church. Thanks to the parishioners of the Harlem Evangelical Church for some great chili as well as providing the horse-drawn carriage rides. A very big thank you to Linda Tangen and the parishioners of the Presbyterian/Methodist Church for hosting the food hall. Thanks to the MSU Extension staff and members of the Heart & Soul Revitalization Group who planned the evening. Many thanks to the vendors, churches and organizations that sold crafts, gifts and food items and anyone who helped in any way. It was really a good night and shows what can happen when community comes together.

Christmas Services at Harlem churches include: Harlem Assembly of God: December 22 at 11:00 am, Presbyterian/Methodist Church: December 24 at 4:00 pm, Harlem Evangelical Church: December 24 at 5:00 pm, St. Thomas Catholic Church: December 24 at 6:30 pm, American Lutheran Church: December 24 at 7:30 pm.

Upcoming Meetings to attend: Harlem City Council on Monday, January 13 at 6:00 pm at City Hall. Harlem Civic Group/Heart & Soul Group on Monday, January 20 at 6:00 pm at City Hall.

Parting Words: It has been my pleasure to write about all the great things going on in Harlem these past few months and I look forward to some great stories in 2025. Please feel free to submit ideas, events happening in the area and general interest items. In the meantime, best wishes for a very Merry Christmas to you and your families and a happy and healthy New Year. Stay safe and see you in 2025. Have a good week everyone!

If you know of an upcoming event or have an interesting story to share from our community, please submit it to helloharlem21@gmail.com.