December 24, 2010....Counting Down the Holidays

Soon the holidays will be behind us and with them many of the rituals and symbols that express the best this season can bring.  While the home holds significant charm during this time, so does a walk or ride through town to see different interpretations of the holidays.

While you are enjoying the view, you may also want to consider the various traditional and differing meanings represented by the ornamentation you see:

Wreaths welcome good spirits into the home. The circular shape of the evergreens can symbolize the continuity of life, as well as the sun and the earth.

Holly remains green and beautifies the landscape throughout the harshest winters. It is said to bring peace and joy.

Candles, when spied flickering in windows, may remind you of the stars and the moon and that indeed there is more light with every passing day.

Mistletoe or poinsettia? Depends on what you're looking for. The former represents fertility, the latter purity.

With family and friends visiting over the next few days, perhaps it's a good opportunity to share Canton's lovely, yet transient scenery. Whether you visit downtown Collinsville, the Rails to Trails or, if you are more ambitious, participate in the Canton Land Trust's Christmas Bird Count, you will be rewarded with the last looks, this year, of the holiday - Canton-style.

Here's the Deal

Canton Land Conservation Trust, Christmas Bird Count; Dec. 26, 2010, Jay Kaplan 860-693-0263: jkaplan@thechildrensmuseumct.org