 In just three short days we will gather with family around the Christmas tree to open gifts and make merry memories. Colorful lights will glow, and carols will play as laughter rings out while we exclaim with delight as we pull wrapping paper off a box to reveal its contents. This scene plays out countless times in countless homes, but how much is known about why we do what we do?
Take the colors red and green for example. We’ve always taken for granted that these are the colors of Christmas, but how many of us have wondered why they were chosen as such? This actually began centuries ago when the ancient Celts admired the holly plant’s ability to survive the harsh elements of winter. It was their steadfast belief that holly beautified earth during the cold, dark days and they used it to decorate during their celebration of the Winter Solstice to bring about good luck and protection. In the Bible, red and green epitomize Jesus’ life, with red representing His blood and green embodying eternal life as the evergreen tree remains so throughout winter. Also, the leaves and berries on a holly plant have come to symbolize the crown of thorns Jesus wore when He was crucified. These aforementioned traditions notwithstanding, one individual we should thank for making red and green the colors of Christmas is Haddon Sundblom, the artist hired by Coca Cola to draw Santa Claus for a series of ads. Up until then, Santa had never been depicted consistently. Typically, he was shown as thin with robes that ran the gamut of blue, green, and red. Sundblom, however, opted to portray him as fat and jolly, and bedecked in red robes. As the advertisement’s popularity increased, Sundblom’s Santa became imprinted in people’s minds as “the real one.” In people’s combined imaginations, Santa’s red robes along with the green of fir trees as well as holly and poinsettia were solidified as the colors of Christmas. Even poinsettias themselves have a story which begins in its native Mexico. According to legend, modest weeds a poor girl names Pepita left as an offering to baby Jesus at a nativity scene miraculously transformed into the gorgeous flower. From that point, the brilliant red flowers were given the name ‘Flores de Noche Buena’ or ‘Flowers of the Holy Night.’ The shape of the flower and it’s leaves are thought to resemble the Star of Bethlehem. In 1828, U.S. Ambassador to Mexico Joel Roberts Poinsett brought the plants that now bear his name to the states where it then became the official flower of Christmas. Just be sure to keep them away from pets as their leaves are toxic. Christmas trees also have a story as to why we put them up that goes back many years. Originally Pagans displayed evergreen branches as a reminder that despite the darkness of winter, spring would once again return. Romans would place them around temples in honor of Saturn, the god of agriculture. The first time an evergreen was used in a Christmas celebration was either in Tallinn, Estonia or Riga, Latvia. Both claim the honor of being first. In the 16th century, German Christians brought the trees indoors as a representation of everlasting life. When the news got around that Queen Victoria had her husband Prince Albert, a German, set a Christmas tree up in their palace, the practice quickly became the pinnacle of Christmas imagery in both England and America. At first, however, most 19th century American’s thought Christmas trees unusual. The first Christmas trees being used is documented in 1820’s Pennsylvania’s German community. But what about all those lights we place on our trees? This, too, goes back to the 16th century. Theologian Martin Luther is thought to be the first to put lights on a Christmas tree. According to legend, he was walking through a forest at night and was taken by the brilliance of the stars glowing through the trees. When he returned home, he decided to replicate this for his family by erecting a tree in their living room replete with lighted candles on its branches. Tinsel used to be quite popular on Christmas trees, though reportedly not so much these days as it is a serious hazard for pets. A European folktale gives credit for tinsel to the webs of “Christmas spiders” for the tradition of shiny threads hanging on the tree. Tinsel was originally made out of silver as a representation of wealth, but it was expensive, and it tarnished. As the tradition was brought to America, other metals were utilized but they all had downsides and fell out of favor. Candy canes were reportedly invented by a choir master to occupy the boys in his care during long Christmas services. They were made into the shape of a shepherd’s crook to embody Jesus as the great shepherd. In some tellings of how candy canes came to be, the white portion signifies purity and the red the blood of Christ. When candy canes began being mass produced in America in the 1920’s, a Christmas symbol came into being. Christmas carols came about when Christians began replacing pagan winter festivals with Christmas. Many composers wished to write their own but as they were always in Latin, they were not popular. Un 1233, St. Francis of Assisi began staging nativity plays that included songs telling of the birth of Christ. These were sung in a language members understood so they were able to sing along. Since then, Christmas carols have never failed to imbue listeners with the holiday spirit. Lastly, is the tradition of milk and cookies for Santa. Begun in medieval Germany, children left food out at night during the Christmas season in hopes of receiving presents from another white bearded fellow named Odin, the all-powerful Norse god who traveled on the back of his eight-legged horse, Sleipnir. The custom as we know it today began during the Great Depression. Parents used milk and cookies as a method to teach their progeny that even when money was hard to come by, they still needed to show consideration towards others and be grateful for the blessings in their lives. Christmas as we know it has evolved over the years and each new tradition has only served to make our celebration even more festive and fun. As we celebrate this year, we can thank a frustrated choir master, a poor girl in Mexico, St. Francis of Assisi, and more for the things we do and take for granted. Meanwhile, we also make traditions of our own that we treasure and hand down whether it be assisting those who are less fortunate or building a gingerbread house with our children. Christmas is a time for tradition as we celebrate the birth of a baby in a manger and what that birth symbolizes. So, to you and yours, enjoy your traditions and have a very Merry Christmas!
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Helen M. Davis We’ve all heard the old adage about sticks and stones. For those who have been on the receiving end of name calling, it’s also known how untrue this really is. Names hurt, they can do more damage than blows, and the effect can be long lasting, sometimes never going away completely. The Fern Ridge School District has enacted policies to address bullying such as management systems that encourage behavior that is good and redirect misbehavior. Those students who do not follow classroom or school rules may receive what’s known as a problem solver or either a minor or major referral that is sent home to be signed by a parent or guardian and returned. Minor referrals may also result in in-school suspension, a conference with the principal or a phone call home. Major referrals are issued for severe, dangerous, or repeated behavior that includes fighting, bullying, and violent threats. Staff are also trained to address bullying by completing a yearly online program as well as an annual dialogue at the beginning of the school year while students have been trained to identify bullying and report. Administrators vow to take all reports of bullying seriously and respond appropriately by addressing all reports received. This sounds like a reasonable approach if consequences are truly enacted and those students who attempt to bully others are held accountable, but anecdotes suggest that bullying might not be being taken as seriously as it should be and in one case in particular, the result has been tragic. Though this took place 14 years ago, its horrifying nature makes it bear repeating. A 12-year-old girl who had been bullied at Veneta Elementary School and then at Fern Ridge Middle School made the choice to end her life. Her grieving family will never have all the answers they seek where this tragedy is concerned, though since the death of the child they loved, they sought to understand why such a “smart,” “sensitive” girl was made to hurt so badly by those who refused to get to know her that she felt she could not continue to live. The family reported that receiving condolence cards from those who tormented her was painful as some of those who sent them apologized for having been cruel while other cards were tossed out by police during the investigation due to their hurtful nature. What this young girl could have become will never be known, but she did have dreams of becoming a vet, a dream that could not be realized thanks to the hurtfulness of others and perhaps a blind eye by those who should have seen and acted. More recently, another youngster at the middle school threatened suicide after being bullied relentlessly and yet another child was bullied repeatedly at Elmira Elementary while being vilified by staff and accused of being the instigator. Meanwhile, the now embolded tormentor continued to make life difficult for the child in question until the culprit was finally caught in the act and a school official made it known there would be consequences if the behavior was to continue. No doubt there are many more instances of bullying in the Fern Ridge Schools, and all of these are heartbreaking for the kids who are victimized, especially those youngsters whose home lives might not be optimal and therefore are not receiving the proper support, and for those who, like the child at Elmira, are being held responsible for what is happening when a liar skillfully deflects the blame from where it belongs. Cases such as these bring up the question as to how seriously bullying is really being taken and how well is staff paying attention? A therapist who regularly visits the middle school has continually heard students in the hallways using foul language and calling other students nasty names despite such behavior being forbidden in the student handbook. It would stand to follow that if a blind eye is turned to this sort of deportment, that other types of miscreants are also being shrugged off with perhaps a warning at best and ignoring at worst. Yes, teachers have an incredibly difficult job and don’t get paid nearly what they deserve for juggling high class numbers while trying to see that all students in their care, including those with behavioral issues or disabilities receive a proper education while not necessarily having all the resources they need. But when a student is being made to feel fearful and unsafe it’s important that they have an ally who can offer the support they need along with the reassurance that they don’t deserve the way they are being treated. Bullying, when not properly addressed, can lead to depression and anxiety in those who are being targeted along with a loss of self-esteem and poor school performance and even skipping class to avoid being hurt. Children who are bullied can learn to hate themselves, particularly when they are made to feel as though the mistreatment is somehow deserved either by a teacher or administrator directly or indirectly inferring that they are responsible for what is happening. When bullying becomes a long-term issue and is coupled with a lack of proper support at home the results can be a child with serious issues who may turn to the wrong people for acceptance and who may struggle for years to feel good about themselves. All the talk and all the policies are meaningless without action. Unless those who are responsible for bullying are held accountable, unless there are real consequences for bad behavior, bullying will continue. Those who are being abused this way need to be listened to and believed. Until this happens, until eyes are opened and those in power truly take seriously the harmful effects of bullying, until they truly make an effort to put a stop to such despicable deportment, lives will be harmed, sometimes irreparably. Yes, a stick or a stone if large enough and delivered with enough force could possibly break a bone, but names will always, always hurt.
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Helen M. Davis Recently Veneta residents were dismayed to learn that their water bills are going to increase beginning in January 2024. As many have suspected, this is a result of the residential building that has been taking place within city limits. Matt Michel, Veneta City Administrator, says the increase will be no more than 3% for water usage and 2% for wastewater treatment respectively. City population is now at 5,300 and as this number grows to reach 6,200 a Master Plan, which is updated every ten years, has indicated a need to expand water capacity and wastewater treatment to meet the needs of residents. Plans are in the works to acquire land south of Bolton Hill and west of Madrone Ridge for the creation of a reservoir. This, Michel says, needs to be at a certain elevation to create head pressure and feed into the area successfully. Once this land is accessible, a purchase will be made. Also, a major upgrade has begun at the wastewater treatment plant on Sertic Road. Already there has been regulatory and planning work and the seeking of approval from the DEQ. Next year, construction should begin in earnest and is expected to be completed in two years. Further increasesin residents’ water bills are recommended over the next 3-5 years, but this will have to be brought to the City Council to see if they want to actually implement this. If they choose, they can also elect to decrease people’s bills. There is a plan for $250,000 worth of water main replacement because the city wants to be ahead on wastewater management so as to take care of the system properly and be good stewards of the infrastructure. For those who may find the increase a strain on their budget it is suggested that they call City Hall regarding assistance, and they will be connected to Mid-Lane Cares. Meanwhile, the city continues to grow, with tentative approval for homes in the first addition to Forest Grove on Hunter Road, Oakley Estates on Jeans Road, Applegate Landing off of 8th Street Phases IV and V, Madrone Ridge Phases IV and V, Andrew Heights, Blake’s Mill, and the Cheney Drive Apartments for a total of 442 tentative lots and 128 units. As of November, of this year, six permits for new dwellings have been issued. The building is reported to be a result of a shortage of affordable housing in the state and a desire to correct this, but at what cost? Nobody wants to see Veneta lose its appeal as a small town where one can walk into a business and be greeted by name, nor does anyone want to see woodland and pastureland converted to subdivisions as the city grows ever bigger. Classroom size is yet another concern as families with children make their home in one of the new subdivisions or apartment units. However, people do need a place to live that is within their budget and they wish to be welcomed as the newest members of the community. Somehow, a solution to be found so that people can have a place to call home while others don’t have to feel like they are footing the bill. What this solution is remains unknown, but Veneta is changing, and the small-town country feel is changing right along with it. Could it one day become the size of Junction City to the north? It is doubtful anyone wants to see this happen. |
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