Tis The Season to Be Jolly! 

Kanata Kourier Dec 24/04
By Laurel E. Anderson

No matter how you celebrate the holidays, I think that we can all agree that this is the time of year that we often think of others and try to do something nice for those around us and it is this sentiment that led the 31st Kanata Sparks group to Stonehaven Retirement Home this past Thursday evening.

The 31st Kanata Sparks group is a branch of the Girl Guides and is compromised of five and six-year-old girls and since the Girl Guide program encourages community volunteerism, this was a perfect opportunity for the Sparks to spring into action. Armed with yummy holiday treats to share, carols to sing and cards to make and distribute, it was sure to be a night of festivity.

As the Sparks arrived and settled in, the residents, already sitting in the lounge, sang an impromptu carol for the girls. It was a warm gesture and evidence that the residents also seemed eager for the night’s festivities. At this point, Sparks leader Helen readies the girls for their first number and it is just about standing room only as this pool of pink (the Sparks colour) starts caroling with a jolly rendition of Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer that is met with lots of applause at the end. The girls go right into Frosty the Snowman and no one really notices or seems to mind when a few words are forgotten here and there. Jingle Bells is a crowd favourite with the staff and residents joining in on the merriment and between lots of giggling and smiles, We Wish You a Merry Christmas
concluded the first part of the show.

Then it was off to the craft room where the girls worked on some top secret crafts to present to the residents and it was while the little elves were busy in the craft room that I took a few minutes to talk to the residents about the show. They all seemed enthused with the entertainment with resident Sam getting in on the action with his own set of reindeer ears that one of the Sparks had given him. Dorothy, who was sitting right beside me, leaned over and told me that the kids “make you feel cheery at this time of year.” She also told me that one of her favourite Christmas carols is The Fist Noel.

Before you know it, the girls are back with the cards they made for the residents and at the risk of showing my soft side I will say that it was touching to watch these young ones walk around and hand out cards to their audience. It’s now a sea of red everywhere as all the cards are distributed and the girls get ready to perform a few of their traditional Sparks songs. The residents continue to enjoy the show as many participate in the echo songs and hand gestures that go with them.

With the singing finished, Spark’s leader Helen announces that the girls have brought holiday treats to host for the residents and with that, it was a mad dash to the dining area. The sweets were a hit, with one resident’s plate piled high with all things chocolate and sparkly while others that originally said no thank you to the sweet were later seen making their way to the table for a nibble or two.

Milling around with my own little plate of goodies (hey, I had to be able to report on the food), it was obvious that this night of spreading good cheer worked. “It’s been very enjoyable,” said Dorothy. Flo showed me her cards, she had about five, and told me, “the kids are wonderful.” Joe whispered to me that the treats were lovely and it was obvious that Sam aka Mr. Reindeer enjoyed both the singing and the snacks.

I asked Sam about his holiday traditions growing up and he told me about getting a tree and decorating it for the holidays. “That’s what you do,” he told me. It’s for the little kids, “ he continued. Rhea, with her plate full of delicious treats told me about war cake. It was a tradition during the war, when things like eggs and milk were rationed or in short supply. “It didn’t have eggs or milk in it but it was delicious. I’d like to bake one again soon,” she said wistfully as she rhymed off some of the ingredients: water, lard, flour, raisins.

With coats on and many heading out the door, this has been a night of tradition. Caroling, exchanging holiday wishes and sharing a bite to eat. The night has been successful as smiles all around indicate. The coming together of two generations: the young sharing the spirit of the season with their elders, each learning from each other and sharing with each other.

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