Christmas visiting was kept pretty much within family bubbles and precautions were taken when necessary. Folks reviewed the “Christmas in Meota” video and it was enjoyed and appreciated. The end result is, Meota is a great place to live.
In the process of making our quilts, the subject of the carding machine that my parents used to have came up. That was back when we used sheep’s wool for the batt in each quilt. This was loaned out to someone and not returned. It consisted of two rollers covered with metal hooked needles, one turning each way and producing a nice-sized batt.
The Lions Christmas decorating competition was judged Dec. 21. The winners in order were Gerry Goodheart, Maurice Bru and Lawrie Ward. A drive around the village is worth the effort, as there are several places that are nicely done up. The moving pictures and lights are always good to watch and the whole village is brighter.
A Dutch Tribute to Canada at Christmas
There is a Dutch Christmas tradition that Canadians need to know about.
Every year in the town of Holten in the Netherlands, Dutch school children honour the graves of 1,355 Canadian soldiers. A candle is lit and placed on each Canadian grave.
These Dutch children know they are only able to celebrate their Christmas in freedom and peace because of the Allied sacrifice, in the Second World War. More than a thousand young Canadians gave up their lives, their families, their futures to defeat the evil Nazi Germany.
These Canadian sons, fathers and brothers never got to return home. They are permanently an ocean away, but at Christmas they are remembered. They are not alone. They are not cold. They are not in the dark.
They are remembered.
It is a simple but beautiful tradition. It is a reminder that light and love can defeat the cold and dark.
Thank you for remembering our boys, Dutch children. Canada is grateful.
Leo and Trudy Janssen visited this site, the Canadian War Cemetery, with Leo’s cousin Elizabeth, who lives nearby, in 1999. The first thing noticed is the heather, many different kinds, beautifully groomed, then the headstones with candleholders, waiting for the children to arrive.
