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Locals remember holiday simplicity |
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Tuesday, 04 December 2007 |
by ALISON MEANEY
Intern Lifestyles Reporter
Imagine Boone’s streets under three feet of snow, without any traffic.
This is not your wildest dream; it’s how Boone once was.
When
the students leave for the holidays, Boone clears out, slows down and
takes on a different flavor, reminiscent of the days before the town
expanded.
Fred and Lola Berry are Boone locals that have lived a lifetime in this area.
Now in their 80s, the Berrys recall memories of living in the High Country decades ago.
 Fred and Lola Berry have celebrated Christmas together in Boone for many years. Photo by Alisha Park
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Lola grew up on a farm in Vilas, where she celebrated the simplicity of the holidays.
Her family usually kept two horses on the property and in her earliest
memories of the holidays, they would take a sleigh ride to a “little
old country store” to do their Christmas shopping.
“Our gifts were very simple then,” Lola said.
Presents were things they needed and also something extra.
Her grandmother would knit a toboggan and a pair of mittens for each
one of her family members every year, and most of their gifts in
general were handmade.
Similarly, Fred remembers the biggest Christmas his family ever had.
“Dad got me a pair of boots with a knife pocket on the side,”
He clarified that knives weren’t for being bad “because we weren’t allowed to,” but for skinning animals.
Lola said their decorations were mostly homemade and included popcorn, cranberry strings, and popcorn balls for the tree.
She remembers the food as more basic. They celebrated with nuts, berries and oranges.
Her mother baked cookies and pies from scratch and peppermint candies graced their tree.
Fred and Lola take the changes in stride, but one thing Lola really
wishes had stayed the same is the religious theme throughout holidays.
She has noticed that all of the Christmas cards available at most
stores say, “Happy Holidays,” without any mention of Jesus’ birth.
“They’re trying to take the ‘Christmas’ out of Christmas,” she said.
She manages to get around this new trend by buying her greeting cards at a Christian bookstore.
The Berrys have seen many changes to the town and to the holiday itself, but they admit that some things never change.
Family gatherings are still the top priority, food is still delicious, and the spirit of Christmas lives on.
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