Linus’ spirit of the season right on par with Berlin merchants
Charles Schulz’ Linus had it right.
Amidst all the glitz and glamour of Christmas, during A Charlie Brown Christmas, Linus delivers a spot-on soliloquy of what the true meaning of Christmas is, mesmerizing his friends, helping them realize that all of the hoopla surrounding the season is meaningless without the true meaning of the birth of the Savior.
The merchants in Berlin have not forgotten that message, and once again they are preparing to open the streets of Berlin for a celebration unlike most Christmas galas.
It’s a time when you may see camels, shepherds and angels roaming the streets of Berlin and the village is gearing up to celebrate the greatest gift of mankind, the birth of Baby Jesus.
The Berlin Area Merchants invite the public to join them Nov. 25, the day after Thanksgiving, as they celebrate the start of this Christmas season with a live nativity parade and candlelighting ceremony.
The parade features Mary and Joseph, the Three Wise Men, carolers in horse drawn wagons, angels, shepherds, and live animals, such as camels, sheep, goats, donkeys and horses.
The Farm at Walnut Creek is bringing a sleigh, a team of oxen and covered wagon along with the aforementioned animals. Patrons may also encounter Frosty The Snowman and The Gingerbread Man dancing along giving candy to children along the street.
And before and after the parade, patrons may peruse town, stopping in at the local businesses which remain open after hours, or joining the crew from Country Gatherings, who will be roasting marshmallows in front of an open fire on the east side of town.
“It’s an exciting night to be in Berlin,” said Tammy Weaver, Country Gatherings manager. “I think this is something that people look forward to far in advance. This isn’t all about bringing people here to buy. It’s about spreading the message and joy of Christmas. It is very touching, what Christmas should be about.”
In addition to all of the festivities, the event will feature something new this year in a fundraiser for a worthy cause.
The merchants are excited to partner with several local women in sponsoring Operation Christmas Child. The group will be serving hot chocolate, coffee and cookies, all for a donation, and 100 percent of the proceeds will go to sponsor shoeboxes filled with toys and essentials. These boxes help children all over the world, bringing school supplies, hygiene items and a small gift items.
Every year this group of women travel to Charlotte, N.C. with a motorcoach full of volunteers to help prepare shoeboxes to be sent overseas. Operation Christmas Child is a division of Samaritan’s Purse, a ministry started in 1970 and headed by Franklin Graham, son of Rev. Billy Graham.
“The merchants are excited to participate and be a part of this fundraising event,” said Elsie Sommers, one of the parade committee members. “This is the 18th year for Christmas In Berlin, something that started out almost two decades ago with a few merchants standing in the street corner singing Christmas carols and has grown in leaps and bounds since then.”
Since that day, tens of thousands of visitors have made the Berlin Christmas Parade a must-see on their calendars, some driving many miles, many coming from right here in Holmes County.
While the number of patrons has certainly changed, one thing that has remained is the simple, Biblical message of faith that Christmas was intended to be about.
According to Karen Lamp, owner of Country Craft Cupboard and one of those first handful of carolers, that message is essential to the very purpose of the parade.
“It was carols, candlelighting and the message of hope that began this, and that has always remained,” said Lamp. “That spirit of the real meaning of Christmas is why people make this something that they won’t miss. It is unique. People would be surprised to hear how many times we have heard people from outside the area say that they wouldn’t miss this because that is the emphasis.”
Patrons will also have an opportunity to take part in the Berlin Merchants’ quilt fundraiser. All of the proceeds will go directly into a benevolent fund, which is designed to meet the needs of struggling families in the community.
A quilt is on display at Helping Hands Quilt Shop, which will be raffled off on the Monday following the parade. Patrons may purchase tickets through Saturday evening at Helping Hands, the Amish Country Flea Market or Farmstead Restaurant. The pink and green floral quilt was quilted by the staff at Country Craft Cupboard, and is the second quilt raffle, the first one being a special quilt created for 9/11, which was won by Judith Billock of Leavittsburg, Ohio earlier this summer.
“It’s a way that we as a group of merchants can give back to the community,” said Lamp.
The nativity parade begins at 5:45 p.m. and concludes at the stage at the center of town, where the candlelighting ceremony is held and the Christmas Story read. There at the square local singer John Schmid will also lead carols. The Berlin Area Merchants invite everyone to join in this unique and meaningful Christmas tradition. For more information on motorcoach tours going to Samaritan’s Purse, contact Marilyn Shrock at 330-893-2546, Lizzie Mast at 330-763-0924 or Miriam Miller at 330-763-1665.
Amidst all the glitz and glamour of Christmas, during A Charlie Brown Christmas, Linus delivers a spot-on soliloquy of what the true meaning of Christmas is, mesmerizing his friends, helping them realize that all of the hoopla surrounding the season is meaningless without the true meaning of the birth of the Savior.
The merchants in Berlin have not forgotten that message, and once again they are preparing to open the streets of Berlin for a celebration unlike most Christmas galas.
It’s a time when you may see camels, shepherds and angels roaming the streets of Berlin and the village is gearing up to celebrate the greatest gift of mankind, the birth of Baby Jesus.
The Berlin Area Merchants invite the public to join them Nov. 25, the day after Thanksgiving, as they celebrate the start of this Christmas season with a live nativity parade and candlelighting ceremony.
The parade features Mary and Joseph, the Three Wise Men, carolers in horse drawn wagons, angels, shepherds, and live animals, such as camels, sheep, goats, donkeys and horses.
The Farm at Walnut Creek is bringing a sleigh, a team of oxen and covered wagon along with the aforementioned animals. Patrons may also encounter Frosty The Snowman and The Gingerbread Man dancing along giving candy to children along the street.
And before and after the parade, patrons may peruse town, stopping in at the local businesses which remain open after hours, or joining the crew from Country Gatherings, who will be roasting marshmallows in front of an open fire on the east side of town.
“It’s an exciting night to be in Berlin,” said Tammy Weaver, Country Gatherings manager. “I think this is something that people look forward to far in advance. This isn’t all about bringing people here to buy. It’s about spreading the message and joy of Christmas. It is very touching, what Christmas should be about.”
In addition to all of the festivities, the event will feature something new this year in a fundraiser for a worthy cause.
The merchants are excited to partner with several local women in sponsoring Operation Christmas Child. The group will be serving hot chocolate, coffee and cookies, all for a donation, and 100 percent of the proceeds will go to sponsor shoeboxes filled with toys and essentials. These boxes help children all over the world, bringing school supplies, hygiene items and a small gift items.
Every year this group of women travel to Charlotte, N.C. with a motorcoach full of volunteers to help prepare shoeboxes to be sent overseas. Operation Christmas Child is a division of Samaritan’s Purse, a ministry started in 1970 and headed by Franklin Graham, son of Rev. Billy Graham.
“The merchants are excited to participate and be a part of this fundraising event,” said Elsie Sommers, one of the parade committee members. “This is the 18th year for Christmas In Berlin, something that started out almost two decades ago with a few merchants standing in the street corner singing Christmas carols and has grown in leaps and bounds since then.”
Since that day, tens of thousands of visitors have made the Berlin Christmas Parade a must-see on their calendars, some driving many miles, many coming from right here in Holmes County.
While the number of patrons has certainly changed, one thing that has remained is the simple, Biblical message of faith that Christmas was intended to be about.
According to Karen Lamp, owner of Country Craft Cupboard and one of those first handful of carolers, that message is essential to the very purpose of the parade.
“It was carols, candlelighting and the message of hope that began this, and that has always remained,” said Lamp. “That spirit of the real meaning of Christmas is why people make this something that they won’t miss. It is unique. People would be surprised to hear how many times we have heard people from outside the area say that they wouldn’t miss this because that is the emphasis.”
Patrons will also have an opportunity to take part in the Berlin Merchants’ quilt fundraiser. All of the proceeds will go directly into a benevolent fund, which is designed to meet the needs of struggling families in the community.
A quilt is on display at Helping Hands Quilt Shop, which will be raffled off on the Monday following the parade. Patrons may purchase tickets through Saturday evening at Helping Hands, the Amish Country Flea Market or Farmstead Restaurant. The pink and green floral quilt was quilted by the staff at Country Craft Cupboard, and is the second quilt raffle, the first one being a special quilt created for 9/11, which was won by Judith Billock of Leavittsburg, Ohio earlier this summer.
“It’s a way that we as a group of merchants can give back to the community,” said Lamp.
The nativity parade begins at 5:45 p.m. and concludes at the stage at the center of town, where the candlelighting ceremony is held and the Christmas Story read. There at the square local singer John Schmid will also lead carols. The Berlin Area Merchants invite everyone to join in this unique and meaningful Christmas tradition. For more information on motorcoach tours going to Samaritan’s Purse, contact Marilyn Shrock at 330-893-2546, Lizzie Mast at 330-763-0924 or Miriam Miller at 330-763-1665.
Published: November 11, 2011
