Twin Cities’ parade goers appreciate the true meaning of the Christmas season during the annual Christmas Parade

  • by Jennifer Kneuss
  • December 4, 2011
  • 277
                        
Summary: The Christmas spirit rolled into town as the annual Twin Cities’ Christmas Parade took to the streets on s sunny December afternoon. A marching band, the usual dignitary and queens’ cars, elaborately decorated floats, and plenty of tinsel and Christmas music brought the spirit of the Christmas season to the towns of Dennison and Uhrichsville during the annual Twin Cities’ Christmas Parade on Saturday Dec. 3. The dozens of parade entries were treated to sunny skies and large crowds who came out to welcome the holiday. One big attraction at the parade truly was also big in size– the appearance of a team of Belgium work horses pulling a shiny, polished black carriage, courtesy of the Cush Financial Group in New Philadelphia. The crowds exclaimed admiringly as the giant, yet extremely gentle horses tossed their heads and proudly pranced past the parade goers. Co-owner Paula Cush admitted that raising and exhibiting the large equines were a passion for the family, and that her husband in particular enjoyed taking the animals to parades. “We show them all over the place, in different states as well,” said Cush. “We like to bring them to a parade like this, because everyone likes these horses.” Two-year-old Lacey Edwards was wide-eyed at the display passing before her. Her mother, Kristen Edwards, noted that Lacey had been too young to appreciate the Christmas parade the year prior, but was soaking it up in the almost balmy 50 degree weather. She quickly caught on to the procedure – hold the bag out and smile, and wait for the candy to pour in from the costumed people walking the parade route. Lacey, along with other tiny tots along the parade route, appeared completely overwhelmed and were often struck speechless when first Mrs. Claus, and then Santa himself, arrived on lavishly decorated floats and waved hello to their young fans. “She understands it,” said Edwards, who admitted that Christmas morning would be an exciting time in the Edwards’ house this year. “She sees the toys on television and gets really excited. Lacey has also been practicing for her performance as part of the children’s Christmas pageant at Rush Nazarene church on Dec. 18. She gets to play the bells and sing, and she’s really looking forward to that, too.” Edwards, who also brought her one-year-old son to the parade, had definite thoughts about the true meaning of the season. “It’s about being with your family and counting the blessings that we have,” she quickly noted. Susan Miller, who had traveled from her home in Doylestown to attend the Friday night parade in New Philadelphia and then stayed overnight to watch the Twin Cities’ parade on Saturday morning, also stated that family was especially important to her during the holiday season. “The true meaning of Christmas is family, and getting together. It’s my favorite part of the year,” said Miller. “I think we need to bring prayer back into our families, too, and not just at Christmas.” Miller also commented that her views on the Christmas holiday have changed over the years. “I used to write Merry X-mas when I was sending out Christmas cards or arranging parties and mailing invitations out, just to take a short cut and save time,” she said. “I don’t do that anymore. I realized that too many people were leaving Christ out of Christmas, so now I write out the whole word, Christmas.”


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