Cornucopia, Candy & Christmas Trees * a workshop presentation Well until the early 1900's, the Christmas tree was decorated with homemade paper cutouts, candies, cookies, gilded walnuts, gifts and other edible ornaments. A particular favorite however was the cornucopia, a cone shaped ornament filled with candy and hung on the tree. Available November 23 through December 24 |
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| Upcoming Performances Victorian Valentines Methuen Senior Center February 3, 2010 Snow Date February 4, 2010 Past Performances Sprague Public Library, CT December 17, 2009 Gale Free Library, NH December 5, 2007 Merrimac Council on Aging, MA December 6, 2007 Hampden Council on Aging, MA December 7, 2007 DA Hurd Library, N. Berwick, ME December 10, 2007 |
| Booking Info: Rita Parisi at 978-430-1357 ritaparisi@waterfallproductions.com |
| Rita Parisi , in period costume, will speak briefly about Christmas tree ornaments of this time and then she will instruct her audience on how to make a cornucopia ornament for their very own. She will provide all the materials needed so that each person can make one ornament to take home. Appropriate for ages 5 and up. *This show can also be adapted for seniors. |
"...a program for adults, or anyone, to enjoy...something special families could share.
-Theresa Caswell, director Gale Free Library, NH
-Theresa Caswell, director Gale Free Library, NH
Over a century ago during the reign of Queen Victoria, February 14th was the only day of the year that an unmarried man could express his love towards a respectable unmarried lady. He would write his feelings in a valentine which he would then have delivered to her. Today...Valentines are not just for sweethearts but are freely given to those whom we feel affection. Rita Parisi, in period costume will briefly discuss the tradition of St. Valentine's Day and then she will show the audience how to create a Victorian Valentine of their own. She will provide all the materials so that each person can create a valentine to take home. Great for All Ages and children 5 & up. |
| Victorian Valentines for Modern Times |
Program Looks at Christmas Past
Excerpted from December 06, 2007 edition of the Eagle Tribune By Rebecca Correa, staff writer
NEWTON - Every Christmas Eve, the Hall family leaves homemade sugar cookies on the kitchen counter for Santa. In return,
Santa leaves the family's 10-year-old twins gifts under their Christmas tree and candy on the kitchen counter. Yesterday, one of
those twins, Shelby Hall, created a new place for Santa to leave candy when she participated in Gale Library's Colonial
Christmas program, Cornucopia, Candy & Christmas Trees.
The 45-minute event included a 15-minute discussion on Christmas ornaments from the 1890's and culminated with each of the
dozen participants making a cornucopia ornament for their family trees. Rita Parisi, an Amesbury, Mass., resident, led the
program. She gets into character, acting as if she's back in time when she talks about the turn of turn of the century. She wore a
red, floor-length dress with a white apron when she talked about ways Christmas trees used to be decorated. Parisi said trees
were decorated with angels made of wax, spun glass, paper ornaments and, above all, food. From gingerbread men to popcorn
garland, food used to cover Christmas trees and be an acceptable gift. Back in my day, if a child got an orange, it was a real
treat," Parisi said. "How would you like to get an orange in your stocking?" Shelby's twin brother Breyer paused and scrunched
up his face. "I would hate it," he said.
The participants, who ranged in age from children to senior citizens, spent about half an hour making and decorating their
cornucopia with checkered cloth and trimming the edges with glitter and tinsel.
"If we leave it empty, Santa might fill it with candies instead," Shelby said. Shelby, who is home schooled, said she's made paper
ornaments at home before, but nothing like the cornucopia holder for candy she made yesterday.
Excerpted from December 06, 2007 edition of the Eagle Tribune By Rebecca Correa, staff writer
NEWTON - Every Christmas Eve, the Hall family leaves homemade sugar cookies on the kitchen counter for Santa. In return,
Santa leaves the family's 10-year-old twins gifts under their Christmas tree and candy on the kitchen counter. Yesterday, one of
those twins, Shelby Hall, created a new place for Santa to leave candy when she participated in Gale Library's Colonial
Christmas program, Cornucopia, Candy & Christmas Trees.
The 45-minute event included a 15-minute discussion on Christmas ornaments from the 1890's and culminated with each of the
dozen participants making a cornucopia ornament for their family trees. Rita Parisi, an Amesbury, Mass., resident, led the
program. She gets into character, acting as if she's back in time when she talks about the turn of turn of the century. She wore a
red, floor-length dress with a white apron when she talked about ways Christmas trees used to be decorated. Parisi said trees
were decorated with angels made of wax, spun glass, paper ornaments and, above all, food. From gingerbread men to popcorn
garland, food used to cover Christmas trees and be an acceptable gift. Back in my day, if a child got an orange, it was a real
treat," Parisi said. "How would you like to get an orange in your stocking?" Shelby's twin brother Breyer paused and scrunched
up his face. "I would hate it," he said.
The participants, who ranged in age from children to senior citizens, spent about half an hour making and decorating their
cornucopia with checkered cloth and trimming the edges with glitter and tinsel.
"If we leave it empty, Santa might fill it with candies instead," Shelby said. Shelby, who is home schooled, said she's made paper
ornaments at home before, but nothing like the cornucopia holder for candy she made yesterday.
Cornucopia, candy and
Christmas
BY KAREN BUTERA ReminderNews
Rita Parisi of Amesbury, Mass., a.k.a.
“Mrs. Gordon,” presented an old-
fashioned holiday craft workshop at
the Sprague Library on Dec. 17.
“Mrs. Gordon” came out to talk about
the things that she knows the most
about: How holidays were celebrated
in 1908 – before women won the right
to vote, when people walked on dirt
streets and just after the first
gasoline-powered car was invented –
and the different traditions that were
used in many homes.
Dressed in a 1908 period costume,
made by Parisi, “Cornucopia, Candy
and Christmas Trees” was presented
to the dozen or so boys and girls of
the Sprague and Baltic area.
“Ornaments were simple,” she
began. “Some were made out of
paper cut-outs , tin and, of course,
spun glass… but most ornaments
were edible and were made out of
gilded walnuts, gingerbread and
edible garland.” At times, money was
scarce, and the ornaments were also
used as Christmas presents.
Mrs. Gordon discussed the most
favorite ornament of all, a
cornucopia, and how they were used.
The program, geared for kids from
ages 5 and up, gave way to a craft,
and they got a chance to make their
own candy cornucopia. With step-by-
step directions, the participants
made the 6-inch cone, then covered
it with fabric and other items.
After careful consideration to the
colors of the fabric and
embellishments, the children added
a fabric handle to hang the ornament
on a tree. In typical 1900 style, candy
was added when the project was
finished.
Kristin Hill brought along her
daughter , Liana. “She signed up a
long time ago and has looked
forward to doing this. She loves to
do anything that is crafty and has
always been into art,” Hill said.
Brother and sister Amanda and
Trevor were there with their mother,
Jen Hoelck. “It was a craft project
and sounded like a lot of fun. I like to
get them into any type of crafty
program,” Hoelck said.
Christmas
BY KAREN BUTERA ReminderNews
Rita Parisi of Amesbury, Mass., a.k.a.
“Mrs. Gordon,” presented an old-
fashioned holiday craft workshop at
the Sprague Library on Dec. 17.
“Mrs. Gordon” came out to talk about
the things that she knows the most
about: How holidays were celebrated
in 1908 – before women won the right
to vote, when people walked on dirt
streets and just after the first
gasoline-powered car was invented –
and the different traditions that were
used in many homes.
Dressed in a 1908 period costume,
made by Parisi, “Cornucopia, Candy
and Christmas Trees” was presented
to the dozen or so boys and girls of
the Sprague and Baltic area.
“Ornaments were simple,” she
began. “Some were made out of
paper cut-outs , tin and, of course,
spun glass… but most ornaments
were edible and were made out of
gilded walnuts, gingerbread and
edible garland.” At times, money was
scarce, and the ornaments were also
used as Christmas presents.
Mrs. Gordon discussed the most
favorite ornament of all, a
cornucopia, and how they were used.
The program, geared for kids from
ages 5 and up, gave way to a craft,
and they got a chance to make their
own candy cornucopia. With step-by-
step directions, the participants
made the 6-inch cone, then covered
it with fabric and other items.
After careful consideration to the
colors of the fabric and
embellishments, the children added
a fabric handle to hang the ornament
on a tree. In typical 1900 style, candy
was added when the project was
finished.
Kristin Hill brought along her
daughter , Liana. “She signed up a
long time ago and has looked
forward to doing this. She loves to
do anything that is crafty and has
always been into art,” Hill said.
Brother and sister Amanda and
Trevor were there with their mother,
Jen Hoelck. “It was a craft project
and sounded like a lot of fun. I like to
get them into any type of crafty
program,” Hoelck said.
