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St. Charles,
Missouri
It's
my first holiday season! I have been enjoying looking at the
lights people put on their houses, as well as the deer and trees and
Santas they place in their lawns. All the friendly lights make
the cold seem a little less bitter. To show me how some people
are celebrating, my hosts took me to St. Charles, Missouri. St. Charles was the first capital
of the state. The original French name of the town was Le Petites
Cotes, though the Spanish referred to it as San Carlos del Misuri
because the Catholic church in the town is dedicated to St. Charles Borromeo. The forecasters predicted snow, but so far it hasn't arrived. The cold has, however. The temperature was 15F/-9C as we wandered down Main Street looking in gaily decorated windows and meeting costumed characters. This is Father Christmas. For a complete list of characters you can meet walking Main Street, see this page.
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| We went by this historical marker, which informed me that the Lewis & Clark Expedition stopped here May 16-21, 1804. Clark noted in his diary for May 20, "I gave the party leave to go to and hear a Sermon to day delivered by a roman Carthlick Priest. Capt Lewis and Several Gentlemen arrive from St. Louis thro a violent Shoure of rain." |
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These
are the Early American Carolers. They were excited to have their
picture taken with me! I enjoyed meeting them, too. We also
saw some Victorian Carolers but unfortunately I didn't get my picture
taken with them. |
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| This lovely lady was La Befana. She travels throughout Italy looking for good girls and boys to give presents to. The children leave their shoes by their beds on the eve of Epiphany for La Befana to fill with treats. La Befana does this because on the day Christ was born, she was too busy cleaning house to visit the stable. So now she seeks out children to give them gifts hoping one day to find the Christ child. |
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| Here I am with Martha in front of one of the festively decorated stores. Main Street was bright with lights and candles on the sidewalks. It was really quite lovely! |
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| Wow! There are Christmas decorations everywhere. These are just a few we found in one of the stores. I'd like to take them all, but my hosts tell me they will have to pick and choose just the most special ones. |
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| Ha ha! The flash washed me out, but you can see the Fife & Drum Corps behind me playing traditional songs. I just loved listening to them. |
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| This odd but fun decoration was in the restaurant where we had dinner. It's an invisible Santa in a canoe! |
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| The restaurant is called Lewis & Clark's. It is in an old building at the corner of Main Street and First Capital Drive and has lots of charm. They have good food and also serve a great raspberry beer. Here I am with Todd, wishing all of you a wonderful holiday season of your own! |
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