Not often do I get stirred about going to something, somewhere. But I feel that has all changed. It all came about with a phone call, from an other-side-of-town neighbour, asking if I wanted to see a Christmas parade. It was taking place next day in Holstein, a half- hour’s drive from Markdale. No motorized floats allowed. Wow.
Having many fond memories from when, for several years, the Little Lady and I helped the young equestrian riders at Travis Hall Equestrian Stables prepare for their ride in the Santa Claus parade through Fergus and Elora, I immediately said yes, yes and yes.
The parade was due to start at 1pm, so we arrived a little before noon in order to enjoy their fundraising soup and sandwich lunch in the local arena. Believe me, I was not disappointed. It was reminiscent of the fall harvest suppers that the Little Lady used to cook a humongous big turkey for, which was held at the Stone Church in Eramosa. Just listening to the friendly, familiar family chatter was like music to my ears, and their selection of soup and sandwiches rated second to none.
When we pulled out of the arena parking lot, hoping to get a roadside spot, there was little less than a sea of parked cars down past the one-quarter-mile-away crossroads, and along each direction as far as we could see. I would guesstimate them to number in the high hundreds. But my guardian angel helped us out. Just as we were about to ease out of the arena area, a one-car parking spot showed up right in front of us. It was on the right side of the road and was so placed that a no parking driveway was right before us, giving us clear view down the road from where the parade was beginning. A 20-minute wait and the parade started right on time; the little hand pointed at one and the big hand ticked past the 12.
Never before have I seen so many horses in one general area. There were riders by the dozens, horse-drawn, heavy freight wagons, pony-pulled buggies, donkey-pulled two wheeled apple carts, and tandem hitched mule-drawn apparatuses that matched the step and rhythm of the intermingled marching bands.
Each and every hay wagon float was decorated with hand-painted signs and loaded with smiling faces. If you counted the feet of the prancing past horses and divided by four, you would end up with a head count high over the hundred.
I think the ones that impressed me the most were the quick-stepping ponies and miniature horses. Though I know the large, dark-coloured draft Belgians, the white-footed Clydesdale, and the quick-stepping dappled Percheron “nags,” as she called them, would have pleased the Little Lady the most. She would have liked also the sheep, the goats, the dogs, and the broad smiles of kids themselves who pulled multi-descriptive decorated carts and hand wagons.
I have watched many times the large commercial Santa Claus parades on TV, but let me tell you, folks, they don’t even hold a candle to the love and enthusiasm that is expressed in the eyes and actions of those who participated in the parade, celebrating Christmas for what it really is, the Birthday of Christ. I can’t wait to see next year’s parade.
Take care, ’cause we care.
barrie@barriehopkins.ca
519-986-4105