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NEWS&VIEWS by Jacqueline Bennett

Posts tagged “Christmas traditions

Pointsettia Says Christmas

Posted on December 15, 2020

    Photo & Article by Jacqueline Bennett newsandviewsjb.com   Little says Christmas more than a pointsettia plant. With festivally scarlet-colored blossoms that welcome, a pointsetia lights up a spot.   Native to Mexico, the plant’s name is derived from John Poinsett who was the first ambassador from the USA to Mexico in the 19th Century. Pointsett had botantical plantations at his home in South Carolina and sent some of these cherry, red plants back to the states which is how they were introduced in America.   They are thought to bring good luck to both the giver and receiver ” if handled with affection.” Keep your poinsettia in a warm room and mist it daily, experts suggest. With proper care,  pointsettias can live…

Christmas Baking & Oranges in Stockings

Posted on December 24, 2016

Article & Photos by Jacqueline Bennett newsandviewsjb.com   Food is an integral part of Christmas and baking can be a most satisfying aspect of the season. Long hours spent peeling, measuring and  mixing are quite worthwhile when the finished product is eagerly anticipated by family and friends.   A sight that heralds the holiday for me is loaves of banana bread fresh out of the oven, later wrapped in foil for delivery. This isn’t just any banana bread, it is a family baking tradition being carried on by my sister Candy made from our mother Cecelia’s recipe which was handed down to her from our grandmother Delia. It is tricky trying to achieve the precise flavor and consistency resulting from this recipe. Done right…

Christmas and G. Fox & Co.

Posted on December 24, 2013

By: Jacqueline Bennett newsandviewsjb.com    When I was growing up, G.Fox & Co. in downtown Hartford, Connecticut played a big part in Christmas for my family. In America’s golden era of thriving downtown department stores, G. Fox & Co, a.k.a. “Fox’s”, was known as “Connecticut’s Department Store.”   Christmas shopping at “Fox’s” would get underway for us the day after Thanksgiving. It continued each weekend until the arrival of the holiday. My father worked in the city so the family rode into Hartford with him. We spent the day shopping then met him after he got off work. Often we had dinner downtown.   “Fox’s” was a magical destination at this time of year. My mother made sure we were dressed-up for these excursions.…

Skating Socks From My Brother

Posted on October 28, 2013

Skating Socks From My Brother- Reflection by Jacqueline Bennett newsandviewsjb.com   Taking winter clothes out of storage is a ritual for New Englanders this time of year as the weather turns cold. For me that includes pulling out an old battered Brooks Brothers bag stuffed with knee socks – and skating socks from my brother.   Growing up my large family exchanged Christmas gifts among all of us. Somewhere along the way that subsided but my brother Glen Sr. was not comfortable with letting Christmas go by without gifts for his two youngest sisters – myself being one – actually THE youngest of seven children. So, under the tree every holiday was a box of skating socks from my brother. New Englanders know exactly…