The Root Cellar
Caroling to Celebrate the Arrival of Christmas
Want to have an unusual party? Singing is one way to spread holiday cheer. Invite some friends and neighbors who can carry a tune to join you to go caroling.
The word carol dates back to the 13th century and is derived from the French word caroler, which means dancing around in a circle. The idea of a group of people gathering to sing while strolling from place to place as part of a celebration can be traced back to many early cultures.
According to musicologists, during the early days of the Christian church caroling was an opportunity for commoners to participate in various celebrations by singing folk songs and church hymns along with the popular tunes of the era. A carol came to be known as a cheery song, and could be about any subject. Christmas carols specifically tell the story of the birth of Jesus and spread the message of peace, goodwill, and merriment around the world.
For your party, make plenty of copies of your favorite Christmas carols. While many people may know seasonal favorites such as “Deck the Halls” and “Joy to the World,” they probably don’t know all the verses. Suggest that your guests wear colorful scarves, hats, and mittens to make the group’s appearance more festive. And have plenty of warm cider, cocoa, and cookies on hand to serve when you return from your singing adventure.
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And the Honor Goes to . . .
It’s still 2006, but the Perennial Plant Association has already named its 2007 perennial plant of the year. It’s a flower that is easy to grow and particularly pleasing to cats. Nepeta faassenii ‘Walker’s Low’ is one of the plants commonly known as catmint because it contains a chemical, nepetalactone, that has an intoxicating effect on cats. Although this catmint is not as feline-desirable as some varieties, ‘Walker’s Low’ does have soft lavender blue flowers and profuse gray green foliage that looks lovely all summer long. The stems are 2–3 feet long, but the plant will arch down to 18–24 inches if not staked.
Deer and rabbit resistant, this plant prefers full sun and does well in ordinary, well-drained soil. Once established it is salt and drought resistant. For best results, trim back the early growth in the spring for a more compact plant and trim plants after the first bloom for a second blooming cycle.
It’s never too early to put this plant on your wish list for early spring planting.
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New Sculpture, Tiger Chasing Dragon, at Park
A fallen tree at Quiet Waters Park has gradually been transformed into a unique 30-foot-long sculpture under the tutelage of Annapolis sculptor DH Banker.
Recipient of the AA County Arts Council 2004 Arts Educator Annie Award, Banker worked with high school students and adults to extend what was originally called Spirit Dragon, carved in 2001, from 15 feet to its present length of 30 feet.
“I always imagine animals or figures when I see trees as I walk the paths in the woods,” says Banker. “I could see the dragon right away in the shape and mass of the wood and branches. With a subsequent project to carve another animal, the tiger seemed like the right choice to complement the dragon and to complete the sculpture.”
Assisted on both projects by her son Robert Doyle, Banker notes that in Chinese symbolism the dragon represents east and the tiger represents west.
Quiet Waters Park, open daily except Tuesday, 7 a.m. to dusk, is on the Annapolis Neck peninsula off Hillsmere Road; entry fee is $5 per car. To visit the sculpture drive to the end of the park road, following signs for the dog park. Park in the last lot on the right (past the dog park), walk across the traffic circle, and go into the woods to the right.
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Shop 'Til You Drop
What started in 1986 as one late-night of holiday shopping at just a couple Downtown Annapolis retailers has grown into two nights of all-out, shop-til-you-drop excitement, live music, refreshments, and dancing in the streets. We’re talking, of course, about Midnight Madness—two December evenings in which most all Downtown merchants along Main Street and the surrounding vicinity keep their doors open to shoppers until 12 a.m. midnight. This year’s events take place on 12/7 and 12/14. Larry Vincent of Laurance Clothing and Terry Drake organized the first event twenty years ago. Today, the event has inspired other local business communities to do the same, such as in West Annapolis along Annapolis Street and Ridgely Avenue, which will hold Holiday Madness on 12/13 (10 a.m.—10 p.m.). For more information about Midnight Madness call (410) 266-5555. For more information about Holiday Madness call (410) 295-5157. Happy shopping!
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The Jig Is Up
A great white shark attacks the military. An unknown relative wants to bequeath to you an inheritance (in exchange for your banking info.). A little boy with leukemia needs your monetary donation. What do these statements have in common? They’re . . . drum roll please . . . Internet hoaxes and scams. They usually come in the form of e-mail. They’re usually marked with an indication of urgency and importance. They sometimes fool us into believing the unbelievable. And sometimes they seem, simply put, practical. A common sham that you’ve likely seen in your own inbox is inheritance fraud.
Criminals who obtain e-mail lists that include recipients’ names run inheritance frauds. They create mass mailings based upon those lists, claiming that a fictional individual with the same last name died without heirs, usually in a remote part of the world. If you reply to such a message, the criminal will engage in what is called an advance fee fraud, attempting to convince you to send money to pay for legal fees, bribes, or other expenses. (Advance fee refers to the money they get from you—and despite their promises of riches, you never get a cent in return.) The criminal may also attempt to get copies of your identification cards, bank account information, and other information, which can be used to forge bank drafts or commit identity theft. Phishing is a similar scam, in which criminals pretending to be your bank, credit card company, etc., send messages asking you to verify your personal and banking info with them. They ask you to send the information to them for verification, not vice versa. Sometimes they direct you to a Web site where they want you to enter the information. In many cases, the messages look authentic, but you should never give your private information to anyone unless you have directly called the company that requested it.
Fake inheritances, fake photographs, fake this, and fake that—be warned. While the Internet and e-mail have broadened world communication, there are still more than a few sticky wickets to be reckoned with. Next time you log into your e-mail account, take what you find there with a grain of salt.
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Get ’Em While They’re Hot
The holidays are here and with them comes the time for draining your bank account for those necessary gifts. Looking for something fresh and unique to appease your little one, niece or nephew, or grandchild? Mattel has some hot toys—award winning even—that are sure to keep them happy . . . at least until the next popular toy hits the market. Check out these toys for under $100.
TMX Elmo (Mattel, Inc./Fisher-Price)
Specialty: It’s Tickle Me Elmo Extreme! He has three interactive tickle spots: chin, tummy, and toe.
Whoa factor: he laughs and slaps his leg (twice!), falls down into a sitting position, and eventually works his way to a standing position—all while laughing. The more you tickle him, the more animated his response.
Appropriate for: ages 18 months+
Wallet worthy? $35
ESPN Shot Block Basketball (Mattel, Inc./Fisher-Price)
Specialty: This is not the small basketball hoop that used to hang—or droop, depending on how hard you played—from the back of your door years ago. Placed in the same location, this toy has a backboard that extends to nearly the full width of the door and a ball chute to make your rebounds easier.
Whoa factor: There’s no need to invite a friend over for some friendly competition—it provides the competition for you. With its automatic shot-block defense, and each game narrated by Dick Vitale, you can play a good basketball game solo or with a friend by simply lowering the ball chute.
Appropriate for: ages 5+
Wallet Worthy? $80
Kid-Tough Digital Camera (Mattel, Inc./Fisher-Price)
Specialty: It’s an authentic digital camera in kid-friendly format with large dual handgrips, big buttons, and comprehensive controls.
Whoa factor: It has a 1.3" LCD screen and a built-in flash, stores more than 60 pictures, and has an 8 MB built-in memory with 640 × 480 resolution.Appropriate for: ages 3+
Wallet worthy? $70
The toys rated were once samples submitted in various toy tests in which hundreds of children played with them for hours. These were some of the award winning favorites that emerged from those tests. For more award winning toys, go to www.fisher-price.com
Las Posadas Comes to Annapolis
Las Posadas, a Latin American Christmas celebration most closely associated with Mexico, has come to Annapolis with the help of the Hispanic Ministry at St. Mary’s Church, Oficina Guadalupana, and participants from the church’s youth ministry.
In this traditional ritual, a group of children and their parents re-enact Mary and Joseph’s search for posadas, lodging in Spanish. They travel from house to house every night for 9 days before Christmas. They sing Christmas carols and ask for accommodations, to which the home owners respond in song, saying there is no room. Eventually a home owner allows the visitors indoors, where they say a prayer (typically the Rosary) and then celebrate with food and a pińata.
This family-oriented event at St. Mary’s is open to the public. For the schedule and information on how to participate with your children, call the Oficina Guadalupana at (410) 990-4032 from 8 a.m.–noon.
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