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Community Corner

Christmas Traditions & Memories

About The Program: Join Dave Downs, the New England History festival's "Best Exhibitor," as he explores fascinating topics surrounding Christmas.  Why was it against the law to celebrate Christmas during early colonial times?  What year did the first electric Christmas tree lights appear?   Visit the past with Dave as he recounts favorite personal holiday memories.  Remember walking "up town?"  Almost every town had a Five and Dime, a hardware store and a drug store where we could buy almost anything for our siblings and parents wished for!  Lamp posts and store fronts were decorated cheerfully for the season!   Step back in time when Christmas trees cost only $2.00 and we'd sing Christmas carols using the "John Hancock Carol Book."  We'd almost always receive a small box of hard candy, complete with a handy string for a handle, at church or school Christmas parties.  No Christmas program would be complete without music!  Sing along with Dave, as he strums on his ukulele, to celebrate Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer's birthday!

About The Presenter: Dave Downs is a retired school teacher with a master degree in Creative Arts in Education from Lesley College.  After many years of performing as a magician, he turned to developing an array of entertaining and amusing programs for audiences for all ages.  Downs doesn't lecture... he engages in "edu-tainment" at schools, libraries, historical societies, civic groups and senior centers.  He is a member of the Living History Association.

Sponsored by the Friends of the Tewksbury Public Library. 

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