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Christmas Card Art Submissions from the tip of the Great Northern Peninsula
160 entries from Kindergarten to Grade 6 students from The Straits-White Bay North were submitted for the annual Christmas Card contest. There is amazing artwork that should be publicly displayed and recognized. I encourage you all to take a look at the incredible creativity shown by children ages 5-11 on the tip of the Great Northern Peninsula.
All entries are posted in the Public Art Gallery at 279 West Street, but to make them more accessible we decided to showcase them on-line.
Rural Newfoundland & Labrador has many traditions and talents. It is always nice to stop for a moment and look at life in the lens of a child. These students should be proud of their entries and I encourage them to continue to be involved and hope to reach more schools and student entries. Youth engagement matters!
Merry Christmas,
Christopher Mitchelmore, MHA for The Straits-White Bay North
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Mummer’s Walk A Big Hit at Green Island Cove
Nearly forty mummers braved a -16 temperature with a wind chill that reached -31 to keep the tradition of mummering alive and well with the 4th Annual Mummer’s Walk at the Green Island Cove Lion’s Club.
Mummers came from near and far from communities of Anchor Point, Savage Cove, Flower’s Cove, Green Island Cove, Green Island Brook, St. Lunaire-Griquet and many citizens from surrounding communities visiting the Lion’s Club, such as Sandy Cove, Deadman’s Cove and even from mainland Canada to see what the Mummer’s Walk so all about and enjoy the fun!
The rig-up started shortly after 2 PM and just after 2:30 PM, Sabrina and I started the event noting the original idea of hosting a community event that would bring people together and would encourage more active mummering in rural Newfoundland & Labrador, especially since we remembered large groups of mummers from our childhood.
The first was held in Flowers Cove, followed by Anchor Point and last years was in Savage Cove.
This years event all started with the talented Way Brothers performed a couple of traditional tunes on the guitar and accordion, including the famous Simini tune, “The Mummer’s Song“.
The group broke out into dance on the floor. It was great to see such a crowd turn-out and participate in the Mummer’s Walk and a number of youth watching the festivities. These are the future generations to learn the tradition and pass them on.
Due to high wind we opted to get rides to the head of the Cove and walk back to the Lion’s Club. Some Mummer’s jumped in the pans of trucks and we were off…
The residents, especially seniors were perched at their windows anxiously waiting for the long line of mummers to pass by their homes.
They were people waiting in vehicles, residents waving from windows or door steps, excited to see the large group of mummers. A group this large, likely not seen for decades in the community of Green Island Cove.
The walk was a lot of fun. We would all return to the Green Island Cove Lion’s Club and have hot chocolate, Purity Syrup and Chocolates for a treat. It was a great time to mingle and talk about going mummering tonight or another in Christmas.
So if you hear knocks on your door, please let the friendly mummers into your home and enjoy the tradition that is forever in our hearts and souls, making rural Newfoundland and Labrador that perfect place to celebrate Christmas and the place we call home.
Below is a sampling of some other photos I managed at the event:
A big thank you to all who took the time to dress up and participate, the Green Island Cove Lion’s Club for providing the venue, all the visitors who came to the event and watch, Ryan and Monty for playing a couple of tunes, Loomis for coordinating music, logistics and bringing lots of spirit and to anyone else who helped in any way. I encourage you all to go Mummering this Christmas. I’ll be doing my part to continue to keep the tradition alive.
We’ll keep you all posted on the 5th Annual Mummer’s Walk in the New Year….
Live Rural NL –
Christopher Mitchelmore, MHA The Straits-White Bay NorthRelated articles
- 4th Annual Mummer’s Walk Location and Date Announced (liveruralnl.com)
- Creative Christmas Floats at St. Anthony & St. Lunaire-Griquet Parades (liveruralnl.com)
- A Rural Newfoundland Christmas Tree – Salt Cod Drying on the Line (liveruralnl.com)
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Santa’s Gingerbread House – A New Tradition at the Mitchelmore’s
Traditions become steeped in our culture and are passed on from generation to generation. Sometimes they are long standing, but sometimes they begin and will continue to be passed on to the next generation. Unlike some families that have built homemade gingerbread houses or homes from kits for years, my mom and I started building the basic gingerbread house just a couple of years ago. Here is our house from last year:
We enjoyed building the gingerbread home and spending time together – the teamwork it required to make the icing, holding the gingerbread together and strategically placing the candy. It was decided we would add this to our list of family traditions each time we are together for the holidays.
Here is our finished product this year: Santa’s Gingerbread house, tree, barn and reindeer sleigh.
Although my schedule is extremely busy, one has to make time for family and continue with our traditions. We got up early and this was our first task after breakfast.
Tonight, after a day of activities we will watch my favourite Christmas movie, “It’s a Wonderful Life”.
I’d love to hear about your family traditions. Please post in the comments section if you make gingerbread houses, sing carols, or go mummering. Keep your family traditions alive and pass them on to your children and embrace adopting new ones.
Live Rural NL –
Christopher Mitchelmore, MHA The Straits-White Bay North
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Christopher Mitchelmore, MHA – Christmas Greeting 2013
Christmas Greeting
Broadcast Centre
Christopher Mitchelmore, MHA
The Straits-White Bay North
Christmas time has come again and what a pleasure it is to bring greetings of happiness and good cheer to you, your family, and your friends.
Take time this Christmas to spend with loved ones, rekindle traditions or possibly make new ones; it makes rural Newfoundland and Labrador that unique place we love to call home.
It is the season to give thanks to those around who have inspired you, brought a smile to your face or simply enriched your life with their presence. Together we will continue to enjoy Christmas and the joys it brings long into the New Year.
I extend to you and yours a very Merry Christmas and Cheers to a wonderful 2014!
