AUBURN - Outside the air was chilly and the trees were bare, but few signs of Christmas could be found. But the Holy Family Gymnasium was alive with Christmas spirit.
The Tyburn Academy of Mary Immaculate held a Christmas bazaar Saturday to raise money for the school, to celebrate the unity among the school's families and to spread a message about their values.
“A lot of bazaars have gone to holiday bazaars - they don't want to be offensive, they take the Christ out of Christmas,” said Lisa Blackman, who co-chaired the event. “We want to bring back the spirit of Christmas.”
It was, without question, a Christmas bazaar. Tables along one side of the gym were covered with rosaries, prayer books and advent wreaths.
In a regal chair sat St. Nicholas, who was leaner than the stereotypical Santa, held a shepherd's staff and wore a stiff, pointed hat, rather than Santa's usual floppy pompommed headgear. A harp quintet plucked traditional Christmas songs.
The Tiffany Harp Ensemble, a group of about 13, can play any kind of music, said harpist Sheron DeSantis. But Saturday, they agreed to volunteer at the Tyburn bazaar because the school allows them to rehearse there for free.
“It was just a fun thing to come and do,” DeSantis said.
The harpists performed on stage, near the hay bale and two-dimensional donkey that would be used in the silent, live nativity Tyburn students had prepared for the event.
Most of the artists who had brought their crafts to sell at the bazaar were community members unaffiliated with the school.
But parents had been working hard to prepare raffle baskets, baked goods and hot food to sell.
Linda Schwab, a chemistry teacher at Tyburn, set up a booth of hand-spun yarn and wool Christmas tree ornaments.
In front of her wares, Schwab had taped to her table a photograph of a sheep, Punkin, that was captioned “The lamb who came to school.”
She had brought the photo so students who attended the bazaar could see how much Punkin had grown since his visit to Tyburn.
“It's very much a family atmosphere,” Schwab said. “And that's something that's extremely valuable.”
Staff writer Sarah Gantz can be reached at 253-5311 ext. 237 or sarah.gantz@lee.net
“A lot of bazaars have gone to holiday bazaars - they don't want to be offensive, they take the Christ out of Christmas,” said Lisa Blackman, who co-chaired the event. “We want to bring back the spirit of Christmas.”
It was, without question, a Christmas bazaar. Tables along one side of the gym were covered with rosaries, prayer books and advent wreaths.
In a regal chair sat St. Nicholas, who was leaner than the stereotypical Santa, held a shepherd's staff and wore a stiff, pointed hat, rather than Santa's usual floppy pompommed headgear. A harp quintet plucked traditional Christmas songs.
The Tiffany Harp Ensemble, a group of about 13, can play any kind of music, said harpist Sheron DeSantis. But Saturday, they agreed to volunteer at the Tyburn bazaar because the school allows them to rehearse there for free.
“It was just a fun thing to come and do,” DeSantis said.
The harpists performed on stage, near the hay bale and two-dimensional donkey that would be used in the silent, live nativity Tyburn students had prepared for the event.
Most of the artists who had brought their crafts to sell at the bazaar were community members unaffiliated with the school.
But parents had been working hard to prepare raffle baskets, baked goods and hot food to sell.
Linda Schwab, a chemistry teacher at Tyburn, set up a booth of hand-spun yarn and wool Christmas tree ornaments.
In front of her wares, Schwab had taped to her table a photograph of a sheep, Punkin, that was captioned “The lamb who came to school.”
She had brought the photo so students who attended the bazaar could see how much Punkin had grown since his visit to Tyburn.
“It's very much a family atmosphere,” Schwab said. “And that's something that's extremely valuable.”
Staff writer Sarah Gantz can be reached at 253-5311 ext. 237 or sarah.gantz@lee.net
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stick wrote on Nov 23, 2009 7:44 AM: