Christmas Treasures

221 Pages·2008·3.82 MB·English

by  Lisa Ivany

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Lisa Ivany and RobertH unt
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St JOHII'S
2008
Library and Archives Canada Cataloguing in Publication
lvany, Lisa J., 1965-
Christmas ffeasures : Newfoundland stories and Christmas
recipes / Lisa Ivany and Robert Hunt.
ISBN 978-I -897317- 33-4
1. Christmas stories, Canadian (English)--Newfoundland and
Labrador. 2. Christmas cookery--Newioundland and Labrador.
I. Hunt. Robert J.. 1949- II. Title.
GT4987.15.183250 08 C813'.0108334 c2008-906463-1
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@ 2008 by Lisa Ivany and Roberl Hunt [,
All nrcHrs RESERVEDN.o part of the work covered by the copyright hereon
may be reproduced or used in any form or by any means-graphic, electronic
or mechanical-without the written permission of the publisher. Any request
for photocopying, recording, taping or information storage and retrieval sys- i
tems of any part of this book shall be directed to Access Copyright, The "l
Canadian Copyright Licensing Agency, 1 Yonge Street, Suite 800, Toronto, ON
M5E lE5. This appliest o classroomu se as well.
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We acknowLedgteh e financiat support of the Governmento f Canadat hrough the Book ^,[
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throughout Canada; the Governmento f NeMoundtanda nd Labrador, Department of
Tourism,C ulturea nd Recreation.
Dedication
I'd like to dedicatet his book to the memory of my two beloved
grandmothersO. ne of the storiesi n this book, "YoungS amaritan,"
was written using my maternal grandmother'sn ame, Muriel
Collins.I was lookingf orward to havingh er read it on publication,
but she passeda way on February 18,2007. Although she was
ninety-two,h er death was quite unexpecteda nd we all miss her
very much. Shew as an ambassadoor f goodwill,t ouchingt he lives
of everyones he knew with kindnessa nd love.
My paternalg randmothe6S arahI vany,i nspireda nothers tory
in this book, called" ForgottenM emories."S hew as diagnosedw ith
Alzheimer'sd isease,a nd for the last seveny ears of her life, her
mind was stolenf rom us by this dreadedi llness.O n June 9,2OOI,
at the age of eighty-eight,h er body was taken as well. Even
though her memory was never restored,s he left her family with
precious memories of the wonderful woman she was and the
laughter and love she brought to our hearts.
Lisa J. Ivany
I dedicatet his book to my children, Stephena nd Heather,w ho
haveb eeng reat supporterso f my writing. I hope this collectiono f
storiesb rings them as much comfort and enjoymenta s the first
two publications.M ay they be enlightened,n ot only by the huppy
plots,b ut alsob y the themesl acedw ith the sadnesso f growing up
in this world, and appreciatet heir own lives a little more.
RobertJ . Hunt
Contents
Section I
NoAH'sS oNcb yRobertHunt .................1..
A PeRer,rslrcN'sr cHrruARbEy Lisalvany .......... ............8
BlnssM r, FaTHBbRy RoberHt unt .......... .......,..,,.....2.2.
CHRISTI\4ATSR I\|LA:W ho is SantaC laus?. ................3..1
TuRoucsrH EE vBso r Lovsb yL isalvany. ......... ........3. 3
A MrnecleB epoRCnu prsrvrebsv R oberHt unf ................... ..........4..7
CHRISTMATSR IVIA:L egendsa nd Myths. ....,...........6..5.
ICeruAruosrToucHYoubyRobertHunt ..................67
FoRcorrelM nNrozubsvs L isal vanv. ......... ..............7..5
Tprry BrenL aw by RoberHt unt ..........9. 0
Lucrv'sD rscovEbnyy LisaI vany. ......... ,................9..7..
CHRISTMAST RMIA: Different Ways
to Say" MerryC hristmas" .....1 11
DeRrcvsbsysR obertHunt............... .....1 13
CHRISTIVIATSR MIA: ChristmasT raditions. ..............1. 1 9
YouxcS ennRrrebuy Lkal vany. ......... ................7..2..7
PoonB nrb yR obertHunt.......... .........I25
THnL prrrRb y LisaI vany. ......... .........1. 38
CHRISTMASTR I\|LAL: egendsa nd Myths. ...............1.4. 3
Kennebxy R oberHt unt. ......... ...........1..4 5
DnRrHC nNyoCNo vsn-ubpy LisaI vany. ......... ,........1. 51
Tru GHosor pC sRrsrrvreRsbovb erHt unt. ..........................1..5..6....
CHRISTMAST RIVIA:C hristmasT raditions. ..............7. 62
UurxpncrmG mrb y Lisolvany ............764
CHRISTMATSR IVIA:L egendsa nd Myths. ...............7.7. 2
Section II
CHRISTMARSE CIPES ..........775
Acknowledgements
Lisa sendst hanks to Annette and Ira Crummeyf or their invaluable
technical and software expertise. It was instrumental in the
printing of this book.
Also,t o DeanP elleya, paramedica t the JamesP atonM emorial
Hospital,f or proofreading'A Paramedic'sN ightmare."Y our com-
ments,d emonstrationsa, nd instructionsw ere most helpful.
Robertw ould like to thank JaniceB rien, SteveW hite, Brian
Kennedy, Beulah Parsons-Paddle,G lenys Vivian, and Katie
McCormackf or their generousf eedbacko n the stories.
Both authors extend their gratitude to all the Flanker Press
staff for the preparation and publication of this book.
Finally, but certainly not least, Lisa and Robert send a big
thank you to the readersw ho have enjoyed their previous stories,
and they hope you like the newest ones in Chrktmas Treasures.
This book containsf ictional stories,s omei nspired
'Where
by true events. necessaryn ameso f people
and placesh aveb eenc hangedt o protectt he iden-
tities of those involved.
Noah'sS ong
by Robert Hunt
Begun in 1855, St. Patrick'sC hurch on PatrickS treeti n St.
John'si s a beautiful Gothic church. It took many yearsa nd
hundredso f men working many hours to bring it to life, and
the church stood majesticallye, speciallyw hen comparedt o
other churchesb uilt in its day.I n 1864, nine yearsa fter the
cornerstonew as laid, work officially begano n the structure.
The foundation was constructed of stone taken from
Cudahy'sQ uarry in the SouthsideH ills. Unforeseenp rob-
lems prevented work on the project from advancing for
anotherd ecade.A dditional stonew as donatedi n 1875, and
constructionb egan once more. After more than two and a
half decades,S t. Patrick'sC hurch was finally dedicatedo n
August 28, 1881. It was the beginning of a new religious
era.
The church stood regal and proud, waiting for the first
voices of praise to be sung to God by its choirs. Many
notable voices sang praisest o the heavens,b ut it was not
until the bell tower was installedi n 1912, and the voice of
one Noah Cordonr esonatedi nside the church'sw alls. did it
, 2 / LISAI VANYa nd ROBERTH UNT
officially becomea truly memorablep lace of worship and
song.T he first time he sangt here,N oah was only seventeen
yearso ld.
I can remembert he story being passedd own, from my
grandfather to my father, about the remarkablev oice of
Noah Cordon.I t was saidt hat his voice was given to him by
the angels,a nd that no one elsec ould singt he way he could.
His voice could make the stained glass in the church
tremble.W hen he sang,i t was as if God Himselfh ad thrown
a blanket over the whole congregationa nd silenced the
people, awed at this wonderful tenor. Noah and his voice
were in demand all over St. John's. His fame progressed,
and he was soon consideredt he voice of heaveni tself.
The story goest hat while Sundayc hurch servicew as in
progressa t Christmasin 7972,N oah simply walked into the
church off the street and started singing along with the
choir. His voice was so beautiful and carried so magnifi-
cently that completes ilencer eigneda sh e sang;p eoplew ere
hypnotizedb y his voice. No one seemedt o know where he
had come from or where he lived. He would just show up
each week at Sunday service, and his melancholy voice
could be heard resonatingi nside the church as peoplem ar-
velled at this beautiful apparition sent by God. Then, as
quickly as he had come there, he would leave, before
anyonec ould questionh im. Rumourso f Noah and his voice
went around town. None of the congregationsh ad ever
heard such a beautiful voice as his. People from other
parishess tarted going to St. Patrick'sC hurchj ust to hear
him sing.
For two yearsp eoples peculateda bout his origin. Word