An Old-Fashioned Christmas

Locals enjoy holiday cheer at Massena’s Old Fashioned Christmas

Story by Amanda DeLosh
Photos courtesy of Massena Courier Observer and North Country Now

As families hope for a glistening blanket of snow on the quiet but busy streets in the town of Massena, NY, things start to shape up for the night's activities.

The annual Old-Fashioned Christmas that takes place downtown is the place to be to get your holiday spirits ready for the hustle and bustle of Christmas. Young and old alike take to the streets for this event, bundled up for whatever Mother Nature may conjure up.

“Five years into my time I thought this could be a whole lot better.”

Jurkovich had an idea and went for it. “Five years into my time, I thought this could be a whole lot better,” Jurkovich says. She continues, “We started what we called an Old-Fashioned Christmas downtown.”

She explains, “We had a meeting and tried to get all the merchants involved and have input and keep their stores open, offering specials like hot chocolate.”

“It kind of got started with the merchants, and then we got a Santa involved and a couple of other costumes,” Jurkovich says.

There was candy passed out to children, and as Jurkovich says, “Music on the street played on the steps of the town hall along with people who sang, and we did Christmas caroling along one side of the street and the other.”

Back when the event was first getting its legs, there weren’t many decorations involved. Jurkivich says, “We decided we wanted to light more than just the big tree in the park, so we bought new decorations for the lamp posts, like wreaths and candy canes.”

Jurkovich then decided the Old-Fashioned Christmas needed a little more. She found a man in Carthage, NY, who made silhouettes like ballerinas and reindeer. Soon after this a program was started to bring money to decorate.

“Just after Thanksgiving, we would all set up these different silhouettes that we had lit up,” says Jurkovich. All of these decorations can still be seen during Christmas time when driving down main street in Massena.

“It was just a lot of fun and I think people really enjoyed it.”

“We tried a parade at different times. It went okay for a couple years, but that kind of fizzled out. We kind of did different things,” says Jurkovich. The event has been changing through the years, but the Old-Fashioned Christmas is still around. For some families this event is a tradition, and others it is a new one.

One of the things that takes place is horse-drawn wagons going through the town at nightfall as the crowd of downtown Massena starts shaping up for the night's activities. The horses seem bigger than reality, and have bell-necklaces that sound like “jingle bells” as they prance down the street.

Santa, with his white beard and rosy cheeks, still walks cheerfully down the street, as he says, “HO HO HO,” to the children who look in awe of the person they sent their Christmas wish lists to. “Let it snow,” can be heard in hopes for a dusting of snow that will make the town sparkle in the night. The brisk winter night breeze surrounds those laughing and frolicking along the streets.

Seeing how it is usually cold around this time of year, hot chocolate can be found in the nearby restaurants to warm up those frosty souls standing along the streets of downtown Massena. This happens to be something that merchants have continued doing throughout the years of the Old-Fashioned Christmas.

The finale of the night will put everyone in the holiday spirit, as it did when it first started. There is Christmas caroling at the beautifully decorated Andrew Street Park, which still holds those decorations that Jurkovich managed to bring to Massena.

Students from the Massena High School Choir lead the carols, which can be heard throughout the town. The carolers sway and sing while holding candles that light up the faces of the young and old. Back when the event first started, there used to be a live nativity scene, along with a candle lighting ceremony.

Rebecca Davidson, a former student at Massena High School who participated in the choirs, along with leading the carols, says, “I think spreading the Christmas spirit and sharing our enjoyment of the season with the community is just one way we were able to give back.”

Christmas carols are a tradition in the holiday season. People of all ages will have some type of memory of a Christmas activity, whether it is from building a snowman or decorating a tree, but young and old will remember those Christmas songs.

Davidson says, “I think the crowd is mostly made up of family members and local businesses, but the wagon ride that goes through town always stops and they really seem to appreciate it. I think the community loves to see local talent and compassion, especially when they get to sing along.”

While the carols become a background to the annual tree lighting ceremony, which has taken place since the beginning, the words, “Light up that tree!” come from the crowd, and the park instantly lights up.

“There’s no better way to get into the Christmas spirit than seeing the Christmas lights around town and sipping hot cider with friends.”

Still, the Old-Fashioned Christmas doesn’t only consist of singing and Santa Claus. It is also about giving, what the holiday season is all about.

This year, a new event was added. Michael Gleason, the current executive director at the Chamber of Commerce says, “There will be a 5K run and a 1K walk, in association with the event Santa Comes Downtown.” This will also be going along with the Old-Fashioned Christmas.

Families can come enjoy the Old-Fashioned Christmas and also bring along something for those less fortunate to make their holidays brighter and put smiles on their faces. Who knows, maybe Santa Claus will reward you with a little something extra under the tree on Christmas morning.

The holiday season is just around the corner and is a time when families can come together and celebrate. Davidson says, with a smile on her face, “There’s no better way to get into the Christmas spirit than seeing the Christmas lights around town and sipping hot cider with friends.”

“It was just a lot of fun, and I think people really enjoyed it,” Jurkovich says. “Everybody that worked on it had a great time, and that makes the event.”

Will you attend this years Old-Fashioned Christmas?