Holidays

Wishing You All the Joys of the Season

When eight-year-old Virginia O'Hanlon wrote a letter to the editor of New York's SUN newspaper, the quick response was printed as an unsigned editorial on September 21, 1897. The work of veteran newsman Francis Pharcellus Church has since become history's most reprinted newspaper editorial, appearing in part or whole in dozens of languages in books, movies, and other editorials, as well as on posters and stamps.

DEAR EDITOR: I am 8 years old. Some of my little friends say there is no Santa Claus. Papa says, 'If you see it in THE SUN it's so.'   Please tell me the truth; is there a Santa Claus?

VIRGINIA O'HANLON
115 WEST NINETY-FIFTH STREET

***** 

VIRGINIA, your little friends are wrong. They have been affected by the skepticism of a skeptical age. They do not believe except they see. They think that nothing can be which is not comprehensible by their little minds. All minds, Virginia, whether they be men's or children's, are little.

In this great universe of ours, man is a mere insect, an ant, in his intellect, as compared with the boundless world about him, as measured by the intelligence capable of grasping the whole of truth and knowledge.

Yes, VIRGINIA, there is a Santa Claus. He exists as certainly as love and generosity and devotion exist, and you know that they abound and give to your life its highest beauty and joy. Alas! how dreary would be the world if there were no Santa Claus.

Not believe in Santa Claus! You might as well not believe in fairies! You might get your papa to hire men to watch in all the chimneys on Christmas Eve to catch Santa Claus, but even if they did not see Santa Claus coming down, what would that prove? Nobody sees Santa Claus, but that is no sign that there is no Santa Claus. The most real things in the world are those that neither children nor men can see. Did you ever see fairies dancing on the lawn? Of course not, but that's no proof that they are not there. Nobody can conceive or imagine all the wonders there are unseen and unseeable in the world.

You may tear apart the baby's rattle and see what makes the noise inside, but there is a veil covering the unseen world which not the strongest man, nor even the united strength of all the strongest men that ever lived, could tear apart. Only faith, fancy, poetry, love, romance, can push aside that curtain and view and picture the supernal beauty and glory beyond. Is it all real? Ah, VIRGINIA, in all this world there is nothing else real and abiding.

No Santa Claus! Thank God! he lives, and he lives forever. A thousand years from now, Virginia, nay, ten times ten thousand years from now, he will continue to make glad the heart of childhood.

Decorate Safely This Holiday Season

Delta Media Group

Decorating for the holidays is one of the fun perks of being a homeowner, because your whole property becomes a blank canvas. Decorating is a great opportunity to get in the spirit of the season, show off your sense of style, and get your kids (even more) excited for the holidays. No matter how you choose to decorate your home this holiday season, just remember that it's also important to keep home safety in mind as you deck the halls. We've put together 5 decorating tips to help keep your home safe, without cramping your holiday decorating style.

1. Check It Twice – Holiday lights are among the most popular decorations, and for good reason! They're bright, beautiful, and can transform the look of your entire property. Before you start stringing up those lights, however, be sure to check for any signs of wear. If there are broken lights or exposed wires, it's time to purchase some new outdoor holiday lights. Remember that outdoor lights are exposed to the elements, so even minimal signs of wear can pose a risk.  Bonus Tip: If you're in the market for new lights, try LED lighting rather than incandescent bulbs. LED lights are more energy efficient, burn cooler than incandescent bulbs, and come in just about any color you can imagine.

2. Don't Overload Outlets – Overloading a single outlet is a fire risk, even if you're plugging in new, energy efficient decorations. Avoiding tangled wires is also good for holiday decorating safety, and it's easier to do when you use multiple outlets. Always plug decorations into outlets with Ground Fault Circuit Interrupters, which are designed to shut down the circuit automatically if certain signs of electrical danger are detected.

3. Indoor/Outdoor – That giant, inflatable Santa Claus won't fit in your living room, so it's probably a safe bet that he can be used outside. But not every decoration makes the distinction so clear. For any decorations that rely on electricity, always check whether they're rated for outdoor use before you plug them in outside. This is a great step to take care of while you're shopping for decorations, as the necessary info should be available right on the packaging.

4. Rooftop and Ladder Safety – For many homeowners, the holiday season is one of the few times each year when we take our ladders out of long-term storage and venture onto our rooftops. Stay safe by taking your time, having a plan, and wearing sturdy boots (or sneakers) with strong treads. If you do plan on climbing on your roof or using a ladder to decorate, never do so alone. Make sure there's someone on the ground to "spot" you and aid if you run into trouble.

5. Clean Gutters – Since you're likely to be spending time up there anyway, it's a great idea to clean your gutters before stringing up any holiday lights. Dried leaves and plant matter in gutters can serve as kindling when a faulty wire leaks electricity. As a bonus, keeping your gutters clean is a great way to lower your risk of water-related roof damage throughout the year.

The biggest thing to remember for holiday decorating home safety is that electricity can be dangerous, especially if you're using older decorations. Check any decorations for signs of wear before putting them up, make sure that any decorations you wish to use outside are rated for outdoor use, and keep your gutters clean to reduce fire risk. And of course, don't forget to have fun!

'Tis the season for family gatherings, gifts, and sparkling lights. As you plan your holiday celebrations this year, consider putting one or more community events on your schedule. Spokane has a lot to offer around the holidays. Here are some of the top celebrations our real estate agents recommend attending to get into the festive spirit.

• The Bing Crosby Holiday Film Festival: 901 W. Sprague Ave., Spokane, WA 99210
  Hosted at The Bing Crosby Theater, the Bing Crosby Holiday Film Festival is scheduled for December 10th - 11th this year. The two-day festival is a chance to see some of Bing's biggest holiday movies, including the classic White Christmas. Bing Crosby's nephew, Howard Crosby, will also take the stage for a live performance.
  
  Tickets for the show will be for sale on the Bing Crosby Theater's website. Profits will go to benefit the Bing Crosby Advocates, a charity dedicated to preserving Crosby's legacy and spreading holiday cheer.
  
  
• Christmas Tree Elegance: 818 W. Riverside Ave. Mezzanine, Spokane, WA 99210
  Christmas Tree Elegance is a 13-day holiday celebration during which you can admire stunning, decorated holiday trees. There will also be a chance to meet Father Christmas, plus public raffle drawings each day. This year, the event lasts from November 29th - December 11th and will be held at the Historic Davenport Hotel.
  
  There's no charge for admission to Christmas Tree Elegance. Raffle tickets will be sold for $1 each, with proceeds benefiting the Spokane Symphony Associates. 
  
  
• Pops 3: Holiday Pops: 1001 West Sprague Ave., Spokane, WA 99210
  If you've been wanting to see the Spokane Symphony in concert, this is your chance. On December 17th and 18th, they'll take the stage for their annual Holiday Pops concert at the Martin Woldson Theater at The Fox. Listen to popular holiday music performed in a whole new way.
  
  This festive performance will include a few numbers by the Spokane Area Youth Choir. The audience will even be invited to participate in popular carols. Single and multi-day tickets are available on the Spokane Symphony website. 
  
  
• Northwest Winterfest: 404 N. Havana St., Spokane Valley, WA 99202
  Northwest Winterfest is an annual celebration held at the Spokane Fair & Expo Center. It's open every Friday - Sunday from December 2nd - January 1st. Visitors can walk through the stunning displays, admire hand-painted trees, and enjoy seasonal food from local vendors. Several displays also show how different cultures around the world celebrate the holidays.
  
  Northwest Winterfest offers something for the whole family. Admission is $19.99 for adults and $11.99 for kids. Or, you can buy a Family Pack of tickets for just $49.99.
  
  
• Christmas Movie Trivia Night: 315 W. Sprague Ave., Spokane, WA 99201
  How much do you know about your favorite Christmas movies? Christmas Movie Trivia Night is your chance to find out. This trivia competition is being held at Spokane Comedy Club. It starts at 7:00 pm on December 20th.
  
  The trivia night will include five rounds of questions about Christmas movies, old and new. While costumes are not required, it could be fun to dress up in your Santa hat or ugly sweater for the occasion. Register on the Spokane Comedy Club website so they know how many participants to expect.

This holiday season, take a break from looking at Spokane homes for sale and attend one or more of these fun events. There truly is something for the whole family. Contact us if you need any help with your house search. Our friendly and knowledgeable agents will be happy to answer your questions along the way.

Test Your Valentine's Day Knowledge

Happy Valentine's Day to you and yours!  Today is the day for love and romance, heart-shaped chocolates and candlelit dinners.

What do you really know about Valentine's Day? Here are some fun trivia questions to test your knowledge.

1. When was the oldest-known Valentine's Day message written, and from where? 
2. When was February 14^th first declared as Valentine's Day? 
3. Who invented the first Valentine's Day candy box? 
4. What is the average number of marriage proposals on Valentine's Day each year? 
5. How much on average is spent on chocolate in America for Valentine's Day each year? 
6. How many roses are sold on Valentine's Day each year? 
7. How many Valentine's Day greeting cards are purchased in the U.S. each year? 
8. How many people typically purchase Valentines for their pets? 
9. If you send a snarky insult on Valentine's Day, what kind of "greeting" are you sending?
10. What year were the popular "conversation Sweethearts" not available?

Ready for the answers?

1. The oldest-known Valentine was in 1415, sent by Charles, Duke of Orleans, to his wife from the Tower of London where he was imprisoned. 
2. Valentine's Day was declared an official holiday in 1537 by King Henry VIII. 
3. English entrepreneur and chocolate-maker Richard Cadbury created the first heart-shaped box of chocolates. 
4. 220,000 
5. It is estimated that over $1 billion is spent in the U.S. each year for Valentine's Day. 
6. 189 million 
7. Approximately 1 billion 
8. 9 million 
9. Insulting Valentine's messages are known as "Vinegar Valentines."
10. The ever-popular "Conversation Hearts" were unavailable in 2019 after their manufacturer Necco declared bankruptcy in 2018. Thankfully, the Spangler Candy Company purchased the rights, and the candies returned in 2020.

How'd you do? 

Whether you are celebrating with your beau, your best friends, your pets, or your neighbors, we wish you a day full of love!