home

T

he Spirit of Christmas 2011 in Oriental came after a particularly challenging year. Hurricane Irene flooded town and many are still recovering from the damage to homes and spirit. Still, the village’s Christmas celebration touched on many traditions from past years.

Star with a message. Center of the Oriental Star at Oriental’s Town Dock on Friday night just after being lit.

The Flotilla of boats and lighting of the Oriental Star on Friday night, the open houses at businesses and charity fundraising during the day Saturday, as well as the LIve Nativity, the parade and the lighted luminaria to cap things off.

A handful of boats, including “RiRa” took part in the parade of lighted boats that passed by the Oriental waterfront of South Avenue.

Some more scenes from the 2011 Spirit of Christmas in Oriental.:

At the Oriental Town Dock Friday night, Bob Applegate sets the Oriental Star alight while a small gathering of carolers looked on.

Boats at the Oriental Town Dock and along the harbor were also alight.

A flamingo may or may not be in most manger scenes but one adorned the deck of Bob and Marlene Miller’s sailboat on Oriental’s harbor.

And still more lights were yet to come on Saturday night….

Out in front of Oriental’s Town Hall, one of the four trailers filled with luminarias that volunteers finished assembling on Friday. They would be set out at curbside Saturday morning for the Saturday night lighting. (as seen in the pages ahead….)

[page]

Throughout town on Saturday, businesses laid on the hospitality with Open Houses while non-profit organizations gave food and other items in exchange for a fundraising donation.

On the porch of Nautical Wheelers on Saturday, Sandy Pugh was signing copies of her children’s books.

Toni Leavitt and Chuck Beattie of the Pamlico County Arts Council were selling the Arts Council’s 2012 Calendars.

At the Village Food Emporium Saturday, Couger Caroon was pouring samples of organic coffee amd chai. (To wash down the peppermint brownies.)

Bowls of chili took some of the chill off, in front of the PAWS table at Town Hall.

PAWS volunteer sporting the long-earred dog chapeau while doling out chili.

Santa of Christmas Past. At the Oriental History Museum, the Santa suit worn for years by Larry Walker is on display. Larry passed away in early December of 2010.

At the Heartworks tent at Hodges and South Water, there was a small fire for toasting marshmallows….

.. and fixings for making S’mores.

Jack Frost wasn’t quite nipping at the nose, but there were chestnuts roasting on an open fire at the Rotary Club’s stand in front of the Provision Company.

[page]

As it has other years, the Spirit of Christmas featured a Live Nativity play on the lawn of Oriental’s United Methodist Church.

The live nativity outside Oriental United Methodist Church.

Mary in a more contemplative moment.

The lambs and sheep were restless, and Mary was amused.

New meaning for “sheepish smile.”

Some of the angels and all three kings of Oriental.

[page]

The Spirit of Christmas parade came at 4p (click here for separate story.) Afterward, another Oriental Spirit of Christmas tradition: the luminaria lighting the main streets of town.

Luminaria along the Oriental waterfront as the sun set Saturday night.

Both sides now. A lighted runway on South Avenue looking toward South Park.

Luminarias get an assist from an oncoming car’s headlights on the Oriental waterfront.

South Avenue Flameout. There are always a few luminaria whose outer white paper shell catches fire. Though not depicted here, it was observed that when the candle inside the now aflame bag fell, it was burning at both ends.

A lighted bag in of the Christmas lights on Gay and Miller Jordan’s porch at Hodges and Academy.

Posted Thursday December 15, 2011 by Melinda Penkava