The holidays are a time where families come together, and in Tabernacle and Shamong, though residents may be spread out, they still find ways to come together either as a community or as families.
The Sun reached out to prominent members of the community to ask them how they celebrate the holiday season.
Tabernacle Mayor Stephen Lee IV said the holidays are a time for relaxation for his family. As the Lee family has to work hard on its cranberry farm from early March to November, December is the first time for a sort of “vacation.” Though the family technically works year round, it’s around the holidays they get to put their feet up.
“It is the first time we really get to take some time off and relax, and reflect on the past year,” Lee said.
However, the Lee family stays home during the holidays. They put up two trees, a real and fake one, and decorate them with real cranberries and popcorn. For Christmas, the Lee family goes to mass at Church of the Holy Eucharist in Tabernacle and shares a few presents around the tree.
Lee said he is proud of Tabernacle’s celebratory holiday traditions. The Tabernacle Tree Lighting was early last month featuring music, entertainment, refreshments, Santa and, of course, the lighting of the township tree. The Tabernacle Rescue Squad had its Operation Santa last week, where it rode around town with Santa waving “hello” to residents, and the Tabernacle Fire Company №1 has its Breakfast with Santa.
The Pinelands Branch Library is also getting into the holiday spirit with a number of festive events. A snowman make-n-take craft is all day on Wednesday, Dec. 21 at the library for children of all ages, and holiday wrapping is available for any age on Dec. 22 and 24, with a limit of two per person. The Medford Library Association also helped to decorate the library, even creating a tree made entirely out of books. The staff has also worked hard to make holiday-themed fun story times.
“(Preparing for the holidays) is fun. My staff has always felt a part of the community and everyone enjoys doing it. The friends of the library help with the decorations. This year, they were very creative. I hope you come to see the tree,” Pinelands Library Branch Manager Wei-Jie Cui said.
Cui said she hadn’t celebrated Christmas before coming to America. Originally from China, she said she was not prepared for the cards and the trees, and would always wait until the last minute to set things up. However, as her children grew older, she learned more about the holiday and has now made it a tradition.
Shamong Public Schools Superintendent Christine Vespe said she celebrates the holidays with a large family party. As her husband comes from Italian roots, she does the Feast of the Seven Fishes, and more than 50 people come over to spend time together and eat. Vespe has a tradition of going to see “The Nutcracker” with her best friend, and as her best friend’s daughter is now in the ballet, it makes it even more special. Growing up, Vespe’s mother would collect ornaments, and eventually some of those ornaments were passed on to her. She has started her own tradition with her husband and two sons of putting up a tree and decorating it with the ornaments from her mother.
“My favorite memory as a child was going to bed, and when I woke up on Christmas, the tree would be up and decorated and Santa would come. It’s one of the brightest memories for me as a child growing up,” Vespe said.
Family is big for Tabernacle School District’s Superintendent Glenn Robbins as well, as for the past two years he has gone to Florida to visit his and his wife’s parents.
“Santa comes down to Florida for my 4-year-old,” Robbins said. “We always enjoy being around family, first and foremost, and celebrating the good times we have and appreciating life.”
Robbins said his favorite part of the holidays is watching the kids open presents and play with their toys. He, too, enjoys playing with them.
“Seeing Christmas from the eyes of my 4-year-old son and playing with toys and games, it reminds me of memories that I had (at that age) and being around relatives, not worrying about anything else, but truly enjoying the moment,” Robbins said.
