By Maggie DiGiovanni
Elmore/Autauga News
Eclectic Christmas is the telling of Christ’s birth. Each person visiting takes a trip through woods, passes angels singing on high, and sees a village near the birthplace. They meet Roman soldiers, hand over taxes to tax collectors, taste foods from Christ’s time and wonder at the Babe in the manger.
Returning to Eclectic after many years away, I heard this experience was a “must see” at Christmas time. The next year I became a volunteer, pulling the scenery back together or feeding hungry workers. Watching the transformation from bare stalls, empty rooms, and an empty village to a place teeming with visitors who were excited at each new space or item they saw more than made the work worthwhile.
Rita Falk’s family had the dream and have worked hard over the years to add a little more each Christmas season. Until the virus hit, they had no problem getting volunteers or materials. So many citizens and merchants in Eclectic wanted to be a part of this great story. Although donations are welcomed, if there are openings in the groups going through, everyone is welcomed to visit.
When the virus shut everything else down, it shut down Eclectic Christmas. This year it is more of a struggle to find the volunteers and materials, but the groups wanting to thrill to the live story of Christ’s birth is strong.
If any readers have time on Saturday, November 13, 2021, 8 a.m.-11a.m, please go to 1733 Claude Road, Eclectic AL 36024, just south of Eclectic on AL Highway 63, or call (334) 578-4846 to find out what you can do to help.
This is a special event Eclectic wants to keep, but to do so, Eclectic Christmas needs helping hands.
