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The Joys of Christmas Past:
Victorian Christmas in Historic Jacksonville, Oregon
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Spirit of Christmas Past Preservied in Historic
Landmark Town
If you have ever felt the need to experience Christmas as
our grandparents or great-
grandparents experienced it, to escape the commercialism and feel the community of
Christmas, then a visit to historic Jacksonville, Oregon should be high on your list.
Every year the townspeople and merchants host an event which uses the historic
landmark town's streets, shops and homes as a set for a month-long celebration of
the
Spirit of Christmas.
" This is our opportunity to present something special to children from everywhere,"
says
Terri Gieg, producer of the event. "We want to share the close connection with
the past
that we feel in our town. And we feel that the true spirit of Christmas is the best
thing we
can give to today's children."
The event which begins on Friday, December 5 with a parade led by Father Christmas,
a
community tree lighting and special events every weekend, continues through December
24. The town's historic buildings are dressed up in cedar boughs and red ribbons,
all
outlined with white lights. You can meet a genuine Father Christmas, eat roasted
chestnuts, take a ride through town in a horse-drawn wagon, sing with the carolers,
get
the latest news from the town crier. Every weekend there are live Christmas performances
and most merchants are dressed in Victorian costume.
And it's all free, even the chestnuts. "It is our way to give back something
to everyone who
makes the world such a wonderful place, especially the children at this time of year,"
says
Terri.
Jacksonville is located in Southern Oregon, just off Interstate 5 near Medford, Oregon.
The town is one of 8 national landmark towns, a beautifully preserved 19 Century
western
mining and market town. The buildings are so authentic and everyone's so nice, you'll
feel you've magically been transported back in time.
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