Not too long ago our country was not the free country it is today. America belonged to England and the Americans had to follow any laws England made for them, not to mention England put heavy taxes on the American colonists. Between the strict laws and ridicules taxes the colonists started to think of revolting. They believed they should be able to make their own laws and govern themselves without obeying England. Finally, they decided to go for independence. A group of men met in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and made a committee that would write a formal document telling England that they had decided to be an independent country. The committee asked Thomas Jefferson to write the first draft of the document declaring their independence. The committee made some changes to the draft, then finally declared their independence July 2, 1776, and finally made it officially theirs on July 4, 1776. We celebrate this important day to today because if it was not for this extremely important document known as the Declaration of Independence we may not be what we are today. So take out your American flag, have a picnic, and join the parade, because this day is a great day to be proud that you are an American!

Heidi Kray

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Happy Saint Patrick’s Day!

Beside leprechauns, four leaf clovers and pots of gold you might not know too much about this cool day. For instance, I bet you didn’t know that Saint Patrick wasn’t his birth name or that he wasn’t even Irish!

The man we call Saint Patrick was born around 373 A.D. in either Scotland or Roman Britain. His actual name was Maewyn Succat. He changed his name to Patrick after he became a priest. When he turned sixteen he was captured by pirates and made a slave in Ireland for six years where he herded sheep. One day he had a vision of an escape route to find a getaway ship. He successfully came to France where he became a priest, and eventually a bishop.

Around his sixties he returned to Ireland to spread Christianity. People liked him a lot especially his personality. H used a shamrock to explain to them the Holy Trinity. One leaf standing for Father, one for Son, and the other for Holy Spirit. Legend has it that he drove all the snakes out of Ireland by beating a drum. No one really knows but supposedly he died on March 17,  493.

The first celebration of St. Patrick’s Day was in Boston Massachusetts, in 1737. Over 100 cities in the U.S. celebrate this fun day by holding fun festivities such as parades and parties the biggest parade being in New York City. Green is associated with this day because it represents the color of spring, Ireland, and the shamrock.

Want to get lucky on this St. Patrick’s Day? Finding a four leaf clover is double the luck it is on any other say, wearing green so you don’t get pinched, and if you plan to visit Ireland you can kiss the Blarney stone. This stone is set in the wall of the famous Blarney Castle tower in Ireland, and the stone is supposed to help you find your true love. I don’t recommend kissing it though because other people have been kissing it for more than 500 years!

         Christmas Cheer

I hope you all had a nice Thanksgiving! I know I sure did. My favorite part of the holidays is being with family and that holiday warmth that comes over the household.

Most people know how Thanksgiving came to be and how the pilgrims and the Indians had a big feast but Christmas is coming and believe it or not some people don’t know where Santa came from! The purpose of Christmas for most people is to celebrate the birth of Jesus but what about Saint Nick who was he?

A long time ago there was a man named Nicholas who was archbishop of Myra which is now part of Turkey. He was born around the turn of the fourth century during the reign of Emperor Diocletain.

He was a very kind person well liked by all. He was listening to some people talk one day and they said that there was a man with three daughters that were so poor the father was planing to send the girls away, where their lives would be better. Nicholas knew this meant they would probably never see each other again and he wanted to help them. One night when everyone was asleep he crept over to the house where they lived and climbed up to their chimney. When he reached the chimney he threw down three huge bags full of gold. The sisters had just happened to wash their only pair of stockings that day and had hung them by the fire to dry. The bags landed into each one of the stockings and when they woke the next morning they found the gold and were overjoyed for they would now be able to stay together in Myra. The story spread all over and people began to put stockings out by the fire in hope to find gold the next morning. From this legend came the custom of hanging stockings by the fire on Christmas Eve.

Many years after his death Nicholas was made a saint. In time he became the patron saint of children. Today the day he died, December 6, is important in places such as Europe and on this day children put out their shoes and find treats in them the next morning. When Dutch settlers came to America they continued to celebrate this feast day. Their word for Saint Nicholas was Sinterklass and when translated into English it came out Santa Claus!

Of course you have also heard of Saint Nick’s elves. Well, one of which happens to be Black Peter his scary helper. Children do not like him because he is in charge of keeping track of who has been naughty and who has been nice! Bad children would get switches for their parents to spank them with, and coal to burn their fingers on. Some very bad kids would be carried away in Black Peter’s bag and only let out when they promised to be good again!

I am glad I have been good this year because I don’t think I would want to be captured by the scary helper! I hope you have a nice Christmas and have enjoyed learning about how Christmas came to be.

-Heidi Kray

editor@thesonoman.com

The Dickens' Fair.  
Held at the Cow Palace usually the last few weeks of November through most of December.

 It was a great experience to travel back in time, see all the create period dress, taste the many wonderful foods and delight in the holiday cheer. 

There was much to see and much to do....So as you are going through your 2001 Calendar, write this one down as a treat in 11&1/2 months.

editor@thesonoman.com

For those of you familiar with Sonora, Dodge Ridge, Strawberry, Pine Crest and Long Barn (route 108 east) it is a very beautiful area.

Not much snow this time, but that seems to be the case all over California now.  We will be headed back soon for a longer period and will bring much more information for our readers.

For now Enjoy, and let us know what you think.

editor@thesonoman.com

Sonora Jail - Historical Landmark

   

Be good kids or else!

Beardsley Lake