Small Town Traditions
Unique Small Town Traditions
I tell people that have never visited Oregon, MO, that it’s a lot like Whoville when it gets close to Christmas. The minute you step out of your house, there is Christmas music in the air. And it’s not your neighbor singing. An event called Christmas Around The Square takes place every year on the first Thursday in December. Christmas music begins playing from a speaker at the top of the water tower. Then, you can hear music every day through Christmas. The water tower sits on the square, right in the middle of town. And sound travels a good distance here because our little town doesn’t have the hustle and bustle of a big city.
Both Christmas Around The Square and the Christmas music have become traditions that I look forward to every year. I will tell you more about Christmas Around the Square in a later blog post. It is amazing. But, there are many traditions here, big and small. Traditions are both new and old, with some repeated for decades.
Traditions Done In Secret
One tradition though, is executed under the cloak of darkness in the middle of the night. Leading up to the event, the local stores will sell unusual amounts of Charmin and Cottonelle. Then, teenagers gather together and wait until evening to fulfill this annual tradition. They are ready for the ultimate night of the age old tradition of TP-ing.
Some time later in the evening, you might hear more cars out than usual, some chatter, and some giggling. This tradition does not require professionals. If these teens are trying for stealth mode, it is not successful.
In the morning, my elementary aged girls stare in amazement when they walk out the door . Toilet paper hangs prominently in the trees. But it also hangs from houses, cars and any other reasonable target. Handwritten messages on car and house windows encourage athletes to “Play hard!” and “Go, Fight, Win!”. We are lucky enough to have a football player next door, so we don’t have to go far to see the white streaks flying in the wind.
On our way to school, we see more trees and cars covered in toilet paper. We also drive through the square and see business storefront windows decorated. The same encouraging messages, along with player #s are there on the windows. It is so fun to see the town decorated for the pep rally that afternoon and then the football game that evening.
A few pictures from Washington St on the square.
Although it is messy, the TP tradition is welcome (mostly) in our small town. And if it helps the football team win the big game then so be it! And this year, we did win the big homecoming game!
Tell Me About Your Small Town Traditions.
I would love to hear some of the favorite traditions in your town? Do you have events or special dinners? Any rituals you go through before the big game? Let me know in the comments!
The Word
Psalm 118:24. (KJV) “This is the day which the Lord hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it.” Psalm 118:24 (KJV) “This is the day which the Lord hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it.”
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