Santa Day in Rolette, North Dakota

December 6th will be Santa Day here in Rolette.  Nobody around here is exactly sure how it got started, but I have a suspicion that since it is on the Feast of Saint Nicholas, and since most of the people around here are of Northern European and Scandinavian heritage, I'm willing to bet the Norwegian custom of celebrating the arrival of Sinterklas on or near the feast of Saint Nicholas has something to do with it.  Last year Santa Day was on December 7th, which is also Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day, so it didn't feel so festive.  This year Anna and I have a vested interest!  We have joined a little community band that will be playing Christmas Carols for the festival.  We will play to get the crowd excited before Santa arrives, and we will play "Santa Claus is Coming to Town" as Santa comes on the scene.  It should be great fun.  Along with playing in the band Anna has arranged to rent a table to sell Fair Trade chocolate and coffee, and will share her table with a local horticulturist who will be selling Christmas centerpieces.  All in all this is shaping up to be a much better Santa Day than last year.  Maybe after it is over I will post some pictures so you can see how we did.  Until then enjoy the thoughts of Thanksgiving and Advent as you celebrate with your family and friends.  God bless you all.  Don