In rural communities, holiday magic often starts with a big dream, a neighbor’s helping hand, and a bit of duct tape. It’s not Hollywood glamour or extravagant budgets that make the season magical in these small towns; it’s the community spirit, creativity, and effort that go into making something truly special.
Jen Shaw (Christie) captures the essence of this rural holiday magic beautifully in her article, reflecting on how these seasonal traditions create joy and bring people together. Shaw recalls her childhood memories of participating in Santa Claus parades and working with family to build floats, drawing inspiration from stories like “Dave’s Christmas Parade” from Stuart McLean’s Backstage at the Vinyl Cafe.
McLean’s tale of an overly ambitious paper-mâché polar bear is reminiscent of the many homemade, often quirky, floats Shaw’s family created over the years. One year, her dad built a float with plywood reindeer attached to a snowmobile, another time he mounted reindeer on a corn head, making them “fly” with the help of a combine covered in lights. The creativity and enthusiasm were limitless—if a little impractical at times.
These homemade floats aren’t just for show; they become symbols of community, camaraderie, and holiday cheer. Shaw recalls the fun of building floats with neighbors, whether it was constructing candy villages or creating a “Reindeer Bake Off” theme based on the popular Great British Bake Off show. There was even farm equipment decorated with Christmas trees and presents. These floats brought not only joy to those who built them but also to the many spectators lining the parade route, especially in the years following the pandemic, when the importance of community celebrations seemed to resonate even more.
The rural holiday magic is in the simple things. The joy isn’t necessarily in the perfection of the floats but in the process—the time spent with loved ones, the collaboration with neighbors, and the excitement shared with the community. Shaw reflects on how, despite some floats being held together with zip ties and duct tape, the joy they bring to others is far more significant than any professional production.
As Shaw concludes, “Never underestimate how much holiday magic can be created in the simplest of things, even when they’re held together with zip ties and duct tape!” It’s a reminder that the heart of the holidays isn’t about perfection or extravagance but about the moments we share, the smiles we bring to others, and the spirit of community that makes rural holiday celebrations truly magical.
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