Holiday fare: Cider, kissing balls and kielbasa

By Phyllis Lehrer
Staff Writer

Published on December 16, 2005

Food, raffles, crafts and ornaments are the theme at holiday bazaars. But as with any theme there are variations, as seen at this month's flurry of holiday fairs.

Shoppers were treated to complimentary hot spiced cider at the North Amherst Congregational Church. If that didn't help to warm fingers, volunteer Barbara Jenkins offered heated cloth bags to take off the chill. The bags, whicht can be heated in the microwave, were for sale. This year fair-goers could work at craft stations to make ornaments and decorate cookies. One option, creating a small tree from fir branches, was so popular the greens ran out. However, more branches were quickly scooped up from the Boy Scouts tree sale clippings.

The Grace Episcopal Church didn't have a full-blown fair this year. Instead, the St. Nicholas Bazaar offered lunch to shoppers. White bean squash soup with ginger and peasant vegetable were welcome after coming in from the cold. Diners with the Amherst Greeting Card received a 20 percent discount on the lunch that included bread and coleslaw. Children were able to make crafts and fresh wreaths were for sale.

Food was a major draw at the St. Nicholas Fair sponsored by the Holy Spirit Ukrainian Church in South Deerfield. One man scooped up all seven containers of golumpkis (stuffed cabbage) that were displayed. Not to worry: There were more in the refrigerator, while the freezer was bulging with pierogies with potato or sauerkraut fillings. This is the only fair that had kissing balls - round circles of greenery hung from a red ribbon, and cemetery boxes for sale. Straw ornaments and wooden decorations made in the Ukraine were also displayed.

Kielbasa and babka were for sale but only if ordered ahead at the St. Nicholas Fair at Our Lady of Czestochowa Church in Turners Falls. However, a kielbasa grinder was on the lunch menu. It's the only church fair that has a large selection of religious items for sale including rosary beads, books and CDs of hymns. This fair also hosts vendors selling quilts, maple syrup, vitamins and home care products. Polish items were featured including decorated Easter eggs, Polish dolls and bibs.

Decorated wreaths and swags in various sizes and poinsettias were for sale at the annual Artisan Fair at the Amherst College Alumni House that also included water colors, clothing, jewelry, lavender and wooden utensils. Potter Mary Knightly made small ceramic houses that were sold to benefit the Pioneer Valley Chapter of Habitat for Humanity. All were sold netting $1,400 for the agency. In addition, all the vendors donated a portion of sales to Habitat.

The farming season is not quite over as fresh field greens, Brussels sprouts, kale, apples, pears and herbs were available at the Amherst Farmers Market and Craft Fair at the Hampshire College Red Barn. Several of the regular summer vendors were there with bread, honey, house plants, bouquets and decorated gourds.

Phyllis Lehrer can be reached at plehrer@gazettenet.com.