As a poet once famously noted that there are probably not many things in this world to see that are quite as lovely as a tree.
Even if you are not one to decorate a tree during the Christmas season, it’s hard to deny the beauty of a lighted evergreen at night.
Scandinavian and Norse traditions honored the winter solstice by decorating evergreens, especially fir trees, which were known to signify hope, promise and renewal in the midst of the long, dark winter months.
It wasn’t until about the 19th century that Christianity created the bright, cheery symbolism of the Christmas tree.
Bright and cheery is a great way to describe not only its decorated creations, but the general feel of South Whidbey’s annual Festival of Trees Gala and Auction hosted by Big Brothers Big Sisters of Island County.
The event returns to the South End for its fifth year on Saturday, Dec. 5 at Useless Bay Golf & Country Club with doors opening at 5 p.m.
“This is the time that every community member is able to give support to the year-round youth services that Big Brothers Big Sisters provides to youth and families,” said longtime executive director Peggy Dyer.
Dyer is speaking of the services that match young people with caring adults in one-to-one mentoring programs. What better symbol than that of the evergreen to send home Big Brothers Big Sisters messages of hope, promise and renewal in the lives of children in need?
“The Festival of Trees is a wonderful opportunity to support the Big Brothers and Big Sisters program that provides positive experiences to so many in our community,” said BBBS board member Marilee Seligson.
“Individuals and businesses of South Whidbey have donated generously to this event. The silent and live auctions will provide you with an opportunity to bid on items as varied as a mouth-watering pizza, to a luxurious week in Puerto Vallarta,” she added.
The auction will certainly be full of exciting fare to bid on, but the true stars of this event are the wonderfully decorated trees and wreaths, also available to the highest bidders, with their memorable and festive ornaments designed to light up everyone’s holiday season.
Among the piney creations this year will be “The Gingerbread Man Who Lives on Candy Cane Lane,” by Verna Lawsen; “A Very Beary Christmas,” by Karen Edelblute, Helene Chandler and Annie Horton; “Barbie Turns A Nifty 50!” by Kynette Shields; and “A Whidbey Island Holiday Tour,” by Christine Johnson.
More than 150 volunteers help to organize and run the event, and the festival’s proceeds will go directly to support the Big Brothers Big Sisters mission to match children with mentors from the community.
A special part of the evening’s live action includes the fund-a-match auction item presented this year by Big Brother Jim Craft and his “little” brother Trent Petosa, who have been matched for almost five years.
This is Craft’s third Big Brother mentorship, having started doing the program about 10 years ago in Kirkland. It’s been a rewarding experience for Craft.
“I think the thing that means the most is that I’m making a positive difference in Trent’s life, and what it means to him and his mom,” Craft said.
Craft came to Big Brothers Big Sisters because he wanted to do something helpful in the community.
“It seemed like a neat program for kids who come from broken homes.”
Ninth-grader Petosa is a great kid, Craft said, and the two have fun just hanging out. They sometimes do things such as bowling, flying kites, walking on the beach, driving go-carts or visiting museums in Seattle.
“But really the thing we do the most is we go down to the library and play Scrabble or Monopoly,” he said. “Just spending that time together and having the time to talk is, I think, the most valuable time spent.”
The match of Petosa and Craft are just one example out of thousands of why Big Brothers Big Sisters is such a success. The national program has been the leader in one-to-one mentoring for more than 100 years.
On Whidbey Island, the organization has more than 11 years of success in creating positive friendships that benefit children, volunteers, families, schools and the entire community.
With such a positive purpose, it seems fitting that the Festival of Trees is the nonprofit’s signature event.
Just as those who began the traditions of celebrating the winter solstice saw that the evergreen tree was the perfect symbol for all that is hopeful and strong, so Big Brothers Big Sisters finds the same perfect symbol to represent its quest to create the best possible life for children, the future adults of the community.
Tickets are $85 and are available to reserve through Big Brother Big Sisters of Island County at 360-279-0644, or e-mail bbbs@whidbey.net.
The public is welcome to enjoy a tour of the decorated trees before they go home to their new owners at a community open house 1 to 3 p.m. at Useless Bay Golf & Country Club.
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