Christmas Festivities Lismore style 2023
The annual Christmas craft fair on Saturday 9th. set the celebrations going and it was the first opportunity to shop locally for the many gifts Lismore produces. We scarcely need to go off the island for Christmas shopping..
On 14 December Lismore Primary treated us to their School Nativity in the hall with hot drinks and cakes served afterwards. .
The following evening ,Friday 15th, Sarah and Dan at Lismore Cafe hosted their Christmas dinner now an annual, much looked forward to event. An innovation this year was their cafe gift card. that can be loaded with any amount (multiple of 10s) and they send them out to your recipient which is free on Lismore, or , off Lismore, with a 1st or 2nd class stamp and a custom message and envelope.
Lismore Voices, conducted by Sarah Campbell, performed winter songs from al around the world in the hall the following evening after which the Lismore Band led by Mairi Campbell played for a dance. For those less inclined to dance there were games’ tables set up. (not gaming tables).
. This year the Lismore Parish Church held a Christmas Tree Festival from 16 – 18th with all trees lit up again on the 24th for the service at 12-30pm then again during the service at 11-30pm for the Watch night service. and finally for the Hogmanay service on the 31st Dec at 12-30 pm. To celebrate the Christmas Tree Festival everyone was invited to the Christingle Service at 12.30pm on Sunday 17th December and afterwards to mulled wine, hot chocolate & home baking in the Church
On that same day the Lismore Band, performed for guests.and visitors in the Pierhouse in Port Appin.
Wrapped around all this celebrating was the island christmas card, a tradition Ina MacColl and Beth Campbell started in the mid nineteen nineties. Before that the scout troop used to sort and distribute the hundreds of cards islanders sent one another. A labour and tree saving idea that deserves a place in the record books!
The New Year dance on 2 January celebrated the arrival of 2024.