Christmas + Solstice Equals A Singing Cedar (of course)

Earlier I mentioned our home learner's Christmas party/Solstice celebration. I went today with some trepidation about what to expect, knowing that a lot of the Christian home schoolers wouldn't be there (one's name starts with Kathleen). We entered to warm hugs from the organizer of the event, who is just a lovely person, and then proceeded to participate in centerpiece, candle, tree decoration, and ginger bread house making- all the materials were attractive and pleasing to the eye. We came home with some really nice creations. I am here to report that while we were involved in these activities, REAL Christmas carols were being played on CD- a big change from "Away in a Solstice", like last year. The children were than gathered together to figure out who was thumping outside the main door in the hallway. I, being a seasoned citizen of the area, knew that it was probably not Santa, but something more mystical. My daughter confirmed my suspicions when she arrived at my side, with furrowed brow, anxiously whispering, "You are NOT going to be happy about THIS! There is some kind of weird spirit thing out there!" I told her to take a breath and calm down because God is bigger than anything that might enter. Soon a very large, jingling, stomping, cedar tree man entered the room, singing with a booming voice, and dancing something that resembled a Native American dance. He looked massive and very mystical (the costume was beautifully done). J's thumb immediately went in this mouth (he is 4 and never sucks his thumb, so I am not sure why that was his reaction), Little M clutched his legs around my waist and his chubby arms around my neck, and even A and K squished up against me. I can't remember what he called himself, but he was a cedar tree that only comes to life on the winter solstice and was reminding us that the days were now going to get longer and that spring was on its way. This was all done in a booming, theatrical voice that was well done, but overwhelming). Little M wanted to be in the next room, ("Twee, scarwy!")but I still listened carefully and didn't hear anything too out there. Trust me, it could have gotten "out there"- geographically, we were in the heart of New Age territory . Mr Tree belted out a Celtic sounding song about "Christ being born to die" at the end- I was left thinking that the whole performance was a bit weird, but strangely cool. How often do you hear a cedar tree boom out the gospel? After my previous negative post on last year's event, I thought it only fair to report that CHRISTmas was more present this year- oddly, Santa was the guy left out!