Tag Archives: trees

Embodying the Spirit of St. Nicholas

03 Thursday Dec 2020

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2020 has, of course, been a year unlike any other. Previously, it had become difficult keeping track of time. We often found ourselves asking, “Is it March or August?” But now that the month of December has arrived, there is no doubt that the holiday season is upon us.

Although there is no snow on the ground, cities, have begun hanging festive lights, decorated trees have started appearing in picture windows and digital sales have taken over our newsfeeds. It has become incredibly clear that Christmas is not far ahead, but before we get to December 25, we have a few other special events to celebrate – including St. Nicholas Day, happening on Tuesday, December 6.

St. Nicholas Day is a common holiday in Europe, but, sadly, not as well known here in America, so it should come as no surprise that many of us use the names, Santa Claus and St. Nicholas interchangeably. But the truth is that these two characters have a lot of key differences between them.

Aside from the fact that St. Nicholas was an actual person who lived in the 4th Century, he also gave simple gifts to those in need. After losing his parents at a young age, he used his extensive inheritance to help the less fortunate. His signature act was leaving gold coins in people’s shoes around the city. According to legend, he encouraged practicing compassion every day and actually became the model for Santa Claus himself.

On Monday night (or really anytime in December,) consider surprising your loved one by filling his or her stocking with small, unique gifts. Stocking stuffers can include ideas like artisan soaps, candy, jewelry, toys, memo notepads, keychains and more. For an extra special surprise, you can also provide a donation to their favorite charity made in their honor.

By choosing to make a gift to Lions Pride, you can help us work to continue improving the lives of people all around Wisconsin. Your gift will help to preserve, protect and provide for Lions Camp and all other WLF statewide projects – including eyeglass recycling, adult and children’s vision screening, diabetes education and more. If there is a project that is especially important to you or your loved one, simply designate the gift, and you can rest assured knowing that you’re helping the cause. Print the certificate and add it to a stocking for an inspiring gift that also gives back.

Together, we can all embody the spirit of St. Nicholas by remembering to include compassion and charity in our daily lives. Remember, it truly is the reason behind the season.

Happy Holidays from Lions Pride!

2020 Fall Foliage Report

24 Thursday Sep 2020

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The local meteorologist may be tricking us into thinking summer is back again, but there’s no question that fall has officially arrived. Parents and children are starting to find their back-to-school routines, assorted pumpkins are being placed on front porches, seasonal flavors have returned to coffee shops and, of course, the greatest indicator of them are the changing fall colors.

If you would consider yourself an autumn enthusiast, you’re likely visited Travel Wisconsin’s Fall Color Report. If not, there’s no better time to become familiar with an outstanding state resource.

Each year, the Wisconsin Department of Tourism provides the latest updates for finding the best fall colors. Regardless of your mode of transportation (hiking, biking or riding), you have the opportunity to see all of the changing leaves that your heart desires.

According to the latest report, counties around the state appear to be evenly split between beginning and moderate peak colors. Expectations show that northern counties will reach their peak in the first or second week of October, while southern counties will follow in the second or third week of the month. If you’ve been longing for a road trip, now is the time to start planning – with as much or as little effort as you’d like!

Travel Wisconsin put together a guide for 11 scenic drives to take advantage of when the leaves are turning. We were excited to see that one drive is not far from the Wisconsin Lions Camp. Did you know that three of the state’s highest points are right here in Central Wisconsin? Take in the fall foliage from a different perspective by driving along the Hilltop Tour.

If you don’t consider yourself to be a follower, you can always come up with a fall foliage trip of your own. Our state is chock-full of scenic highways and rustic roads, so we are confident that finding a unique journey shouldn’t be a trying task.

Fall is one of the most beautiful times of the year in Wisconsin. Don’t forget to open your eyes and take all of the beauty in. From all of us here at Lions Pride, enjoy your seasonably warm fall weekend!

National Ugly Sweater Day

19 Thursday Dec 2019

Posted by in Holidays, News, Special Events

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dachshund dog wearing a red sweater

Photo by Dominika Roseclay on Pexels.com

When you think about the holiday season, what comes to your mind? You might imagine twinkling lights, blankets of snow, lush evergreen trees, stacks of beautifully wrapped presents… or maybe obnoxious, ugly sweaters!

We can’t be the only ones who have noticed this unofficial holiday become part of the season. Friday, December 20, is National Ugly Sweater Day, but before you pull out that hideous sweater from the back of the closet, let’s find out where this obscure celebration got its start.

The original “ugly sweater” first made its appearance in the 1950s but was more fondly known as a “jingle bell sweater.” They were quite different from the sweaters we see nowadays; these pieces featured tasteful winter themes such as reindeer, snowflakes and other simple motifs. These sweaters were never intended to be ugly; rather they were creative and joyful. They remained modestly popular for the next three decades.

In the 1980s, Americans started seeing bold sweaters with outrageous patterns on TV. You may remember seeing examples of these sweaters on “The Cosby Show” and “Christmas Vacation.” This trend slowed down, but never completely disappeared. Many believe the sweaters’ turning point came when Colin Firth donned a tacky Rudolph sweater to a Christmas Party in his role as Mark Darcy in “Bridget Jones’ Diary” in 2001.

Then, one fateful night in Vancouver, Chris Boyd and Jordan Birch created the first Christmas Sweater Party. The idea caught on and spread across Canada, into the United States and eventually, around the world. Celebrities and politicians were being photographed out on the streets in their favorite Christmas sweaters. By 2010, designers started creating collections based on the ugly ones.

Today, it seems like everyone is hosting ugly sweater parties, which has encouraged retailers to sell sweaters of their own. Of course, with the increase in options comes an increase in competition at these parties. To win the title of the ugliest sweater, you need to get creative.

Will you be participating in Ugly Sweater Day tomorrow? If so, let us know where you found your creation in the comments below.

Whether you love or hate ugly Christmas sweaters, there’s no denying that they have made their mark on the holiday season. And it has certainly become another way to celebrate during the most wonderful time of the year.

Happy Holidays from Lions Pride!

Plan a Tree Planting Project

26 Thursday Apr 2018

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“The best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago. The second best time is now.” –ChineseTrees proverb

As the long living species on Earth, trees have an amazing ability to connect to the past, present and future, while also providing a whole slew of environmental and health benefits. Here in Wisconsin, many of us are lucky enough to be surrounded by trees of all shapes and sizes, but that doesn’t mean we should sit back and idle.

Tomorrow marks the observance of Arbor Day, and while the ground may still be a bit too frozen to physically plant a tree, there’s no better time to make plans for a club tree planting project.

As part of the Lions organization, we understand that every tree planted is part of a broader scale effort by members all over the world to make a significant impact on the environment. According to the European Environment Agency, one mature tree will absorb more than 48 pounds of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and release oxygen in exchange. Read more interesting tree facts from the Arbor Day Foundation.

Before creating your tree planting project, consider the following preparations from LCIF:

  • Evaluate your community’s needs – is there an area where new trees may be more beneficial over others?
  • Work with a local forestry or agriculture department to identify the most appropriate tree species for the local environment.
  • Partner with other local groups or organizations to leverage resources and expertise.
  • Outline a plan that includes procedures, materials needed and expenses.
  • Submit your plan and budget to your club, district or multiple district for approval.

Once your plan is approved, the fun can begin:

  • Request Lion volunteers for the project committee.
  • Obtain approvals or permit for your project, if necessary.
  • Create marketing materials such as a flyer, press release or social media post to promote the event – be sure to include protective clothing recommendations for volunteers!
  • Invite the local media to observe or take part in the project.
  • Remember, if your Lions Club participates, you will fulfill complete the Environment portion of the Centennial Service Challenge.

There’s no need to worry about rushing to complete your tree planting project. Some experts even say that planting in the fall can have its advantages. No matter when you decide to plant trees, remember that you are making an important contribution to both present day life as well as future generations.

Happy Arbor Day from Lions Pride!

Signs of Spring

23 Thursday Mar 2017

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Ahh… spring is in the air, right? Well, not quite. Sitting RobinMonday may have marked the first day of the vernal equinox, but it doesn’t exactly feel it’s time just yet. Fortunately, there are signs that warmer days are ahead.

  • Spring flowers are beginning to peek through the soil. You may have already seen crocuses, crested irises and hyacinth. We hope they make it through the next few chilly nights.
  • Flowering trees are budding and beginning to show new life.
  • The birds are back and ready to sing their hearts out. Robins, sandhill cranes and song sparrows are becoming old regulars.
  • College basketball has taken over all of the TV stations. There’s a reason why they call it March Madness, but we’ve already made it to the Sweet 16.
  • The days are getting longer. We have lost an hour of sleep on the night of March 11, but we are now getting more sunlight. We can’t wait to spend more time with Mr. Sun!
  • The snow is disappearing. We do not see the large snow banks that we saw only a month ago. Now, all that’s left are the dirty piles on the sides of roads.
  • In many cities, school is out for the week. Our office intern is off and enjoying a much-needed break in Mexico for Spring Break.
  • It’s time to play ball! Baseball season is only a week and a half away. The official MLB 2017 Opening Day is next Monday, April 3.

There are so many ways that spring is right around the corner! Now we want to hear from you – what is your favorite sign of spring?

Happy Spring from Lions Pride!

Fun Facts You Might Not Know About Christmas

25 Thursday Dec 2014

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Christmas TreeWe’re wrapping up our blog post series about the holidays of Christmas. The first week, we explored the traditions of Hanukkah, and last week, we looked at the customs of Kwanzaa. Today, we’re going to finish up with the most popular holiday here in Wisconsin, Christmas.

Since you already a great deal about this merry holiday, we thought it might be fun to compile a list of fun facts that you might not know (until now, of course!)

  • You are familiar with Santa’s reindeer. They all have male-sounding names such as Comet, Cupid and Donner. However, male reindeer shed their antler around Christmastime, so the reindeer pulling the sleigh are likely to be female.
  • According to data analyzed by Facebook, two weeks before Christmas is one of the most popular times of the year for couples to break up; however, Christmas Day is the least favorite day to split.
  • Typically Christmas trees grow for 15 years before being sold.
  • One of the main reasons we give and receive presents at Christmas is to remind us of the presents given to Jesus by the wise men.
  • It wasn’t until June 26, 1870 that Christmas was declared an official holiday in the United States.
  • Renowned environmentalist, President Teddy Roosevelt banned Christmas trees from the White House in 1901.
  • The first Christmas postage stamp was issued in the United States in 1961.
  • The first printed reference of the Christmas tree was in Germany in the year 1531.
  • Spiders and spider webs are common Christmas trees decoration in Poland because according to legend, a spider wove a blanket for Baby Jesus.
  • The first artificial Christmas tree was made out of dyed goose feathers in Germany.
  • According to UNICEF, there are approximately 2,106 million children under the age of 18 around the world. If there are an average of 2.5 children per household, Santa will have to make 842 million stops.

There you have it, a list of fun facts about Christmas. We hope you learned something new and can share it with your family at this year’s get-together.

The Lion Pride office will be closed Thursday and Friday of this week. We hope you and your family have a wonderful holiday!

Sources:

http://www.funology.com/facts-about-christmas/

http://warm1069.com/50-festive-facts-you-probably-didnt-know-about-christmas/

http://facts.randomhistory.com/christmas-facts.html

http://www.whychristmas.com/customs/presents.shtml