Franklin TV: Ornaments

Our Lives are Ornamented – with Memories

by Pete Fasciano, Executive Director 12/21/2025

As we amble through our allotted years we collect things. We are collectors. Doubt me? Check that cabinet of coffee cups – mugs. There’s the one from the museum of whatever – the gag mug – that mug you got as an ‘award’ from coworkers – and so on. Coffee mugs. They are ordinary – and not. They mark moments and memories. Memory mugs?

Christmas trees can ‘collect’ as well. Ornaments. Some are gifts. Scattered among the decorations, some are special memories. There are the generational hand-me-downs.

Some are especially special; handmade heirlooms passed down from parents and grandparents. Our Christmas tree is adorned with several of my mom’s crocheted snowflakes.

Then there are the ornaments that mark time, and particularly precious family moments. Michael was born in 1984.

The sled broke one year. Needless to say, it had to be repaired. Like broken ornaments, broken memories can be repaired.

This is what this season and spirit calls us to do. This is a time of joy, giving, forgiving, and perhaps being forgiven.

So, let’s raise a coffee mug of kindness yet . . . 

Then there’s my rubber cannoli. Yes, it’s lovely, because, well –  cannoli! No more need be said.

And – as always –

Thank you for watching.

Thank you for listening to wfpr●fm.

And staying informed at Franklin●news.

G

et this week's program guide for Franklin.TV and Franklin Public Radio (wfpr.fm) online  http://franklin.tv/programguide.pdf 

Watch Listen Read all things that matter in Franklin MA

The Wonderful World of Wine (WWW): Episode 278 - Christmas & Holiday wine traditions around the world

Hosts Kim Simone and Mark Lenzi explore all things wine with you!

In this show, we're talking about holiday wine traditions around the world. From England to Italy, Germany to the USA, we'll explore how different cultures celebrate the holidays with wine.

England: Port Wine and Stilton Cheese

In England, the holidays are a time for tradition. One popular tradition is to enjoy a glass of port wine with Stilton cheese. Port wine is a fortified wine from Portugal that is often enjoyed after a meal. Stilton cheese is a blue cheese from England that is known for its rich, creamy flavor.

Germany: Glühwein

In Germany, Glühwein is a popular holiday drink. Glühwein is a mulled wine that is made with red wine, spices, and sugar. It is typically served hot and is perfect for a cold winter night.

Italy: Feast of the Seven Fishes

In Italy, the Feast of the Seven Fishes is a traditional Christmas Eve meal. We revisit last years talk and explore wine pairings.

USA: What is the tradition?

In the USA we discuss what is the Holiday beverage of choice?

Holiday Gift Buying Advice

If you're looking for a holiday gift for a wine lover we give a few tips,

Cheers 

Happy Holidays 

Merry Christmas

Kim and Mark

Audio link -> https://soundcloud.com/user-492543397/episode-278-christmasholiday-wine-traditions-around-the-world?

Episode 278 - Christmas & Holiday wine traditions around the world

The Wonderful World of Wine (WWW) · Episode 278-Christmas/Holiday Wine Traditions Around The World

016 - The Holiday Season, The Importance of Family & Spending Time With Loved Ones

The new episode of "A Priest. a Minister, and a Rabbi" is appropriate listening for today. In this episode,  Dr. Pandora Carlucci is joined by Reverend Eric Cherry, Reverend Kathy McAdams and Rabbi Tom Alpert to discuss the holiday season, the traditions of family in religion, and spending the holiday season with your loved ones.

Audio file ->  https://priest-rabbi-minister.captivate.fm/episode/016-the-holiday-season-the-importance-of-family-spending-time-with-loved-ones

Or the embedded player  below-> 

016 - The Holiday Season, The Importance of Family & Spending Time With Loved Ones

“He kind of perfected it sitting around this table”

One of our family traditions on Thanksgiving is to listen to the 18+ minute classic Arlo Guthrie performance of Alice's Restaurant. Usually while driving to one of the family gatherings. This time, pandemic induced, no drive but still time to listen. 

And then across the Twitterverse comes this article about the real Alice, yes that one.

"Arlo Guthrie's rambling, spoken-word tune “Alice's Restaurant” is a Thanksgiving Day tradition on radio stations across the country. Over the course of about 18 minutes, the folk singer unfurls a true tale involving himself and his hippie friends in 1960s Western Massachusetts.

Now — more than 50 years after the iconic song hit the airwaves — its namesake has fallen on hard times. But Alice's friends have launched a crowdfunding campaign to help her stay in the only place she's ever really wanted to be: Provincetown on Cape Cod.

But first, it helps to find out how she got there."

Continue reading about Alice online =  https://www.wbur.org/artery/2020/11/26/arlo-guthrie-alice-help

YouTube link for "Alice's Restaurant Massacree" = https://youtu.be/WaKIX6oaSLs

How Christmas changed from a rowdy celebration to a family-centered event - Dec 8

Join Ken Turino of Historic New England for a delightful exploration of Christmas traditions from the 1600s through 1900, on Sunday, December 8. This illustrated lecture traces the development of the celebration of Christmas, from when it was outlawed in 17-century New England through the beginning of the 20th century, when all the trappings of a traditional Christmas were in place. 

Kenneth C. Turino, manager of community engagement and exhibitions at Historic New England, tells the story of how Christmas changed from a rowdy celebration to a family-centered event. 

Learn how Christmas trees became popular, halls were decked, and Santa Claus came to town. Do you send Christmas cards each year? Decorate your house inside and out? Join us and learn about the history of your favorite traditions. 

The museum opens at 1:00 PM and the presentation will begin at 1:10 PM. Please bring a donation for the Franklin Food Pantry. 

Our Second Sunday Speaker Series is sponsored by the Friends of the Franklin Historical Museum.

Museum winter hours are Saturday mornings 10:00 AM to 1:00 PM and Sunday afternoons 1:00 PM to 4:00 PM.

Visit the Franklin Historical Museum online at https://www.franklinmuseum1778.com/

Left: Christmas Card sent home to Franklin from Gerald Parmenter During WWII

For more about Historic New England, visit them on the web at https://www.historicnewengland.org/

For more about Ken Turino
https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/reimagining-historic-house-museums-due-october-2019-ken-turino/
 

Family tradition

One of our family traditions signalling the end of the school year and the onset of summer is to have ice cream at the Franklin Flatbreads and Spruce Pond Creamery. If we go early enough, we make a meal of our ice cream. Banana splits and the works. If we go later in the evening, it is usually for small cups of our favorite flavors.

It was a cloudy evening Friday. The clouds were gathering and threatening to rain on someone, but not here in Franklin fortunately.



What tradition do you have to mark the end of the school year?