The magic of holiday time comes alive again in the Christmas town of Natchitoches

Natchitoches, Louisiana Christmas

Carol Forsloff--Do you believe in the wholesome magic that comes with the awe of lights that rival heaven's stars and people at their best?  Then Natchitoches, Louisiana is the place where all that centers, to usher in the holidays for everyone all over the world.

Natchitoches has long been known for its festival at Christmas.  Nothing can compare with the first Saturday in December, when people come from everywhere to join together in the formal opening of the Christmas holidays.  The lights and fireworks of Natchitoches are like nowhere else in this season.  Big cities with major crowds cannot rival this small town's presentation.  People have been known to weep in wonder, to cry with the splendor of the lights, the Christmas carols and the wonderful life that seems to be reflected in everything around.

The evening comes; the fireworks end.  The music is heard echoing off the riverbank as the lights sparkle in the distance, as some folks wearily, but happily, cross from the bridge from the center of town, back into their cars and homes with the memories of holiday best.

Natchitoches is the town of the Steel Magnolias, the location of Uncle Tom's Cabin and the centerpiece of the nation's expansion, as it is the oldest settlement in the Louisiana Purchase that led to the expansion of the United States from a collection of colonies to a nation of states.  It also brings many thousands of people from around the globe to enjoy the magnificent fireworks displays that begin in November and continue through the first week of January every year.

The town has that homey, small-town feel and appearance, as it gets all decked out every year for the holiday season.  This is the time when people of all political persuasions and social dictates gather together to celebrate the birth of Jesus.  People of Natchitoches may have their differences, but in towns like this folks tend to keep those differences manageable, as they live and work together and plan their celebrations in a fashion that keeps the community unified in a single purpose: offering the Christmas magic to one another and to visitors that come from everywhere.

Reflecting on the magic of Christmas in Natchitoches from Hawaii,  the State most distant from it, offers a journalist good memories of a different life experience, of what it is like to live in a small Southern town and enjoy its hospitality.  And for all those who believe in the best in all of us, that type of hospitality is a fitting manner with which to enter the New Year in the coming weeks.

Natchitoches Christmas town offers welcome with safety tips

NATCHITOCHES, LA - Carol Forsloff -  In a town like Natchitoches, Louisiana where news is intimately shared and where folks have three not six degrees of separation, the parish sheriff, Victor Jones, provides Natchitoches with  tips on holiday safety that are useful around the country.

Natchitoches is the Christmas town of Louisiana, known for its holiday lights that rival heaven's stars from mid November until after the first week of January.  People come from all over the world to join the citizens of Natchitoches in celebrating the birth of Jesus.  It is a wonderful life played out in strings of lights through the downtown section and adjoining streets and the colorfully lit historic homes that dot the town, the traditional Christmas carols and the love and goodwill shared by friends and neighbors with visitors who come from around the world.

From the public website of the Sheriff of Natchitoches, Victor Jones here are some ways to be safe this holiday season:

All the signs of Christmas are starting to appear; light and garland are
lining streets and boulevards, Santa will soon be making appearances
for eager children and families are planning annual get-togethers.


“But don’t become so preoccupied with the thrill and excitement of
shopping and holiday festivities that you lose your sense of good
judgment when it comes to your personal safety,” warns Sheriff Jones.
“Remember that this is also a time when criminals work overtime to take
advantage of innocent, law-abiding people. They prey upon larger crowds
and extended store hours. This, combined with all the distractions
related to shopping, creates the perfect setting for petty thieves and
criminal types.”


Sheriff Jones strongly advises shoppers to think “safety first” before
they embark on this year’s shopping across the country, he is warning
Natchitoches Parish residents to keep their guard up to avoid becoming
one of the millions of people victimized by crime each year.


And how do we go about protecting ourselves during this holiday shopping
season? Sheriff Jones advises busy shoppers that they can take some
safety precautions to reduce their chances of being victimized by the
likes of those criminals who thrive on shoppers at this time of the
year. Holiday shopping precautions include:


Always try to shop with another person. A single shopper is the ultimate target for theft.


When going shopping, make sure you tell someone where you are going and what time you expect to return home.


Plan ahead. If you know you are going to return to your car after
nightfall, park in a well-lit area. Note your parking place. Parking
lots have a tendency to look very different as cars come and go.


If you are in a store and sense that you are being followed locate a
store employee or security personnel. Be prepared to give them a
complete description of the person you suspect.


If carrying cash, keep it in a front pocket. This makes it more difficult for a pick-pocket to remove.


Store car keys in a pants or jacket pocket. If you purse is stolen, you will still be able to drive home.


Take only one or two credit cards and a couple of checks with you.


Make a list of all credit card numbers and the number to call in case
they are lost or stolen. This will make the incident a lot easier to
report.


If you feel uneasy returning to your car alone, find a security guard and ask him to walk you to your car.


When returning to your car, check around it and in the back seat.


Have your car keys in your hand to avoid spending unnecessary time unprotected from the security of your vehicle.


Sheriff Jones concluded, “Remember, a few simple safety precautions can
reduce or eliminate your potential for becoming a victim of holiday
crime. From all of us at the Natchitoches Parish Sheriff’s Office, have

a safe and joyous holiday season.