Let there be light Photo:Stuart Coleman©2011
Despite the wintry weather the people of Diggle gathered yesterday to celebrate their third annual Christmas Service and the switch on of Diggle’s Christmas lights.
The service, led by the Reverend Duncan Rhodes, was as busy as ever and was supported by Diggle ‘B’ Band, Diggle School Choir, Kiln Green, the Diggle Community Association, Deer Hill Caterers and the Friends of Wrigley Mill.
Whilst the gathering enjoyed a festive selection of minced pies and mulled wine the children from Diggle School Choir gathered in a circle, with candles lit, to celebrate the Christingle.
“The story of the Christingle is that there were three children, who were very poor, but wanted to give a gift to Jesus, like the other families at church were doing. The only nice thing they had was an orange, so they decided to give him that. The top was going slightly green, so the eldest cut it out, and put a candle in the hole. They thought it looked dull, so the youngest girl took her best red ribbon from her hair and attached it round the middle with toothpicks. The middle child had the idea to put a few pieces of dried fruit on the ends of the sticks. They took it to the church for the Christmas mass, and whereas the other children sneered at their meagre gift, the priest took their gift and showed it as an example of true understanding of the meanings of Christmas.” http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christingle
The winner of the junior Diggle Heroes 2010 Luke Midgeley was honoured with the task of switching the lights on. Luke won the award last year for his skill on the cello and was recently chosen to play with the Halle Orchestra.
The sale of mulled wine and minced pies raised approximately £70. This money will be used to support future community events. The chairman of the Diggle Community association, Nigel Shaw, said that he was very pleased with the continued success of this event and that he was specially grateful to all those who helped to make it a success.
The Christmas tree was donated by Diggle Rifle Range and the lights were provided by the Saddleworth and District Partnership.
Lighting the Christingles (Photo: Stuart Coleman©2011)
Luke Midgeley (Photo: Stuart Coleman©2011)
