Publisher’s Letter

The stores, trees and houses are lit. Music, tinkling bells and carols drift on the breeze. Bars and restaurants are filled. Please join the laughter. The holidays are here! It’s December at County Lines!

In Brandywine Stories, Jennifer Green and Sarah Wagner share some local Christmas history. In the 19th century, they say, Christmas wasn’t primarily about decorated trees and wrapped presents of toys. Books were favorite gifts, as was candy. But, by the 20th century, department stores emerged and transformed the holiday into today’s gifting extravaganza. Read more in “Christmas Past in Chester County.”

Shelley Laurence of Main Point Books believes that books still make great gifts. In “Make a Holiday Gift List of Books,” she has recommendations for everyone on your list.

There’s no better place to shop for holiday gifts than West Chester. The borough is charming. Lamp poles wrapped with lights. Evergreens draping doorway. Brick sidewalks sparkling with frost. Join Cara Corridoni on her tour of its newest stores in “Tied Up with a Bow.”

To make things easier, Marci Tomassone’s “Holiday Window Shopping” has a list of shops, museums and restaurants — everything you need to complete your shopping. And in “Spruce Up Your Tree Game,” we suggest 10 tree farms to find your perfect tree.

Emily Hart takes a look at how the rest of Chester County is celebrating the holidays in “Twas the Month That Was Christmas and All Through the Towns …” And, “Holiday House Tours” will tell you when our neighbors are opening their homes from Strasburg, Pennsylvania to Chestertown, Maryland.

Increasingly, especially for the adults on her list, Shannon Montgomery finds they have every thing they want, but may still want an experience or activity. A class, a massage, a gym membership, admission to Longwood Gardens, a round of axe-throwing … These are just a few she suggests in “Making Memories Bright.”­

Shannon also thinks a night at the theater makes a wonderful gift, not just for the holidays, but all year and not just for others, but for ourselves. In “Curtains Up on The Holiday Season,” she previews what’s playing in Chester, Delaware and New Castle counties.

Stuck on what to get a friend or relative? Instead of giving traditional gifts, why not make a donation in their honor to a local nonprofit? In our “Giving Back Guide,” Carol Metzker lists a number of ways to make a difference in the community.

Liz Tarditi at Fine Wine & Good Spirits raises her glass and makes several suggestions — wine, champagne, gin, whiskey, vodka spiced punch — in “Little Moments that Spark Joy and Connection.” Fill your moments with celebration!

Courtney Diener-Stokes of Brandywine Table shares “Christmas Eve Food Traditions — Beyond the Seven Fishes,” along with several recipes.

For many of us, Christmas means vacation, and vacation means travel, now or in the future. We found several groups that put together trips, all over the world. Buses, planes, ships, bicycles, skis. Read about “Group Travel” and leave the details to someone else.

As always, our Best Local Events section is filled with things to do this month for you and your family.

Perhaps you already have County Lines delivered to your mailbox. Save it for future reference. At CountyLinesMagazine.com, you can read the December issue online. At Issuu.com, you can read the digital issue. Or click “Get A Copy” on our website to find locations to pick up your own print copy.

We hope you’d like to subscribe to County Lines. Do it on our website or call 610-918-9300. For single issues, try Wellington Square Bookshop, Main Point Books or Reads & Co. Bookstore. Visiting an advertiser is also a great — and free — way to find copies!

Ed Malet, Publisher

610-918-9300

Christmas Past in Chester County

In the 18th and 19th centuries, Christmas was not celebrated with glitzy trees, mountains of wrapped gifts or new toys for children. Gifts were considered a luxury. When they were exchanged, books were a favorite gift. Sometimes candy. By the end of the 19th century, however, Santa Claus emerged. And by the 1920s, the holiday was refocusing on children, and department stores like Mast’s in Coatesville and Mosteller’s in West Chester were promoting toys as the quintessential gift.

Making Memories Bright

Although many of the adults on your list may not want more stuff, no need to fret. There’s an easy solution: giving the girt of experiences. For a foodie, you might choose a cooking class, wine tasting or gift certificate to a fine restaurant. For an art lover, you can give an art class; for theater lovers, an acting class; or, for a music lover, tickets to an upcoming concert. A massage, season’s pass at the gym, dance classes, flying lessons are just some of the experiences that make welcome gifts.

’Twas the Month That Was Christmas and All Through the Towns …

This season, you’ll find something to do in all the major towns of Chester County. Kennett Square and Malvern celebrate with a parade and tree lighting on November 30. Don’t miss the parade in West Chester on December 6. Wayne also kicks off the season with a tree lighting and Santa’s arrival on December 6. On December 7, there’s a Christmas parade in Coatesville. And yet another parade in Downingtown of December 14. In Phoenixville on December 14, you’ll find the annual Firebird Festival. Ice carvings, ornaments, lights, music, singing, dancing, food trucks … There’s a whole lot more!