Should the Shore create a Christmas themed town?

By Linda Cicoira

Yes, United States, there is an Eastern Shore of Virginia! It’s a place full of candy canes, eggnog, fruitcakes, Santa, elves, reindeer, presents, and everything Christmas.

Okay, I know. I know. The world has heard of our area because of Chincoteague’s famous wild ponies, the big July swim, and the auction. It’s tourism heaven. And it belongs to the island and Accomack County. Yippee!

But I have other dreams too, including the “Most Wonderful Time of the Year,” also known as the “Season to be Jolly,” with festivals, extravaganzas, and lots of holiday shopping. I know there’s more to Christmas than the commercial stuff, but why can’t we have it all?

Some might think I’ve been watching way too many Christmas movies. I’ll admit, I have enjoyed quite a few already this year. And they caused me to imagine joy for all local entrepreneurs and fellow Christmas lovers.

One of my favorite things at Christmas is nativities. I love them! Live ones are the best! And they could be incorporated into these celebrations.

So, here’s what else I’ve been hoping for, and just maybe someone out there will run with it and make all our dreams come true. I think local officials or some Eastern Shore of Virginia movers and shakers, should set up a new postal code and designate an area in either Accomack or Northampton that would hold a name with Christmas appeal where children can send letters to Santa, have their pictures taken with the celebrity, set up their nativities, drink hot chocolate, sing their hearts out, and bring cheer.

Why can’t we have eggnog all year long? I would love that.

I’ve narrowed down possible names for the new zip code. All the other towns across the United States with Christmassy themes were taken into consideration so we wouldn’t clash with them. They include: North Pole, in Alaska and New York; Christmas in Michigan and Florida; Santa Claus in Indiana, Georgia, and Arizona; Bethlehem in Pennsylvania and North Carolina; Christmas Cove in Maine; Dasher and St. Mary’s in Georgia; Evergreen in Alabama; Rudolph in Wisconsin; Garland and Sugar Land in Texas; Noel in Missouri; Eggnog in Utah; Mount Holly in North Carolina; Wintergreen in Virginia; Winter Park in Florida; Snowflake in Arizona, Christmas Valley in Oregon; Jolly in Illinois; Holy Springs in Mississippi; Nazareth in Pennsylvania; Mistletoe in Kentucky; St. Joseph in Michigan; and Santa in Idaho.

Here are my six favorite ideas. Let me know what you think by contacting me at [email protected].

Please put Christmas in the subject line and I’ll let everyone know the results.

Here are the choices in the order of my preferences.

• Secret Santa, VA;
• Prancer, VA;
• Candy Cane, VA;
• Nativity, VA;
• Stocking Stuffer, VA; and
• Saint Nicholas, VA.