To attend, PLEASE REGISTER ONLINE BY MONDAY DEC. 5 DEADLINE.
Our annual Christmas Holiday Luncheon will be held Saturday, Dec 10, 2022 from 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. - at the historic Storrowton Tavern, West Springfield, MA on the grounds of the Big E (Eastern States Exposition). We look forward to finally being there together again, in person this year. See driving directions (with GPS caution) below.
WSWNE Christmas Past
11:00 a.m. Social Hour Meet friends old and new; enjoy cheese and crackers, crudités, fresh fruit, punch bowl. Cash bar available. Hear the sound of Welsh festive music in our private room decorated in the Christmas tradition.
Mari Lwyd and Straford Wild
12:00 noon Festive Luncheon, complete with the popping of British Christmas crackers! See menu below program description.
Followed by a Holiday Season Program featuring the Mari Lwyd tradition, seasonal songs, and the sharing of our Welsh Christmas memories.
Mari Lwyd, a Welsh folk custom set around New Year’s Eve (https://trac.cymru/en/about-mari-lwyd/) will join us. The Mari Lwyd white horse character is traditionally walked through the village by men folk to local houses, where they would request entry by singing verses. The ladies , also singing verses, would be expected to deny them entry, and the two sides would sing back and forth. If the lady of the house allowed them in, then they would be given food and drink.
Straford Wild, with Mari Lwyd, will sing traditional verses in Welsh and English to the lady of the house Annie Rodgers who will sing in return. Be ready to join in! Words will be distributed. We will record this to share with those living too far away to join us.
The afternoon will continue with members and guests sharing their Christmas memories from Wales and in the US, so please be prepared to join in if you’d like.
There will also be Welsh winter tunes by Straford Wild on his guitar.
MENU
Garden Salad with Bread Rolls
Choice of Entree: (all served with Twice Baked Potato and Butternut Squash)
CAPE CODDER - Chicken Stuffed with Cranberry bread stuffing with a demi-glace
BROILED SALMON
YANKEE POT ROAST
VEGETARIAN: EGGPLANT ROLLATINI - - stuffed w. spinach, basil, ricotta cheese, topped with marinara sauce and Asiago cheese
CHILDREN’S MEAL : Chicken Fingers and Fries (instead of baked potato & squash)
Dessert APPLE CRUMBLE with ice cream; and COFFEE or TEA
ALL ATTENDEES MUST BE FULLY VACCINATED
Cost: Members $33 Guests: $36 Children $17 … by advance paid reservations
To attend, please submit BOTH the RESERVATION FORM (with meal choices) and your PAYMENT by Monday, DECEMBER 5, 2021. If you have questions, please use our contact form.
Step #1 First, click on RESERVATION FORM BUTTON below to make your meal choices, etc.
Step #2 After submitting the Reservation Form, you can either:
• Click on the online payment button below that will take you to the secure checkout page hosted by Square Inc. to pay by credit card.
OR
• Mail a check made out to WSWNE (put CHRISTMAS and your PHONE NUMBER on the memo line). Mail check to: Mary Pallos, WSWNE Treasurer, 1542 Main St., Glastonbury, CT 06033
NEW DRIVING DIRECTIONS - changed from last year because we must enter via Gate 1, instead of Gate 2.
Storrowton Tavern is on the Big E (Eastern States Exposition) grounds. Enter via Gate 1.
• Using GPS to reach Gate 1, enter “Big E Gate 1” or 1761 Memorial Ave, West Springfield, MA 01089,
but NOT 1305 Memorial Ave (the business address on their website and Google search result).
• Without GPS:
From the North Take I-91 South to Exit 5B, Columbus Avenue,
- turn right over Memorial Bridge to traffic circle , second exit, to
- MA-147 West, Memorial Avenue to Big E Gate 1 (about 1.6 miles on the left).
From the South Take I-91 North to Exit 3, to US 5 North, to MA-147 West Exit to
- MA-147 West, Memorial Avenue to Big E Gate 1 (about 1.6 miles on the left)..
Map. Gate 1 to Storrowton Tavern
Enter Big E Grounds via Gate 1.
Go straight past an information booth.
Then turn left onto Hampden Ave (between buildings) then right onto the Avenue of States (with parking on both sides).
Storrowton Tavern arch - walk through to the main entrance at rear of building.
Storrowton Tavern will soon be seen on the left. Walk through the wooden arch with Storrowton Tavern sign above; follow the brick path around the side of the building to the main entrance at the rear of building.