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The Wilson School Choir performs holiday music favorites at last month's Wilson Park Tree-Lighting Event.  City employees were surveyed this month on their favorite holiday tunes, treats, TV show and movies. The Wilson School Choir performs holiday music favorites at last month's Wilson Park Tree-Lighting Event. City employees were surveyed this month on their favorite holiday tunes, treats, TV show and movies. (City Photo)

Staff Picks Favorites in Movies, Music, Meals, TV Shows, Treats

RAPID CITY, SD--When it comes to their favorite Christmas and holiday traditions in movies, music and meals, City employees are very diverse and varied in their selections.

            More than 100 City staff participated in a survey this week, with respondents sharing their favorite selections in Christmas and holiday movies, music, TV shows, traditional treats and meals.  In many instances, staff shared a glimpse of their family traditions.

WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE TV MOVIE?

            As a group, City staff mentioned 25 holiday-themed movies from black-and-white classics to modern comedies.  Overall three movies were referenced most often, led by the iconic Griswold family exploits in 'National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation', which was listed by 30 respondents.  It was a close battle for second between 'A Christmas Story' (20 votes) and  'It's A Wonderful Life' (17 votes).   'Elf' (7), 'Polar Express' (5),  'Miracle on 34th Street' (4), 'How The Grinch Stole Christmas' (4), 'The Holiday' (3) and 'The Santa Claus' (3) received honorable mention with selection from multiple voters.

MOVIES

'National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation' (30)

'A Christmas Story' (20)

'It's A Wonderful Life (17)

'Elf' (7)

'Polar Express' (5)

'Miracle on 34th Street' (4)

'How The Grinch Stole Christmas' (Jim Carrey version) (4)

'The Holiday' (3)

'The Santa Clause' (3)

            "No question, 'A Christmas Story'," says Civic Center Director Craig Baltzer. "I know it plays a hundred times each year on cable, but I can literally watch it a hundred times.  Reminds me of my family when I was young, and it is just a well put-together production."

WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE HOLIDAY SONG?

            Ever wonder why there are so many holiday songs?  It seems there's a song for everyone with more than 40 songs referenced as favorites by the survey respondents, again covering numerous music genres from classic favorites to novelty songs.  Standing out from the crowd were the classics with 'Silent Night' receiving 15 votes compared to 'O Holy Night' with 12 votes and 'Little Drummer Boy' with eight votes.  'Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas' and 'White Christmas' led the honorable mention group with five votes each.

SONGS

'Silent Night' (15 votes)

'O Holy Night' (12)

'Little Drummer Boy' (8)

'Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas' (5)

'White Christmas' (5)

'All I Want For Christmas Is You' (3)

'Carol of the Bells' (3)

            " Silent Night - to me, it is a reminder of why we celebrate Christmas in the first place," said City Water Superintendent Jeff Crockett.

            Other traditional favorites such as 'Away In A Manger', 'Jingle Bells' and 'Joy To the World' received votes as did novelty songs such as 'I Want A Hippopotamus For Christmas', 'Snoopy's Christmas' and 'Grandma Got Run Over By A Reindeer'. Modern songs such as 'All I Want For Christmas Is You' by Mariah Carey and 'Carol of the Bells' by the Trans-Siberian Orchestra received three votes each.

WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE HOLIDAY TV SHOW (ANIMATION)?

            Three classic favorites stood out with equal enthusiasm among City employees.  'The Grinch' led the way with nearly a third of the votes (32), closely followed by the deer with the red nose, 'Rudolph, The Red-Nosed Reindeer' with 27 votes.  'A Charlie Brown Christmas' was a respectable third with 19 votes.  'Frosty The Snowman' led the rest of the pack with six votes.

TV SHOW

'The Grinch' (Boris Karloff) (32 votes)

'Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer' (27)

'A Charlie Brown Christmas' (19)

'Frosty The Snowman' (6)

'Santa Claus Is Coming To Town' (3)

            "In 'A Charlie Brown Christmas', you have Charlie Brown.  You have Snoopy. You have the whole Peanuts gang," said City Communications Coordinator Darrell Shoemaker.  "But you also have the Christmas story as told by Linus.  And there's the life lesson that with love, care and affection, there is great beauty and potential in a tiny, weak tree just as there is in all children."

WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE CHRISTMAS OR HOLIDAY TREAT?

            City staff provided a virtual smorgasbord of treats, as rich in calories as they are in family tradition.  Of the more than 100 survey respondents, there were over 40 different recommendations as favorite treats.  If there were two treats that stood out most of all, it appears City staff is most partial to cookies of various kinds (30) including homemade sugar cookies (20) as well as fudge (12 votes).  Homemade peanut brittle and the Norwegian treat Lefse also received several votes. 

            Sweet and salty delicacies referenced by staff included such items as 'Graham Crackers with Melted Powdered Sugar', Lefkuchen, Chex Mix, Krumkaka, Egg Nog, Bing Bars, Almond Toffee, Caramel Puff Corn, Homemade Snicker Bars, cheese balls, and chocolate pretzels.

TREATS

Homemade Cookies (30 votes)

            --Sugar Cookies (20 of the 30 votes)

Fudge (12)

Lefse (8)

Peanut Brittle (6)

Chex Mix varieites (5)

            For City Council president Jason Salamun, his favorite holiday treats are big cinnamon rolls with extra frosting.  Council member Lisa Modrick says her holiday treat favorites are her mother's snowball cookies and fudge.  For the Rapid City Library's Jennifer Read, it's homemade sugar cookies and fudge.

            City Water Reclamation Facilities Supervisor Clyde Jones is partial to a family favorite this time of year, Holly Leaves.  "Cornflakes made like rice crispy treats, with green food coloring, formed to look like a wreath.  Trim the holly leaves with red M&Ms or red hots!"

             

WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE CHRISTMAS OR HOLIDAY MEAL?

            Buffet restaurants would have nothing on the dishes served up at the collective table of City employees with numerous traditional meal items and holiday specialties referenced.  More than 40 suggestions were offered by the survey respondents.  Leading the way were Oyster Stew (19), Prime Rib (10), Chili (7) and Ham or Ham balls (6).

FAVORITE MEAL

Oyster Stew (19)

Prime Rib/Sandwish (10)

Chili (7)

Ham/Ham balls (6)

            Oyster stew is a traditional holiday staple for many City staffers, including City Recreation Specialist Emily Carstensen.

            "My father's mom, who passed away in 2010, used to make oyster stew during Christmas," Carstensen said.  "Only a handful of people would eat it and enjoy it.  My cousin, who is a vegetarian, still makes oyster stew for the few that eat it."

            Other City officials opt for favorite family dishes stepped in tradition.

            "My favorite holiday treat is a potato dumpling from Sweden called Paultn, Norwegians call it Klubb. Germans call it Kartoffel Kloesse," said Council member Ritchie Nordstrom.  "It's a wonderful dish that is not for weight watchers!"

            Council member Chad Lewis favors fudge and Mexican food this time of year.

            "Growing up, it was always chili and homemade chicken noodle soup on Christmas Eve, followed by church and then back to the house for meat and cheese tray with crackers while opening the presents," said City Finance Director Pauline Sumption. "Christmas Day was usually the 'normal' turkey and/or ham dinner with all of the trimmings.  Now that I have my own family, I stick to the chili on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day dinner varies - sometimes turkey but this year filets."

            For some its simple fare, such as the buffalo burger and cheese dip favored by the Civic Center's Larry Dale.  For others like Community Development's Patsy Horton, it's frozen cranberry salad, "Marshmallows, ground cranberries, cool whip, pineapple and nuts".

            It's a double treat at the home of Council member Laura Armstrong.  Her husband's birthday is Christmas Eve, so there is a 'Daddy Day' birthday celebration with a homemade breakfast followed by outdoor activities, a special King Crab dinner and chocolate cake.  For Christmas, it's new pajamas for the Armstrong twins, a seafood potluck and an Italian stew called Cioppino.

            A convenient holiday meal favorite for many City staffers also heads south of the border, centering around traditional Mexican food favorites, such as chicken enchiladas, tamales, burritos and chimichangas.

            And yes, when it comes to holiday favorites, there were even votes for fruit cake, pickled herring and Lutefisk.

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Thank you,

Darrell W. Shoemaker | Communications Coordinator

T: 605.721.6686 | M: 605.939.8551

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W: www.rcgov.org

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