Mrs. Gingerbread Brings First Christmas to Secluded Polygamy Town Where Toys Are Banned
In a secluded polygamy town, the Grinch may have stolen toys and Christmas, but Mrs. Gingerbread is bringing them back. On Dec. 16th, 2015 at 2:00 pm, a historic event called 'The First Christmas' is taking place in Hildale, UT. The children there have never heard of Santa, had a Christmas tree or a Christmas present, but Santa Claus is coming to town and he's bringing surprises. At an evening event, mothers will learn about Christmas traditions and go "Christmas shopping" for the first time.
Las Vegas, NV, December 9, 2015 (Newswire.com) - On Wednesday, December 16th, 2015, from 2:00 – 5:00, the community of Short Creek (Hildale, UT and Colorado City, AZ) will be having the first Christmas event in their history. For decades the community consisted entirely of members of the polygamist Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (FLDS), a group that did not celebrate Christmas and does not use the media. As a result, generations of children in this town never heard of Santa Claus, had a Christmas tree, or even received a Christmas present. To make matters worse, their leader, the prophet Warren Jeffs, banned toys from the community in 2012. The dumpsters were tearfully filled with children's beloved toy trucks, stuffed animals, tricycles and more.
In the past few years, however, there has been an exodus of people who have either left the religion on their own or been forced to leave. Many of the ex-FLDS still live there and are free to celebrate Christmas, but as one former member of this polygamist group said, “I don’t even know what Christmas is or how to celebrate it.”
I felt driven to organize a Christmas event for this secluded polygamy town where the Grinch literally stole Christmas, and show these beautiful people what the joy of Christmas is all about. After all, every family and every child deserves a Christmas.
Christine Marie, aka Mrs. Gingerbread
Enter Christine Marie, also known Mrs. Gingerbread, who is the founder of Voices for Dignity, a Las Vegas-based organization that helps the women and children who have survived patriarchal polygamy, ecclesiastical abuse, and human trafficking. “Last year my family and I were driving through Short Creek on Christmas night and we did not see a single Christmas tree or house with Christmas lights. This year I felt driven to organize a beautiful Christmas event for this secluded polygamy town where the Grinch stole Christmas and teach them what the joy of Christmas is all about.”
Marie contacted a number of non-profit organizations that enthusiastically agreed to help bring. She asked Leona Bateman, founder of The Girlfriends Club, a group of over 900 ex-FLDS women, to be this year’s local host and nominate families who were most in need of help. Marie organized a committee, posted articles, raised money and asked for the public’s help sending toys, Christmas trees, lights, decorations and other donations. The response, she says, has been beyond her wildest dreams.
The 2:00 event will take place at 1065 North Carling Street, Hildale and will include Santa Claus, cookies, crafts for children, storytelling, gifts and of course, Mrs. Gingerbread with her gingerbread cookie puppets.
At 6:00 pm, there will be a private event at the local bed & breakfast where the nominated women will be served dinner, be taught about the traditions of Christmas, and be taken “Christmas Shopping” for the first time from a store filled with toys, bikes, clothes, and other donations from the public. Volunteers will be hand to help wrap presents. Marie plans to repeat the event each year.
Other organizations and sponsors helping to make this event happen include Sound Choices Coalition, Church for the Nations, A Shield and Refuge, SafetyNet, FERN, ISeeUHope, Movies Making A Difference, Voices for Dignity, Wal-mart, America's Most Wanted, and others. Mrs. Gingerbread is still seeking more bicycles, Christmas trees, and gingerbread cookies.
