Cadance Fannock, a fourth-grade student at Tamaqua Elementary School, has been named the 2016 Tamaqua little Miss Spirit of Christmas. Balloting for the honor took place during the period of Nov. 7-18 at the Wells Fargo Bank in Tamaqua.

A total of 15 girls in third through fifth grades from St. Jerome, Tamaqua Elementary, and West Penn Elementary Schools submitted a short essay explaining "What the Spirit of Christmas Means to Me." The essays were on display, along with the girls' photographs, during the two-week period of balloting.Little Miss Spirit will participate in the Tamaqua Spirit of Christmas Festival, which is being held Nov. 30 to Dec. 4. All of the contestants will participate in the Tamaqua Chamber of Commerce Santa Parade on Friday beginning at 6 p.m.Fannock's winning entry noted "The true Spirit of Christmas is something that you feel in your heart. It is about loving, sharing, celebrating, and being grateful."Other participants, and their essays are:Haley Argust, West Penn Elementary - "The Spirit of Christmas is not about candy canes and lollipops. The true meaning of Christmas is about Jesus being born. I hope that people see that this is the true meaning."Hailee Belzner, West Penn Elementary - "Christmas is seeing family and friends. Daddy puts up lights. Mommy makes dinner. All my family comes to eat. We laugh, visit and play."Azalyn Clymer, Tamaqua Elementary - "What Christmas means to me is getting together with family and friends. Seeing them happy is all that matters to me. Then we all snuggle by the fire, singing songs through the night."Ava Jones, Tamaqua Elementary - "What Christmas means to me is that it is a time of year where families get together for dinner and to sing Christmas carols together."Madisen Loar, Tamaqua Elementary - "The Spirit of Christmas comes from your heart. To me it is bring joy and happiness to others, wishing and believing, helping and sharing and the love of Jesus."Rylah Price, Tamaqua Elementary - "The Spirit of Christmas means a heart full of joy to share and care with everyone and a smile on your face with kind words."Addison Rummel, Tamaqua Elementary - "The Spirit of Christmas means to me that people should be nice, jolly, happy, helpful and thankful for the things that you get and give and to be nice to people, all year round!"Morgan Sell, Tamaqua Elementary - "What the Spirit of Christmas means to me. Seeing my family smiling and happy, the smell of a Christmas tree and fresh baked cookies, snow sparkling on the ground and everyone gathering around to share our love for one another."Destiny Steinmetz, Tamaqua Elementary - "To me the Spirit of Christmas is the day Jesus came to the earth to save us. That is what Christmas means to me."Ava Vengen, Tamaqua Elementary - "What the Spirit of Christmas means to me. I like Christmas because I am home with my family. Second is that I get to go outside and play in the snow."Makayla Whittaker, St. Jerome School - "The Spirit of Christmas means to me to spend time with your family. Also, to involve Christ in celebrating Christmas and the birth of Jesus."Alivia Woodring, Tamaqua Elementary - "Christmas means many things to me, when Santa comes, toys, spend time with my family, play in the snow and giving out Christmas trees. Merry Christmas!"Kaile Woodring, Tamaqua Elementary - "Christmas isn't about toys or being the best gift giver. It's about the time you spend with your family and the smiles you put on people's faces."Margaret Zeiler, St. Jerome School - "The Spirit of Christmas to me is about Jesus. Jesus was born on Christmas Day and I respect him a lot."For more information on the Spirit of Christmas Festival, contact the Downtown Tamaqua Office at 668-6899.