I recommend these activities should not be missed during the holiday season.
Village life
It doesn’t matter what cultural and religious beliefs you hold near and dear, venturing through the bright red wooden doors of Hope Lutheran Church this holiday season will transport you to the village of Bethlehem (circa 1st century) where you will experience what everyday life was like during what many believed to be the fulfillment of a great prophecy.
Before going inside, visit the live camel that waits outside the door (she loves selfies— so have your camera ready). While waiting for the Roman officials to register you for the census, enjoy the village’s hospitality with music and dance. Once inside the village, you will be immersed in the sights, sounds and aromas of this colorful, vibrant marketplace. Stop and talk to the friendly villagers who love to share their skills and knowledge. It is fascinating to watch and learn as they grind wheat, weave fabric, make bread, infuse oils with herbs, make clay pots and tend to the live chickens, goats and llamas all in the manner, culture and dress of the time period. Walk the labyrinth on the east side of the building, too. Free hot beverages served in the hospitality tent near the exit.
1-6pm Saturday, December 12 & Sunday, December 13
Hope Lutheran Church, 2201 Secor (at Bancroft-look for the red door and bell tower)
December’s peaceful radiance
Stop amid the season’s hustle and bustle and be still for a moment. Breathe in the cold, crystalline air while gazing upward into the night sky and just let yourself float into the quiet and peace of the expansive universe. Behold the breathtaking Gemini’s Meteor Shower, (December 4-17), which is considered the most dazzling meteor shower of the year. The shower will peak between December 13 and 14 with a cascade of eighty to one hundred multicolored shooting stars per hour with the best viewing right after sunset.
Celebrate the longest night of the year, the Winter Solstice on December 22, with some holiday star and planet viewing. Bask in Jupiter’s pure white light throughout the month. It will sit low in the east at sunset and rise higher by 9pm. Look for Mars’ yellowish orange glow high in the east between 2am and sunrise.
For a downloadable and printable December night sky map, go to popastro.com and click on the young stargazers’ link or download a smart phone/ipad app like Google Sky or Sky Safari, and then hold your phone/iPad up to the sky and watch as the magic of the universe unfolds.
