Exhibit gives global look at Christmas
‘Nativities from Across the Empire’ featured at Parks-Bentley Place
SOUTH GLENS FALLS, N.Y. >> A colorful new exhibit, “Nativities from Across the Empire,” provides valuable art and history lessons while showing how cultures around the world celebrate Christmas.
The display, at Parks-Bentley Place, is focused on the British Empire’s Victorian era, from 1837-1901, and features dozens of nativities from countries England ruled, plus several of its European neighbors.
Parts of the historic building date to the late 18th century and each room is festively decorated for the holidays.
“We’ve included flags and artifacts from many countries and the dates that they belonged to the British Empire,” said Stan Malecki, of the Historical Society of Moreau and South Glens Falls, which is based at Parks- Bentley Place.
However, one of the exhibit’s main highlights is a rare photograph of Queen Victoria on her wedding day, accompanied by a calling card she personally autographed, on loan from an area resident.
Children especially will be captivated by an extensive lighted Victorian village with miniature versions of prominent British landmarks such as Parliament, Big Ben, Kensington Palace and the Globe Theatre.
“We’ve already book several tour groups,” Malecki said.
The exhibit is available for viewing from 1- 4 p.m. on Friday, Saturday and Sundays through Dec. 16, and on Saturday and Sunday, Dec. 28-29.
In addition, it will be open from 6-8 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 14 and Friday, Dec. 28. Several African nations such as Cameroon, Uganda and Ghana were under Great Britain’s control for more than 200 years until gaining their independence in the mid20th century.
“England was the biggest world power at one point,” Mal-
ecki said. “They were after the wealth that was in all of these nations.”
India gained its independence in 1947 following a century of British rule.
A music box, fashioned from an ostrich egg, comes from Australia, which was part of the British Empire from 1770-1901.
Some countries such as Saint Dominique/Haiti belonged to the Empire for one year only (1798).
Artifacts from other countries, which England didn’t rule, provide insight into their fascinating Christmas customs.
Wooden shoes from The Netherlands are filled with hay and carrots, which Dutch people left for St. Nicholas’s reindeer.
In the Czech Republic, instead of ham or turkey, fish is the main course served for Christmas dinner. Also, small candles are placed in walnut half shells filled with wax. Shells are then placed in a bowl of water, and people try blowing them across the bowl without extinguishing the candle.
Wooden hand- carved Italian nativity pieces, depicting the Holy Family, are more than 100 years old. A nativity set from Portugal is made from cork, while figures from Holland are blue and white Delft.
Visitors also learn about popular Christmas carols that originated during the Victorian era such as “Here We Come a-Wassailing” (1850), “Angels We Have Heard on High” (1862), “Oh Little Town of Bethlehem” (1868) and “Away in a Manger” (1883).
The exhibit says, “Christmas traditions have existed since Medieval times in England. However, many new ones were established during the reign of Queen Victoria. For instance, her German husband, Prince Albert, introduced the Christmas tree to Britain after their marriage in 1841.”
“The first Christmas cared was posted in London in 1841,” it says. “That same year, “A Christmas Carol” by Charles Dickens was published and Christmas carols were written and sung on London’s street corners. No era in history has influ- enced the way we celebrate Christmas quite as much as the Victorian’s.”
In America, the Victorian era was a period of dramatic change marked by westward expansion following the Civil War.
A small display also shows many of the new commercial food products that were first introduced during this time such as Heinz Ketchup (1850), Underwood Deviled Ham(1867) and Jell-O (1897).
A staircase leading to the building’s second floor is lined with poinsettias. Each plant is accompanied by a sign that wishes guests “Merry Christmas” in different languages such as Spanish (Feliz Navidad), German ( Fröhliche Weihnachten) and Polish (Wesołych Swiat).
Parks-Bentley Place is at 53 Ferry Blvd. in South Glens Falls.
Admission is $5 for adults and $3 for children 12 and under. There are special rates for children’s groups. Group tours may be arranged by calling (518) 6363856.
For information go to: parksbentleyplace.org.