Winter Solstice Traditions and the Scandinavian Christmas will be presented from 6-7:30 pm Thursday,
Dec. 14, at the Global Village Museum of Arts and Cultures by Kristina Feste-Hanson, co-director of
the Scandinavian Alliance of Colorado. The program will explore the connections between Nordic
mythology and Scandinavian folk traditions and their adaptation and influence into Christmas practices.
Attendees will gather in a circle around the Christmas tree amongst the Northern Lights as Feste-Hanson
highlights how Scandinavian Christmas traditions derive their meaning from the Viking/Pre-Christian
and folk celebrations of the winter solstice. Traditional Scandinavian Christmas baked goods and drink
will be served, and participants will experience hands-on Scandinavian crafts and a mini Saint Lucia
celebration.
Tickets to the program are $5/person, and reservations are requested at globalvillagemuseum.org. The
program is in conjunction with Fire and Light: Winter Solstice Traditions in the Museum’s Main
Gallery. For centuries, cultures across the world have commemorated the winter solstice with unique
festivals and rituals. Fire and light as well as the symbolic death and rebirth of the sun are common
threads in these traditions. The goal of the exhibit is to expand our worldview of global holidays and
traditions that are celebrated here in Fort Collins.
For the Northern Hemisphere, the winter solstice will occur on December 21, 2023, the first day of
winter. The earth’s axis is tilted farthest away from the sun, resulting in the shortest day and longest
night of the year.
The exhibit runs through Jan. 20, 2024. The Global Village Museum is located at 200 West Mountain
Avenue, and Museum hours are 11 am to 5 pm Tuesday through Saturday. Regular admission is $5 for
adults, $3 for seniors and students, $1 for ages 4-15, and free for children three and under. Adult tours
receive discounted admission of $3/person. For more information and closure dates during the change
of exhibits, visit globalvillagemuseum.org or call 970-221-4600
