e-culture: 'Tis the Season
November 30, 2001
IN THIS ISSUE
The Meaning of Christmas
Christmas literally means Christ's Mass, which is observed on December 25, or in Eastern Orthodox tradition, January 6. Many Christmas traditions originated from ancient efforts to light the way to Christ's Mass. Candles, bonfires and electric lights on trees and houses are today thought to light the way for the Christ child, and in some communities, they are used to light the way for Santa Claus and PaPa Noel.
Here are some of the great opportunities for you to observe these traditions in our region.
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PaPa Noel and Des Allemands
'Tis the Season... for tiny lights and big fires. No one is certain about the true origin of the Festival of the Bonfires that takes place each year in Lutcher and Gramercy, Louisiana.
The lighting of hundreds of bonfires along the Mississippi River through St. James Parish is thought to have originated with the Germans (Des Allemands) who migrated to this part of Louisiana in the Nineteenth Century. Modern popular legend tells of the Acadian Santa, PaPa Noel, navigating the river through thick fog illuminated by the bonfires to bring gifts to the children of the Parish. The Christmas Eve bonfires may have guided church-goers traveling on the water and along the river road to Midnight Mass. Many local families build bonfires throughout the month of December and the community celebrates the tradition with the Festival of the Bonfires in mid December.
This year, the Festival of the Bonfires takes place December 14 - 16 on Louisiana Highway 641 in Lutcher, Louisiana, between Baton Rouge and New Orleans. Bonfires burn nightly on the levee at 7:00pm, followed by live music. The bonfires also burn on the levee on Christmas Eve, just as they have since 1864. For information, call 800-367-7852.
Additional information:
http://www.festivalofthebonfires.org
Try Nobile's Restaurant at 2082 W. Main in Lutcher. The 1895 Victorian restaurant is open for lunch on weekdays, but is also open for dinner on Friday and Saturday night.
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La Fete des Lumieres
Like Mardi Gras, Louisiana folks celebrate Christmas in abundance. Each year, the Cane River is ablaze with the color of 300,000 lights and dozens of painted scenic pieces. La Fete des Lumieres (Festival of Christmas Lights) is celebrated in Natchitoches, Louisiana beginning around Thanksgiving and continuing through December.
The festival began in 1927 and it has become one of the largest events in Louisiana. The first Saturday in December attracts as many as 150,000 people to Natchitoches, Louisiana for the Christmas parade and fireworks.
Natchitoches and the Cane River comprise a National Historic Landmark District. Historic home tours offered during December are particularly interesting.
For more information on the history of the region, please see:
http://www.houstonculture.org/terra/king.html
Schedule of 75th Annual Christmas Festival events
Saturday, December 1
7:30am - 5K Santa Shuffle
10:00am - Opening Ceremonies
10:30am - Live entertainment begins on Fleur de Lis Stage
1:00pm - Christmas Festival Parade
3:00pm - Live entertainment continues on Fleur de Lis Stage
6:00pm - Fireworks over the scenic Cane River Lake
7:00pm - Live entertainment continues on Fleur de Lis Stage
Wednesday, December 5 & Friday, December 7
5:00-8:00pm - Candlelight tours of historic homes
Saturday, December 8
1:00-4:00pm - Holiday tours of historic homes
7:00pm - Fireworks over the scenic Cane River Lake
7:30-9:30pm - Live Entertainment - Fleur de Lis Stage
Wednesday, December 12 & Friday, December 14
5:00-8:00pm - Candlelight tours of historic homes
Saturday, December 15
1:00-4:00pm - Holiday tours of historic homes
7:00pm - Fireworks
7:30-9:30pm - Live entertainment - Fleur de Lis Stage
Saturday, December 22
7:00pm - Fireworks
7:30-10:00pm - Live entertainment - Fleur de Lis Stage
Saturday, December 29
7:00pm - Fireworks
7:30 - 10:00pm - Live entertainment - Fleur de Lis Stage
Monday, December 31- New Year's Eve
9:00pm - Live entertainment Fleur de Lis Stage
12:01am - Fireworks over the scenic Cane River Lake
For more information, call 800-259-1714
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Fiesta de las Luminarias
San Antonio
La Gran Posada procession has been an annual tradition in San Antonio for more than 250 years. The route, which has been followed since 1731, travels through the Mercado to City Hall, the Bexar County Courthouse and ends at the San Fernando Cathedral. The reenactment of the journey of Joseph and Mary is held in conjunction with Fiesta de las Luminarias.
From the early Native American Indians, to the Spanish explorers and the city's original settlers from the Canary Islands, San Antonio has preserved aspects of Texas' oldest cultures.
Here is a select list of events that may interest you this holiday season.
Through January 6, 2002
Light the Way Lighting Ceremony. Join in the annual lighting of over 800,000 Christmas lights that will illuminate the campus the entire holiday season. University of the Incarnate Word, Convocation Center. Free. 210-829-6001 www.uiw.edu
Through December 23
Holiday Boat Caroling. Enjoy various school, church, and civic groups singing carols from cruisers every night on the River Walk. Paseo del Rio Association. 210-227-4262 Free. www.thesanantonioriverwalk.com
Through December 2
Hecho A Mano Festival. Holiday event features handcrafted items on sale to the public. Guadalupe Theater. Guadalupe Cultural Arts Center. Admission. 210-271-3151 www.guadalupeculturalarts.org
December 1-2, 8-9, 15-16, 21-23
Fiestas Navidenas. Several events each weekend in December celebrating the holidays at Market Square. Free. 210-207-8600 email: marketsq@ci.sat.tx.us
December 1
13th Annual Christmas Along the Corridor. Over 100 Christmas couriers will canter down Fort Sam Houston's historic parade field for the Grand Finale of the Pony Express Christmas Courier Run. Alamo Area Council of Governments. Free. 210-362-5200
December 1
King William Holiday Home Tour. Tours of restored Victorian homes and lectures on local history. King William Historic District. King William Association. Admission. 210-271-3247
December 1
Kristkindlmarkt. Traditional German Christmas market with holiday gifts, gingerbread houses, decorations, entertainment and food. Beethoven Halle and Garden. Beethoven Damenchor. Free. 210-222-1521
December 1
Los Pastores Play. Guadalupe Players perform traditional shepherds' play in Spanish with music. Prassel Auditorium. Witte Museum. Performance is free with museum admission. 210-357-1900 www.wittemuseum.org
December 7-9, 14-16, 21-23
Fiesta de Las Luminarias. Several thousand candles are lit along the River Walk symbolizing the "lighting of the way" for the Holy Family. Paseo del Rio Association. Free. 210-227-4262 www.thesanantonioriverwalk.com
December 7-9
River Walk Arts & Crafts Show. A shopping opportunity showcasing handmade arts and crafts from various artists. River Walk extension. Paseo del Rio Association. Free. 210-227-4262 www.thesanantonioriverwalk.com
December 7-8, 14-15, 21-22
Caroling in the Caverns. Caroling tours of the north cavern at Natural Bridge Caverns. Admission. 210-651-6101 www.naturalbridgecaverns.com
December 8
Bazar Sabado. Annual folk art sale featuring items from Latin America. San Antonio Museum of Art. Admission. 210-978-8100 www.sa-museum.org
December 9
Die Deutsche Weihnachtsfeier. A traditional German Christmas candlelight service conducted in German. Choral music by San Antonio Liederkranz and instrumental music by Hermann Sons German Band. Christ Chapel of Lutheran High School. German Weihnachtsfeier Committee and Bethany Congregational Church. Free. 210-342-6034 or 210-826-0255 email: jbculver@flash.net
December 9
Las Posadas. Reenactment of Joseph and Mary's search for shelter. Candle-lit procession sings traditional Posada songs. Begins at River Walk level of La Mansion del Rio Hotel and proceeds to the Arneson River Theatre. San Antonio Conservation Society. Free. 210-224-6163 www.saconservation.org
December 12
Celebracion Virgen de Guadalupe. An exhibit of paintings, sculpture and photography that depicts the Virgen de Guadalupe, a religious and cultural icon in the Americas. Galeria Expresion, Centro Cultural Aztlan. Free. 210-432-1896 email: ccaztlan@swbell.net
December 14-16
Winter Holiday Festival. Seasonal plant craft demonstrations, decorated trees, light displays, music and entertainment. San Antonio Botanical Gardens. Admission. 210-207-3255 www.sabot.org
December 16
La Gran Posada. The 270th annual reenactment of Joseph and Mary looking for shelter, a procession through the City's Historic Center, it begins at Milam Park and ends at San Fernando Cathedral. San Fernando Cathedral. Free. 210-227-1297 www.sfcathedral.org
December 16
La Gran Posada 2001. Mexican traditional Christmas celebration with Christmas songs, Villancicos, la Merienda and La Pinata. The Basilica of the National Shrine of the Little Flower. Hispanic Heritage Society. Free. 210-822-3247
December 24
Christmas Eve Mass. Christmas Eve Mass at 7 p.m. with performance by the adult choir at 11 p.m. followed by Midnight Mass. Mission San Jose Church. Free. 210-922-0543 www.sanjosemission.org
December 25
Christmas Day Mass. Mass in the historical Mission church at 9 a.m. and 10:30 a.m. Mission San Jose Church. Free. 210-922-0543 www.sanjosemission.org
December 29
Los Pastores. Spanish pastorela depicting the conflict between good and evil on the grounds of Mission San Jose. San Antonio Conservation Society. Free. 210-224-6163 www.saconservation.org
New Mexico
Many communities in New Mexico celebrate Christmas with bonfires and luminarias (candles usually lining paths to churches, plazas and rooftops). While Espanola, with its parading low riders, and Santa Fe, where hundreds of European tourists gather on Canyon Road, are most known for these traditions, luminarias (often called "farolitos") are as common as chiles in most New Mexican towns.
In southern New Mexico, Luminarias on the Plaza (Old Mesilla Plaza) and Christmas Carols are the main attraction in La Mesilla, south of Las Cruces on the historic Camino Real. Call 505-524-3262 for more information.
Deming displays its Tin Street Luminarias on December 24th. Call 505-546-9535 for more information.
Upcoming Travel in New Mexico:
Our next trip will take us to Santa Fe for Christmas and on to southern Utah, December 23, 2001 through January 2, 2002.
Promotional Image: http://www.houstonculture.org/imgtrav/santafe.jpg
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Fire and Brimstone
Tune in Americana on KTRU, Monday, December 3 immediately following the World Music Show at 9:00pm for "Fire and Brimstone," an exploration of religion in the South -- in prison, in Civil Rights, in Blues, in Prohibition, in the mountains, in the church, in Sun Studios... The program will feature historical recordings, from the haunting spiritual songs of the Chain Gangs and early rock-era sermons preserved by the Memphis Archives to a rarely heard conversation between Jerry Lee Lewis and Sam Phillips.
Also, stay tuned for an Americana Series that will begin in January featuring the rich cultural diversity of Louisiana -- a great primer for Black History Month and Mardi Gras.
The Americana Show can be heard on KTRU 91.7fm, immediately following World Music, which is on Monday evenings, 7:00pm to 9:00pm.
A complete listing of special programming on KTRU:
http://www.houstonculture.org/world/shows.html
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The History of Tejano Music
MEChA (Movimiento Estudiantil Chicana/o de Aztlan) will present "A History of Tejano Music" on Friday, November 30th at 7:30pm. The presentation will take place in the Bayou City Room on the main University of Houston campus. Call 281-513-2289, or email mexa_uh@hotmail.com, for more information.
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Uncertain, TX and Lost Azalea Canyon
The annual Floating Christmas Parade on Caddo Lake near Uncertain, Texas is a great example of the informal weekend trips we organize. As few as three or as many as 30 have enjoyed these fun and educational adventures. If you are interested in any of the upcoming trips listed below, contact Mark@cultural-crossroads.com.
A Day in Old Humble
The Big Birds of the Texas Coast
Caddo Lake, Uncertain, TX
The Big Thicket National Preserve
Lost Azalea Canyon
The Freedom Highway
Cane River National Historic Park
San Antonio Missions
Rural Acadiana
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Winning, Losing and Shopping
With the holidays fast approaching, we will explore some timely topics in our next e-culture newsletter/voter's guide/holiday shopping guide.
We will tell you about two candidates. One of them wants to take your money to New Jersey, while the other wants to spend it in the neighborhood. Which one will you support? And, we will tell you how to beat the mall traffic, support your local artist and survive the bowl games.
The December 12 e-culture newsletter will be the last special delivery of the year. Keep looking at our website for expanded calendar listings and other features. We will spotlight several holiday traditions, including Hanukkah, Kwanzaa and the Fiesta of the Virgin of Guadalupe in the next email.
Please send cultural and community calendar items for us to include on our web site and in our e-culture newsletter, and for us to provide to KTRU listeners, to info@houstonculture.org.
We will return early next year to bring you information on Chinese New Year, Martin Luther King Jr., Women's History Month, the Mardi Gras Indians and Trouble Funk.
Have a great holiday season.
Mark
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M A R K L A C Y / mark@cultural-crossroads.com
Houston Institute for Culture
http://www.houstonculture.org
World Music on KTRU
http://www.houstonculture.org/world
Read Cabeza de Vaca On Line
http://www.houstonculture.org/spanish
Our Educational Youth Camp
http://www.houstonculture.org/camp
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