NORTH CAROLINA CELEBRATES CHRISTMAS
P.\ge 7
By Karen Grossroann
As the holidays rapidly
approach, we look forward to the
festivities which remind us of
the spirit of Christmas.
Singing carols around the tree,
sipping hot cocoa, and warming
by the fire -- ahh, 'tis the
season! And going home for that
"long winter's nap"...
But wait -- there's an
abundance of activities being
sponsored by several towns and
cities here in North Carolina.
While you are at home, you may
want to check out these "local
spots" for a lolly good time.
In Asheville, the Biltmore
House and Gardens holds a
traditional (and lavish 1) Open
House fipom Dec. 3-31.
Admission is $12 for adults and
$9 for students. Biltmore
Village Inn serves an elaborate
Christmas fare at 7 pm daily
from Dec. 3-31. (Prices vary.)
Holiday music, hand-made
ornaments, and crafts sales
characterize "Christmas with the
Guild" at the Folk Art Center.
Hours from Dec. 4-31 are 9 am-5
pm, and there is no admission
charge. Also, wreaths, trees,
candles, and Victorian ornaments
highlight -a visit- to -the Thomas
Wolfe Memorial. Open Dec.
21-31; Tuesday-Saturday, 9 ara-5
pm; Sunday, 1 pm-5 pm.
(Admission is $1.)
In Carrboro, "Artschool
Christmas Events" are scheduled
through Dec. 22. Features
include holiday films on the
15th and 22nd (4 pm; cost
$1.25.), and a children's
theatre presentation on the 17th
and 18th (3 pm; cost- $1.50.)
Chapel Hill celebrations might
include a* trip to the Morehead
Planetarium at UNC to see "Star
of Bethlehem" (showtimes vary;
admission is $2.75 for adults
and $2.00 for students.) The
Ackland Art Museum is exhibiting
artworks relative to the winter
season. There is no charge and
hours are 10 am-5 pm
Tuesday-Saturday and 2-6 pm on
Sunday. The Horace Williams
House on Rosemary Street is
decorated to portray state
legends, and is open Dec.
w
12-21, 10 am-5 pm weekdays, and
2 pm-5 pm on Saturday and
Sunday. Admission is free.
Charlotte's holiday
celebration begins with
"Christmas Time in the City"
from Dec. 2-22. Tours of the
Fourth Ward Homes in Uptown
Charlotte and a series of
Christmas concerts and carols
are featured. A Dickens-style
Christmas waits for you at
Carowind's Winterfest. Holiday
foods, decorations, crafts, and
outdoor entertainment daily
through Dec. 31, 2-10 pm;
Saturdays, 10 am-10 pm. Cost:
$3.50 per person.
In Dallas, N.C., you won't
find J.R., but the Gaston County
Museum will display trees
decorated by area residents and
civic groups. (Through Jan. 1;
no charge; hours are
Tuesday-Friday, 10 am-5 pm;
Saturday, 10 am-2 pm; and
Sunday 2 pm-5pm.)
In good 'ole Durham, the
holiday spirit abounds at the
Durham Arts Council tree exhibit
(Dec. 4-17). Hours are 9 am-9
pm Tuesday-Thursday; 9 am-5 pm
Monday and Friday; and 10 am-3
pm on Saturday. (Free)
Carl Sandburg's Home will
Hanukka Highlights
By Kris Pusser
Now that the month of
December is upon us, most people
begin to think of Christmas and
all of the traditional Christmas
trimmings. For those members of
the NCSSM community who are not
Christians, this time of year
may not have the same meaning.
In a society which is
predominantly Christian, such as
ours, the other religious and
secular celebrations in December
are often overlooked. However,
it is important to remember that
the Christian celebration of
Christmas is not the only other
thing that is happening in
December.
December is also the time
of the Jewish celebration of
Hanukka or the Feast of
Dedication. This celebration
commemorates the Maccabean
victories over the Seleucid King
Antiochus IV Epiphanes and the
rededication of the temple at
Kislev in 164 BCE (Before the
Common Era). This celebration
is significant because it is
held in honor of the first Jews
who fought for their faith
rather than their lives.
be opening Flat Rock, N.C.
through January 6. Guided tours
are daily, 9 am-5 pm ;(no
charge). Gastonia's Schiele
Museum presents "Star of;
Bethlehem" Dec. 17 (3 pm) and
Dec. 18 (3 and 4 pm) and there
is no charge. The museum also
offers a colonial Christmas
celebration on Dec. 18 (1-6 pm)
which includes a candlelight
service of scripture and carois.
The Green Hill Center for
N.C. Art in Greensboro will
hold its crafts display Dec. .
4-23. Hours are 10 am-5 pm
Tuesday-Friday, and 2 pm-5 pm
Saturday-Sunday (free).
Dicken's "A Christmas
Carol" will be presented Dec.
14-18 by the N.C. Shakespeare
Festival at the High Point
Theatre. This touching tale is
performed at 8:15 pm each
evening, with a 2 pm show on the
17th ($8 general admission).
The Twelve Days of
Christmas will be celebrated
Dec. 14-25 in Kenansville with
concerts, a tree-lighting, and
many other activities. Most
events begin at 6 pm. In
Marion. N.C.. craftsmen and
merchants are preparing for an
old-fashioned ' Christmas
(cont.on p.6)
Jewish Year
Tbe celebration ot Hanukka
was started in the Persian and
Greco-:-Roman periods by Jewish
authorities. The celebration
begins on the 25th day of the
month of Kislev in the Jewish
calendar and lasts for eight
days. This time corresponds
roughly to the time of the
Christian celebration of
Christmas. ,
j
During Hanukka, .one
additional candle on ^ the
candelabrum, in remembrance of
the temple lampstand, is kindled
each of the eight evenings of
the celebration.
Unlijce major Jewish
celebrations. Hanukka lacks work
restrictions and is generally a
time of gift-giving and festive
songs and meals.
For other major religions,
there is no festival or
religious celebration which
corresponds to Christmas.
However, one of the two major
festive days of Islam has a
vague resemblance to the
Christian celebration. The
celebration of Id al-Fitr,
which celebrates the end of the
month of Ramadan, is also a holy
^Cont. on p. 8)