By Mira Kocherhans
Nestled by the Salt Lake mountains of Utah lies This is the Place Heritage Park’s Candlelight Christmas, prepped to whisk eager holiday lovers into the world of pioneer Christmas. The level of interaction truly immerses you into an experience that inspires deep respect for the ancestors of Utah. Candlelight Christmas provides interactive experiences that give insight as to what life was like for the pioneers, specifically around Christmas. Patrons have free rein to explore, ask questions, and make discoveries about the history of Utah.
The perfect introduction to the park, entering the first home, a woman sits by the fireside and amiably offers information on the history of the home and certain traditions behind decorations. There, you can tie a piece of fabric onto a garland, just as children would’ve done back in the late nineteenth century. With her friendliness and wealth of information, we were fully excited for what lay in store throughout the rest of the park.
As you travel from home to home, store to store, the enticing displays only increase. Make your way to the schoolhouse to be taught a pioneer dance and to the next home and enjoy wassail, often offered to carolers. The woman there is a plethora of knowledge, informing us of the etymology of “wassail”, coming from the Anglo-Saxon “waes hael”, meaning “good health”. Speaking of carolers, come with a favorite Christmas carol in mind and make a request to the carolers and they will give you a melodic rendition. Traveling around the park further you can make your own candle, watch authentic leather stamping, write letters to Santa, and more. For the sweet tooth in you, gingerbread and freshly baked, heavenly donuts can be found in “Brigham’s Donuts”.
The holidays are a time that are presently filled with bright spectacle and our minds are preoccupied with purchases and events. Witnessing the pioneer way of celebration- simple and unelaborate- this is the Place Heritage Park’s Candlelight Christmas is a prime vessel to remind us of what values we truly want to give significance to during the holidays. Brave the chill and become warmed by the Christmas spirit abounding at Candlelight Christmas.
This is the Place Heritage Park presents Candlelight Christmas.
This is the Place Heritage Park, 2601 East Sunnyside Ave., Salt Lake City, UT 84108
December 10-23, 2019 5:00 PM- 9:00 PM
Admission: Free-$7
Contact: 801-582-1847
This is the Place Heritage Park Website
This is the Place Heritage Park Facebook Page
Candlelight Christmas Facebook Event
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