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'Tis the Season

Reservations required

This lesson is about “the coldest and darkest of seasons – a season which holds some of the warmest and brightest celebrations of the year.” It traces the development of many of the world’s most endearing holiday customs, and how they involve lighting up the winter season – from the burning Yule log and sparkling Christmas tree lights to the lighting of the Menorah and luminarias.

The show also recounts the historical religious and cultural rituals practiced during the time of the winter solstice – not only Christian and Jewish, but also Celtic, Pagan, Nordic, Roman, Mexican, and Hopi. It also takes a look at some of our more light-hearted seasonal traditions: from gift-giving and kissing under the mistletoe to songs about lords-a-leaping and ladies dancing; the custom of decking the halls with greenery and candles; St. Nicholas, Sinterklaas, Kris Kringle, Father Christmas, and Santa Claus all drop by as well.

Naturally, there is some astronomy in the lesson. We catch a few Northern winter constellations, and illustrate why we have seasons – demonstrating the Sun’s path across the sky throughout the year, and the Earth’s tilt and orbit around the Sun. We also explore the possible astronomical explanations for a “Star over Bethlehem” in the last quarter of the show – comets, meteors, novae and supernovae, and planetary conjunctions.

"'Tis the Season" was created by Loch Ness Productions.

Shown December 4, 11, & 18