Celebrate the Season: Your Guide to Smithsonian Associates’ Holiday Programs

Ring in the holidays with a festive mix of programs, studio arts classes and performances

The closing months of the year are a time of traditions: A treasured ornament from someone dear. A piece of seasonal music that opens a symphony of memories. A story whose telling never grows old.

Smithsonian Associates is taking a look at some of the rich tapestry behind these traditions, and introduces one you might not know about (winter ghosts, anyone?). You’ll also find ways to add color to the upcoming chilly months in Associates’ latest studio arts classes. For families, Smithsonian Discovery Theater’s signature show illuminates seasonal holiday celebrations the world over.

 

Wednesday, December 3

Dickens, Christmas and Victorian Society: Charles Dickens’ “A Christmas Carol” highlights the stark contrast between London’s wealthy and impoverished. Taking a cue from the Ghost of Christmas Past, historian Julie Taddeo returns to the age of workhouses and plum puddings to examine Dickens and Christmas within the larger social dynamic of 19th-century Britain; why the author has been credited with the “invention” of Christmas; and how this holiday became a Victorian tradition that influences how it is celebrated today. This program is presented on Zoom at 6:45 p.m. ET. $25-$35

 

Thursday, December 4

Classical Sounds of Christmas: Rachel Franklin revisits this most beloved seasonal repertory, exploring how classical Western composers from Handel to Tchaikovsky to Duke Ellington created a canon of both secular and sacred experiences that are deeply rooted in the celebration of the holidays. This program, presented on Zoom, has two sessions on Thursday Dec. 4 and 11 at 12 p.m. ET. $50- $70

America’s Favorite Holiday Movie: The Story of “It’s a Wonderful Life”: Frank Capra’s “It’s a Wonderful Life” has been a beloved Christmas classic for generations. Yet when the film was released in 1946, it was a box office flop and was largely forgotten until it was rediscovered through endless airings on local TV stations beginning in the 1970s. Media historian Brian Rose examines the fascinating story of “It’s a Wonderful Life.” This program is presented on Zoom at 6:30 p.m. ET. $25-$35

 

Saturday, December 6

Jazz it up: Holiday Cards Using Pointed-Pen Calligraphy: Step up your card- and gift-giving game this holiday season with hand-drawn holiday-themed illustrations and borders using pointed-pen flourishes. No prior experience needed with a pointed pen. This program is presented on Zoom at 1:30 p.m. ET. $70-$85

 

Sunday, December 7

Advent's Anticipation: A Reflective Writing Workshop: Ponder the possibilities that the contemplative season of Advent provides, inspired by Henry Ossawa Tanner’s painting “The Annunciation” and a poem by Wendell Berry. Designed for writers of all levels, and for the curious, the workshop led by Mary Hall Surface invites participants to look outwardly at art and to look inwardly through writing. This program is presented on Zoom at 4 p.m. ET. $40-$50

Holiday Keepsake Ornaments: Create small hanging artworks that can be individualized in many ways to fit any gift-giving occasion. Instructor Sharon Robinson shows you how to begin with miniature canvases as the base and decorate them with photos or other types of personal mementos, papers, paint, ribbon, cord, found objects, beads and other materials. This program will be held in person at the Smithsonian’s S. Dillon Ripley Center at 12 p.m. ET. $70-$85

 

Monday, December 15

Secrets and Symbols in Art: The Iconography of Christmas: The study of iconography—how symbols and allegories function in art—offers a way to understand masterpieces that have puzzled scholars for generations. Art historian Noah Charney explores the rich stories hidden in details of paintings associated with Christmas, specifically representations created by a variety of artists of the adoration of the Christ Child by the Magi or shepherds. This program is presented on Zoom at 12 p.m. ET. $30-$45

Christmas Ghost Stories: Folklorists Sara Cleto and Brittany Warman trace the long history of the winter ghost story, sharing tales and exploring how it became tied to Christmas. They discuss tales from medieval Britain, Christmas carols, and the boom of periodicals in the 19th century and reveal the extent to which Charles Dickens is responsible for the Victorian Christmas ghost story craze. This program is presented on Zoom at 6:45 p.m. ET. $25-$35

 

Wednesday, December 17

A Midcentury Christmas: Journey back to the time when aluminum trees shimmered in living rooms, Shiny Brite ornaments sparkled on branches, and cartoon holiday specials became beloved TV traditions. Through period photographs, vintage advertisements and colorful catalogs, cultural historian Leslie Goddard brings to life the spirit of Christmas in the United States from the late 1940s through the 1960s. Goddard explores how the holiday evolved during an era marked by postwar prosperity and cultural optimism for many. This program is presented on Zoom at 7 p.m. ET. $20-$30

Throughout December

Bring the child in your life (ages 5 to 10) to Smithsonian Discovery Theater’s signature show, Seasons of Light, celebrating the history and customs of Diwali (Devali), Chanukah, Las Posadas, Ramadan, Sankta Lucia Day, Kwanzaa, Christmas and the First Nations' tradition of the Winter Solstice in an interactive event that bridges communities and cultures. The show is presented at Discovery Theater in the Smithsonian’s S. Dillon Ripley Center on select weekdays, December 1-19, at 10:15 a.m. and 11:30 a.m. ET.

To view the Smithsonian Associates digital program guide, visit smithsonianassociates.org. 

Lauren Lyons | Read More

Lauren Lyons is a public affairs specialist at Smithsonian Associates.