With all due respect Christian, certainly our museums are not limited to a Christian audience. Yet concentrating on Christmas programming and marketing them as Christmas programs completely ignores those who do not celebrate Christmas. We imply – rightly or wrongly – how much value we place on other celebrations and other cultures. It's one thing for us to say we're open to all, but do we show our guests how open we are? Do we put as much value on different cultures and traditions? Or is the fact that we don't turn guests away enough?

If we don't show how much we value other traditions we cause division and make a large segment of our audience feel unrepresented and possibly unwelcome. By choosing a Holiday celebration instead of simply a Christmas celebration we can prove that we're responsive and welcoming to all. The phrase "Happy Holidays" does not devalue Christmas as the wonderful celebration that it is, yet it embraces and enforces the validity and beauty of other celebrations at the same time.

Sincerely,
George Garner


George Garner
Director of Exhibitions
Center for History
808 West Washington, South Bend, IN 46601
www.centerforhistory.org // (574) 235-9664

 

--------

Celebrate Ethnic Heritage Month in November at the Center for History with a tour of our historic houses, including the Worker's Home, and a visit to our exhibition International Trees.


Dr. Christian Müller-Straten wrote:

Dear Kim,

what an anxious director... The 24th of December is, since more than
1000 years, the official birthday of Jesus Christ (eastern is in their
understanding the "higher" event, of course). Christians of all
kinds
are happy about that and give presents to each other. Other religions
have other high events. We do respect their events and expect them to do
the same!  Do not retreat to "Holidays". There are many
holidays without
any religious content, like bank holidays or independance days. This
would soften the original meaning. Let us defend christmas time,
christmas carols and christmas feelings - against all ods like
commercialism or political correctness.

By the way, now does not start christmas time at all, but
"Advent" to
prepare ourselves for the symbolical coming of the Lord. So get back to
the roots.

Christian



"Kimberly Kenney, Curator"

<[log in to unmask]> schrieb:
Hello all,

My Director has asked me to ask the List what your
official position is at your museum regarding this
festive time of year.

We have traditionally called our programs "Holiday"
events this time of year -- Holiday Open House,
Holiday Tea, Holiday Hearth Cooked Dinner, etc.  We
are fully decorated with about 30 Christmas trees in
our historic room settings and throughout our "Street
of Shops" (a life sized indoor town).  We do have an
outreach program exploring the origins of Holiday
Traditions, including Hanukkah and Kwanzaa, but most
of our events in house focus around the Christmas
decorations, visiting with Santa, and that kind of
thing.

We are wondering if other museums use the word
"Christmas" in their events, or if you choose to say
"Holidays."

Thank you for your input!

Kim




                       
Kimberly A. Kenney, Curator 
Wm. McKinley Presidential Library & Museum
800 McKinley Monument Dr. NW 
Canton OH 44708 * 330-455-7043 
  * NEW EXHIBIT:  "Hearth & Home" now open and on
view through April
2006.
  * SPECIAL EVENT:  Join us for our annual Holiday Open House
on
December 2.  Members are free, $5 for guests.
    
"Let us ever remember that our interests are in concord, not
conflict;
and that our real eminence rests in the victories of peace, not those of
war."  -- 25th United States President William McKinley















        
        
        
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