First Annual Christmas in July Festival - July 2009

Our own Santa Claus poses with Kitchen Kettle Village's mascot, Yummie, as they stroll the grounds of the festival.

A snapshot of part of the festival grounds, prior to opening.

Quality craftsmanship was the hallmark of the vendors offering Christmas-themed merchandise.

Christmas antiques were offered for sale. Visitors were able to take home a Christmas childhood memory - a plastic Santa, 1950's color wheel, an ornament that perhaps hung on Grandma's tree...

Frosty, keeping it cool in July, with a friend.

PA German Scherenschnitte (cut paper) art stood side by side with locally-crafted Amish quilts.

Santa had fans of all ages.

Colonial art form theorem painting, presented by sandra Coldren.

It was a red hot Red Hat Christmas in July as we greeted the ladies of the Red Hat Society!

Collectors showcased vintage and antique Christmas items for sale.

Locally-made fabric art gave the festival a taste of Lancaster County.

Live music was provided by Narrow Road (shown) and Brother Bob and Friends.

There was quite an array of arts, crafts and collectibles from which to choose. Thirty eight vendors attended the first festival.

Tinsmith Karen Hurd offered both practical and decorative art for sale.

The booths were both colorful and nostalgic.

Artisans such as Al Moeser demonstrated their craft for the festival crowds.

Next year's festival will be held the second Saturday in July. Check out the web site - www.NationalChristmasCenter.com - for details next Spring.

Video of Christmas Museum

Come enjoy our newly renovated Christmas gift shop. Now offering Byers Choice carolers, scented candles, vintage-inspired ornaments and handcrafted, made in the USA Snow Children, in addition to the ever-popular Old World Christmas glass ornaments.

a quick video tour of National Christmas Center

Christmas in July Festival

We're gearing up for our first annual Christmas in July Festival, to be held Saturday, July 18, 2009, from 10 am until 6 pm. More
information is available here , along with applications for food vendors and arts and crafts vendors.
Musical groups "Narrow Road" and "Keldon Hearts" will be performing live throughout the day. Check out the link for all the latest information!

Keldon Hearts (left)

and Narrow Road (below)

From where did Santa's reindeer come? And how did Rudolph come to join them?

What’s the story with the reindeer? Where did they originate?

Authors and businessmen are at the bottom of Santa’s ungulate fixation. Washington Irving’s “A History of New York” has Saint Nicholas riding on a horse with a wagon. Fifteen years later, in 1821, a poem called “Santeclaus” provided the jolly one with a sleigh drawn by a single reindeer.

The venerable “The Night Before Christmas” added depth to his reindeers by giving them names and describing the way in which Saint Nicholas (who was an elf at this point) shimmies out of houses. And – no joke – a controversy still exists as to whether “Donner” or “Donder” is the true name of the seventh reindeer. (Senator Robert J. Dole (R-Kansas) allegedly called for an investigation on this extremely critical issue.)

So it was. For over a hundred years, Santa had eight reindeers. Then, in 1939, a Chicago-based chain of department stores gave him a ninth. The company asked one of their copywriters to write a Christmas story as a promotional gimmick.
Robert L. May’s Rudolph was not actually the offspring or even a distant cousin of Santa’s existing reindeer, he was from an “ordinary” reindeer village outside of the North Pole (read: the wrong side of the tracks). And unlike Johnny Marks’ famous song, Rudolph was very much loved by his parents, and only minimally subjected to ridicule.

Moreover, he wasn’t hand-picked by Santa because of his shiny nose. Santa discovered him by accident, when he noticed the glow under the red-nosed reindeer’s door while delivering presents to his house – aw, even animals get gifts!
Weatherman Claus had noticed the fog earlier in the evening and, feeling that it would lead to delays and accidents, gave Rudolph the rags-to-riches story his nose deserved. Upon their successful return home, Santa said, “By YOU last night’s journey was actually bossed. Without you, I’m certain we’d all have been lost!”
(Auhtor Unknown)

How many different ways can you spell "Belschnickle"?

Belschnickle is the PA German version of Santa Claus. Through the years, as people have handed down stories of this gift giver - who has sweets and nuts for good children and a switch on the bottom for the naughty children - the name and spelling has changed to reflect local dialect and pronunciation. The following is a partial list of spellings we've seen.

How do YOU spell Belschnickle?

Belsnickle
Bellschniggle (Philadelphia Gazette, 1827)
Belsh Nickel (Annals of Philadelphia, 1830)
Belschnikkle (1839, Columbia, PA /1840, York, PA)
Peltznikle
Belsnickling
Bell Sneekling (1853, Harrisburg, PA)
Belschnicol
Peltz Nickle (1861, York, PA)
Bell Schnickel
Pelze Nicol
Pelznickle
Peltznickle
Pelz-Nickel
Belznickel
Bells-Nickle
Bell-Snickle
Beltzsnickle
Belsnickler/Pelsnickler (Shenandoah Valley, VA)
Pelse
Belsnicklin
Pelsing
Bells-Snickle
Pelze Nicol (“fur-clad Nicholas”)

National Christmas Center's version:

Amazing Grace Techno - Computer Controlled Christmas Lights from Richard Holdman on Vimeo.

New Exhibit Under Construction

Well, we said there would be no new exhibits this year, but we just couldn't help ourselves!

Construction has begun on "O Holy Night". It will showcase a near-life-size, hand-carved wooden Nativity. There are a total of 20 pieces: the Holy Family, kings, shepherds and sheep of course, but also huge camels (three!), an Italian bag piper, oxen and some incredible angels.

They are majestic, finely carved, and richly colored in jewel-tone paint and will make a magnificent display. It will immediately follow The Art of the Nativity, and will precede The First Christmas - the perfect setting for this tribute to the real meaning of Christmas.

We were blessed to get these pieces as a donation to National Christmas Center. They were originally displayed in Marshall Fields' flagship store.

We will post some photos as the exhibit progresses...

Top Story - KidReporters Visit NCC!

Some junior members of the press recently paid a visit to National Christmas Center.

Joshua and Kiernan, rising fifth graders, came to review our museum for the web site KidFriendlyOnline.net. This web site, geared towards families and young children, rates top "kid friendly" attractions around the country. Several Lancaster County properties will be featured in their online critiques and the top reviews, chosen by KidFriendly staff, will be published in a hardcover book.

Joshua liked checking out the old-fashioned brass cash register and all the old toys in our 1950's Woolworth's 5 & 10 Cent Store.

TudorTowne's animated storybook village caught everyone's attention.

The reporters took lots of notes and photographs so they could accurately describe their experiences.

Joshua's family

Kiernan's family

Thanks to KidFriendlyOnline's KidReporters! We hope you enjoyed your visit, and we look forward to reading your reviews of National Christmas Center - a one-of-a-kind kid-friendly museum and family attraction!

Red Hot Christmas in July

It was a Red Hot Christmas in July when we celebrated a special day for Ladies of the Red and Purple Society!
The Jersey Tomatoes (above) were just one of the numerous chapters who visited with us.

The Ladies loved shopping at Paradise Christmas gift shop!

Lucky was all decked out for the event...

The Red H@t flag flew outside our doors as we welcomed each chapter.

Next Red and Purple Event is Red Hot Christmas Magic and Memories in November! See our web site for details!

New additions to Art of the Nativity

A selection of more than 150 contemporary Nativities from around the world has been donated to our collection, The Art of the Nativity. This addition has generated quite a bit of interest from visitors, as the different styles, materials and techniques tell the stories of the cultures of their origin. Soon to come... an exquisite, near-life-size Nativity, complete with a menagerie of animals. Check back with us for updates.

MORE Virtual Tours now online!

Click on the link on the left hand side of your screen to see our entire list of panoramic virtual tours! The following exhibits are showcased:

The building exterior - during a "snowfall"

Christmas 1944, Turn of the Century Santa and antique Nativity in the NCC lobby panorama

Christmas around the World - showing life-sized gift-givers from different countries

F. W. Woolworth's 5 & 10 Cent Store (recreation)

several "chapters" of TudorTowne animated story book village

the life-sized Nativity scene in our First Christmas exhibit

Take a peek at just a bit of the Christmas magic you'll find at National Christmas Center.

Santas Descend on National Christmas Center for Pre-holiday Celebration!

A wonderful group of real-bearded Santas decided to visit and had a blast! The group was amazed by the exhibits and had a great time. We enjoyed ho-ho-hosting the group!

The TRAVEL CHANNEL returns to film again

NCC will be featured again on the TRAVEL CHANNEL this holiday season (2008). Filming took place in February. We will update you when we know when the segment will air. Look for us in Victoria Magazine, too!

Open again to the public!

We're back! National Christmas Center is open to the public for its 2008 season, weekends in March and April, then daily May 1, 2008 through January 3, 2009. Closed Easter, Thanksgiving and Christmas Day.

Admission is $11 for adults and seniors, $5 for children ages 3-12. Season passes are available, and special rates apply for groups of 20 or more who schedule in advance.

Street of Memories is open, and 1950's Coca Cola Christmas is now complete. Stop by, check us out - relive your childhood Christmas memories!

New virtual tours

New virtual tours have been added to the web site: a panorama of our lobby, featuring "Christmas 1944 - the War Years", a turn of the century American Santa lifecast and collection of electric trains, and a glimpse of several chapters of TudorTowne animated storybook village. http://www.nationalchristmascenter.com/exhibits/htm/virtualtour.htm . Of course, the Woolworth's 5&10 is still a favorite. These virtual tours are done by Mike Sabol.

Fun for all ages...

New Exhibits - Progress Report

Construction is continuing on two new exhibits, expected to open this month.

I love "A 1950's Christmas" - a trip down memory lane for those who grew up in that era. Two little children are peeking out from a stairway, where they see Santa Claus, drinking a soda in front of their fireplace. There are an old chrome and red vinyl kitchen table set and vintage kitchen appliances visible through the "doorway" that leads from this living room scene, and the table is complete with a Christmas turkey in a roasting pan.

Remember bubble lights? The tree is going to be decorated with them and all those ticky-tacky plastic ornaments that seemed to define that time period. Of course, we're setting up a train set to run underneath the tree. Early American (ugh) furniture will round out the living room and add to the authenticity.

This is inspired by an old Coca Cola Santa ad, made popular by Haddon Sundblom (don't quote me on the spelling). Judy Murtagh, from the American Christmas Museum, is the original designer of this exhibit.

The other exhibit, "Street of Memories", continues to develop as it is being built. The department store windows will include an extensive Hummel display, on loan from Dallas Krapf. Vinyl records (try explaining to your kids what those are!) will take up another window, and the rest... we will have to wait and see what Jim decides. He certainly has plenty to choose from. :)