Top 10 non-Christmas holiday celebrations

By Lisa Angelucci
Collegian Editor
December 6, 2006

We’ve heard tons about Christmas activities throughout La Salle and Philadelphia. There are tree lightings, special exhibits, concerts, shopping and more. It’s almost easy to forget that not everyone in this city will be celebrating on Dec. 25., at least not celebrating Christmas. With that in mind, here is Philly File’s guide to non-Christmas holiday celebrations, to help some look past the abundance of green and red and experience another religion, and others to find a way to celebrate their own beliefs during the holiday season.

1. Mr. Malcolm’s Hanukkah Show—Mr. Malcolm, who also performed a Halloween Spooktacular, will return to the stage at the Cheltenham Art Center. All shows are $6 and are produced by Twilight Productions. On Saturday, Dec. 16 at 1 p.m. and 3 p.m, Mr. Malcolm will lead his audience in an interactive and musical celebration of Hanukkah. It’s geared toward children, but adults are welcome.

2. Patagun! and Inchantations Winter Concert—Patagun!, a hand percussion and vocal ensemble, will join with Inchantations, a women’s vocal ensemble, to present a concert of spirit-inspired music. The concert combines African rhythms with harmonies for a multicultural experience. The Pebble Hill Interfaith Church in Doylestown, Pa. will host the Dec. 16 concert at 7:30 p.m. Admission is a requested donations of $12, and an open drum circle will follow the performance.

3. Hanukkah Concert with the Sarah Aroeste Band—The Jewish Dialogue Group and Kol Tzedek West Philadelphia Synagogue are hosting a benefit concert and Hanukkah party at the Rotunda Dec. 17. The concert will feature a performance by the Sarah Aroseste Band, the world’s only Ladino rock band. Ladino is a Spanish dialect written in Hebrew script that is traditionally used by Sephardic Jews. An $18 donation is requested, and lots of latkes will be provided.

4. Being Jewish at Christmas— The National Museum of American Jewish History puts on this event annually to provide a program for Jewish families on Christmas Day. The event runs from noon until 4 p.m., and tickets are $5. Museum members will be admitted for free. The event will feature music, magic, refreshments and special activities to take some of the focus off of Christmas.

5. Celebrate Kwanzaa with the Mlanjeni Magical Theatre— Hosted by the African American Museum in Philadelphia, the event will feature storytelling, face painting, balloon art and Kwanzaa discussions that are free with museum admission from Dec. 26-30. In addition, the museum will hold discussions of Kwanzaa and African Harvest, various performances and holiday shopping Dec. 16 at 11 a.m.

6. Latkapalooza— The Collaborative is an organization designed to connect young Jewish professionals throughout the city. It offers a wide range of cultural and social events. One of these events is the upcoming Latkapalooza, where Philadelphia chefs will prepare gourmet latkes from 1 p.m.-4 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 10. A gift bazaar and live musical performances will also be provided with $12 admission. Anyone interested in joining the Collaborative should visit the Web site at http://www.thecollaborative.org.

7. Kwanzaa with Queen Nur—The Garden State Discovery Museum in Cherry Hill, N.J. kicks off Kwanzaa Dec. 26 at 1 p.m. when Queen Nur and her daughter Sarai take the stage. The performance explains the values of the holiday through storytelling and lessons that are presented in the oral tradition.

8. Menorah Making Class—The Tesserae Studio Gallery hosts this event Sunday, Dec. 10 at 1 p.m. Because ornament-making is also included, the event allows participants to create decorations for the holiday of their choosing. The studio holds mosaic classes year round, but Sunday’s $38 event will provide attendees with colored glass, mirror, china shards and found objects to create their own holiday mosaic art.

9. Adopt a Family for Hanukkah—Christmas trees with ornaments featuring the names of local, needy families are ubiquitous during the holiday season, but Jewish families in need are not to be forgotten. The Jewish Community Centers Klein Branch’s Heart to Heart program allows those who are interested to adopt a needy family, primarily from the Northeast Philadelphia area, and provide them with a wish list to brighten their holiday season. Anyone who wants to donate should send an e-mail to rpowers@phillyjcc.com.

10. 10th Annual Winter Solstice Celebration—The Pagan Arts Initiative invites guests to “celebrate the darkness and the light with songs and stories” at the Unitarian Universalist Church in Media, Pa. and the Chestnut Hill United Methodist Church. The event takes place in Media Dec. 16 at 8 p.m. and in Chestnut Hill Dec. 21 at 7 p.m. An $8 donation is requested to view the performance by SpiralSong, a feminist spirituality vocal ensemble, and “a Winter Solstice singing ritual.”

angeluccil1@lasalle.edu