Press Release
November 14, 2016
Contact: Sarah Dumas
Oklahoma History Center, Oklahoma Historical Society
Office: 405-522-0785
sdumas@okhistory.org
www.okhistory.org/historycenter
Oklahoma History Center to Host Deck the Halls
OKLAHOMA CITY — The Oklahoma History Center will host its third annual Deck the Halls, a program that focuses on traditional gift bringers from around the world, on Saturday, December 3, from 10 a.m. to noon. The event is free with admission to the museum. This family friendly activity will include an opportunity to meet and take pictures with a variety of gift bringers from around the world. Visitors will be making Christmas cards to send to soldiers unable to be home for the holidays. Also, all participants will be able to decorate Christmas tree ornaments in their own style.
The Santas of the World Group was started in 2005 as a program for the Oklahoma Historical Society. It consisted of seven people who researched stories about gift bringers from around the world in a historical context. There are now more than thirty individuals who participate in these events. Some of the Santas represented are: Mr. and Mrs. Sinterklaas (The Netherlands, 1808), LaBefana (Italy, 1600s), Baboushka (Russia, pre-1917), Pere Noel and his daughter Ophelia (France, 1500s), Star Man and his wife (Ireland, 1700s), Wallace Tartan Santa (Scotland, 1840s), Black Peter (Holland, 1500s), Julnisse (Denmark and Norway, 1600s), Civil War Santa (USA, 1860s), St. Nicholas (Europe, 400s–1100s), Jultomten (Sweden, 1500s), Christkindle (Central Europe, 1900), Pelsnickel (Middle American Colonies, 1700s), New York Santa and his wife (New York, 1870s), Ded Moroz and his granddaughter (USSR, 1930s), and gift bringers from Mexico and Central America, the Ice Queen from Iceland, and the Watcher of the Woods from Siberia.
In addition to the fun that Deck the Halls will offer, the Museum Store will be open for Christmas shopping and will extend a 10 percent discount to all attendees. OHS members will receive a 25 percent discount.
For more information on this event, call the Oklahoma History Center admissions desk at 405-522-0765 or email education@okhistory.org.
The Oklahoma History Center is a division of the Oklahoma Historical Society and is an affiliate of the Smithsonian Institution, National Archives and is an accredited member of the American Alliance of Museums. The mission of the Oklahoma Historical Society is to collect, preserve and share the history and culture of the state of Oklahoma and its people. Founded in 1893 by members of the Territorial Press Association, the OHS maintains museums, historic sites and affiliates across the state. Through its research archives, exhibits, educational programs and publications the OHS chronicles the rich history of Oklahoma. For more information about the OHS, please visit www.okhistory.org.
