When the December holidays pop up, suddenly, everything becomes centered around Christmas. And for someone who doesn’t celebrate, or is just tired of doing the same things every year, it would be nice to find something else to do. Whether you want to go to a museum and learn about the Kwanzaa principles or sip on hot chocolate reading a free book for the Yule Book Flood, there are a variety of places in the DFW area to visit and celebrate alternate holiday traditions. Either way if you want to go out for these or not, there are options you can do in your own home. Even better is to invite some friends to share the holiday cheer. That being said, here are some nearby places you should visit before the season’s over!
African American Museum of Dallas:
Kwanzaa is a week-long African-American-originated holiday from December 26 to January 1 that pulls forward social and familial values since the 1960s. Each day highlights one of the seven principles of African heritage: unity, self-determination, collective work and responsibility, cooperative economics, purpose, creativity, and faith. From the 26th to the 30th the African American Museum of Dallas will host a watch night of the movie “The Black Candle” in the auditorium and on December 28, a Kwanzaa ceremony for Umija, Collective work and responsibility, will take place from 11:30 AM to 4:30 PM.
Winter Solstice Midnight Lodge:
The Winter Solstice will occur on Dec. 21 this year, when the Northern Hemisphere reaches its farthest tilt from the Sun. It’s the shortest day of the year as we get the least sunlight and a longer night. In ancient times it was seen as a symbol of rebirth, with the death and revival of an ancient Sun god. Now, it’s a day used to host celebrations and feasts around the world. The Hillcrest Masonic Lodge invites guests to observe the 2024 Winter Solstice through the 20th at 11:00 AM into the next day, ending at 1:30 PM. Join them in raising a toast!
Dallas Public Library:
If you’re a bookworm like me, you’ll love the Icelandic Yule Book Flood – or in its founding language – Jolabokaflod. It refers to the release of new books in the months before Christmas, which are then purchased as gifts to be given the day before. The Dallas Public Library in Audelia Road celebrates its first-ever Yule Book Flood with the public, where there will be a reading of Emily Kilgore’s “The Christmas Book Flood,” along with arts and crafts. On Dec 12 from 5:30 PM to 7:00 PM, guests are welcome to grab a cup of hot chocolate and take a free book home with them.
Dallas Zoo:
When it starts to get dark outside you should take a stroll around the Dallas Zoo, where dazzling lights decorate the paths and enclosures until 9:00 PM. Buy a ticket and a hot cocoa so you can explore all the environmental-themed areas, and catch a glimpse of the animals! This bright exhibit is up until Jan. 4, so don’t miss it!
Galleria Dallas:
Ice skating is a classic Wintertime activity, and the Galleria ice skating center in Dallas is open year-long. Rent a pair of skates for $5 during one of the many public skating hours throughout the week and skate around the tree that will be up throughout December. If you’ve never skated before, buy a 15 minute private lesson with an experienced instructor to learn how! Afterwards you can grab a bite in one of the mall cafes and shop around when you’re done to wrap up.
With these tips, you should be able to find a holiday tradition that fits you the best. It’s never too late to create your own to spend the holidays how you want to, even if you were not raised with that particular tradition. Happy holidays!
