MARQUETTE, Mich.—The Beaumier Upper Peninsula Heritage Center will present a traditional Yuletide Celebration from 6-8 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 19. This non-denominational event will feature activities reflecting cultural traditions for the holiday season and a presentation on the roots of many of these activities. It will be held at the center’s gallery in 105 Cohodas Hall at Northern Michigan University.  Admission is free to the public (donations are encouraged).

The celebration will include traditional European dances, samples of ethnic holiday sweets and a craft area. Director Dan Truckey will present “The Darkest Night of the Year.” The end of the calendar year, sometimes referred to as the winter solstice, has been a time of celebration and reflection for people around the world for centuries. From the time of the Druids, through the celebration of Hanukkah, to the designation of Dec. 25 as the birthdate of Christ, this “darkest time of the year” has been a period in which many cultures celebrate their most sacred holidays and feasts.  

For more information, contact the Beaumier Center at 227-3212.