Metro Health Christmas & Holiday Traditions

HANDCRAFTED TRADITIONS

METRO HEALTH CHRISTMAS & HOLIDAY TRADITIONS

Tuesday, November 24, 2020–Sunday, January 3, 2020

There’s nothing more heartfelt than handmade gifts. They become instant heirlooms that are enjoyed season after season. Join us as we explore the beauty of a handcrafted holiday, here in West Michigan and around the world.

Creating something from scratch takes time and tender loving care that is part hand, part heart. It’s an artistry steeped in tradition, and it is on full display during this year’s Metro Health Christmas & Holiday Traditions at Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park.

This hallmark exhibition—our 26th annual—does not disappoint. Every year, we discover novel ways to showcase some of the most eclectic holiday traditions from around the world. This year, we explore how giving and decorating with handmade creations has become a time-honored tradition that transcends culture and unifies the world. Also new this year is the exhibition layout. With safety in mind due to the COVID-19 crisis, you will notice the exhibition will have a different flow to help insure physical distancing.

As you wander our winter wonderland canopied by 300,000 glistening lights, note how the concept of crafting takes on many forms, from objects to food to displays, all meticulously made with skill and care. Look beyond the handmade wreaths of evergreen and marvel at the miniature world within our Railway Garden, each building within the bustling cityscape handmade from natural materials and plants. Admire the handmade szopka nativity in our Poland display, which was inspired by Krakow’s famous landmark. Also of note is the Lithuania Christmas tree adorned in handcrafted, intricate straw ornaments and the German Christmas tree, which features homemade springerle cookies, one of the country’s most beloved holiday sweet treats.

Families in India come together to create the Rangoli, a Diwali tradition that wows with its intriguing ephemeral designs and patterns made from colored sand, rice flower, flowers, beans or lentils. Japan’s kadomatsu, or gate pine, is another family craft that involves hand-making ornate arrangements to welcome ancestral spirits, invite divinities, bring prosperity and protect from evil during the holiday season. Ghana is another point of interest, with its handwoven kente cloth. Historically worn across an Ashanti chief's shoulders, this colorful garment is a visual nod to the history, religious beliefs and social values of the country.

We can’t wait to celebrate the season and all its handcrafted, heartfelt traditions with you and your family.

The Railway Garden brings joy to many during the Metro Health & Holiday Traditions exhibition.

Kirstin Volkening