traditional Pioneer Christmas

By JAINE TREADWELL

Features Editor

The most celebrated month of the year begins Saturday and events all across the nation will usher in the Christmas season.

But, there will be none more impressive or more meaningful than Pioneer Christmas at the Pioneer Museum of Alabama.

The old-fashioned Christmas gathering is the museum’s gift to the community in return for the support given to the museum throughout the past year.

Pioneer Christmas will get under way at 5:30 p.m

at the Reunion Cabin where light refreshments will be served during a time of fellowship.

A candlelight walking tour of the museum grounds will take visitors along trails decorated for the season and into buildings where trees have been beautifully decorated by different clubs and organizations using materials in keeping with the pioneer period.

"The trees are a highlight of the tour and visitors may get ideas from them for decorating their own trees," said Brenda McCraney, museum administrative assistant. "The Colley Senior Complex Art Guild decorated their tree Monday with cotton bolls, dried flowers, dried vegetables and strings of cranberries and popcorn. It was topped with an angel made from magnolia leaves and moss was used instead of icicles. It’s absolutely beautiful."

Other trees will be decorated with unique materials and in creative ways and lend country charm to the historic buildings on the museum grounds.

Live Christmas trees will line the split rail fence and plans are to light the windmill.

"But, we won’t light the covered bridge this year," McCraney said . "We want each Pioneer Christmas to be somewhat different from the last."

The museum will not be open during Pioneer Christmas, but visitors will have an opportunity to go inside the museum to view Christmas trees decorated by the Art Guild and Old Alabama Town of Montgomery.

The candlelight tour will end at the log church, where everyone will be invited in to sing the familiar carols of Christmas.

"Pioneer Christmas is a very special event at the museum and one that we are looking forward to with great anticipation," McCraney said. "We invite everyone to join us and celebrate Christmas in much the same way as those who pioneered Pike County did more than 100 years ago.

The candlelight tour and caroling will be from 5:30 until 6:30. However, McCraney said visitors can drop in or leave as time allows.

"I’m sure everyone will enjoy the entire program, but if you are late coming or need to leave early, that’s fine," McCraney said. "We just hope everyone will come. There is no admission charge to Pioneer Christmas. It’s a gift from the museum to you. Don’t miss this opportunity to experience the simplicity and beauty of Christmas past."