Looking for new ideas to bring the magic of Christmas into your museum or historic site? Join us on Tuesday, November 26 at 3 p.m. Eastern for an engaging session of AASLH’s History Hour, where we’ll explore the many ways museums and historic sites are interpreting Christmas. It’s free to participate however pre-registration is required.

History Hour is a free, monthly online networking event hosted by the American Association for State and Local History that has grown from 6 participants in January to nearly 230 this month! It’s a fantastic way to connect with colleagues from around the country, share ideas, and pick up fresh tips.

I’ll be co-hosting with Ken Turino, and we’ll be diving into themes from our new book, Interpreting Christmas at Museums and Historic Sites, released in September. During the session, we’ll briefly introduce the topic and then jump into small group discussions where participants can talk through questions like:

• How can historical and cultural traditions in your local communities be woven into your Christmas programs?
• How have partnerships and sponsorships shaped your Christmas programming?
• How do you ensure your Christmas interpretation aligns with your organization’s mission while staying relevant to today’s audience?
• Given the diversity of Christmas traditions, how do you decide what to include or exclude in your interpretation?
• What small steps have you taken to reinterpret Christmas at your site, and how have those changes influenced long-term planning?

After 30 minutes of lively group discussion, we’ll come together as a large group to share insights and takeaways. It’s a wonderful opportunity to gain new perspectives and learn from your peers.

Whether you’ve been interpreting Christmas for years or are just beginning, we’d love to have you join us for this festive and thoughtful event. Mark your calendar for November 26, and come ready to discuss your ideas and challenges!