Tag Archives: Interpreting Christmas

AASLH’s Interpreting History Series Now on Sale

If you’re looking to expand your bookshelf this summer, now’s a great time to explore the Interpreting History series from the American Association for State and Local History (AASLH). Bloomsbury is currently offering 10–15% off the entire series—an excellent opportunity to add fresh perspectives on interpretation to your library.

Among them is my newest title, Interpreting Christmas, co-authored with Ken Turino. We examine how museums and historic sites can thoughtfully interpret winter holidays in ways that are inclusive, community-centered, and grounded in historical research. If you’ve ever struggled with how (or whether) to “do” Christmas at your site, this book offers a framework—and lots of practical examples.

Even better: AASLH members always receive 20% off all titles in the series, including those not currently on sale. If you’re not already a member, it’s a great time to join.

This sale also comes at a turning point for AASLH’s publishing program. Earlier this year, Bloomsbury acquired Rowman & Littlefield’s academic publishing business, expanding the reach of the Interpreting History series to a much broader international audience.

Of course, most of us don’t write museum books for the royalties (we know we’re not Nora Ephron—or even Nora Roberts). The real reward is seeing our work spark ideas, inspire change, and shape the way history is shared with the public. So whether you’re an interpreter, educator, or site manager, pick up a volume or two—and join the conversation.

Webinar: Interpreting Winter Holidays with Your Community

The winter holidays are some of the most beloved and heavily attended times of year for museums and historic sites—but interpreting them can be a challenge. Whose stories are told? What traditions are represented? How can we ensure our programs are welcoming, accurate, and relevant to our communities?

If you’ve been asking these questions, join me at an upcoming webinar hosted by the American Association for State and Local History (AASLH):

  • “Interpreting Winter Holidays with Your Community”
  • Wednesday, June 12, 2025, 3:00–4:00 PM Eastern
  • $45 / $25 for AASLH members
  • Register here

I’ll be speaking alongside Ken Turino, Martha Katz-Hyman, and Morgan Lloyd, each of whom brings experience and insights into crafting more inclusive, community-centered holiday programs. We’ll explore ways that museums and historic sites can move beyond nostalgic or monolithic narratives and instead embrace a richer variety of traditions and histories—from Hanukkah to Kwanzaa, from secular seasonal festivals to the complexities of Christmas. Whether you’re revamping long-standing programs or launching something new, this session will offer fresh ideas, examples, and practical steps for engaging your community during the holiday season.

In my portion of the webinar, I’ll share strategies for refreshing an existing Christmas event by incorporating research on state and local history, helping organizations better connect with their communities and interpret traditions in a meaningful context.

The webinar is inspired in part by the recent book Interpreting Christmas at Museums and Historic Sites, which Ken and I co-edited and which features contributions from many practitioners grappling with these same questions. As a bonus, webinar attendees will receive a 30% discount on the book.

Webinar: Interpreting Winter Holidays on June 12

I know, we’re barely out of winter and we’re talking about winter holidays?? If you work at a museum or historic site, I know you’re already planning and we’re here to help!

Building upon the AASLH publication Interpreting Christmas at Museums and Historic Sites and our 2024 webinar on Maximizing Your Museum’s Holiday Potential, this webinar will explore how historic houses and history museums can transform the holiday season into a powerful opportunity for community engagement, inclusivity, and innovation. Focusing on Christmas, Hanukkah, and Kwanzaa, this presentation will offer case studies of successful programming and exhibits from across the country and brainstorming on how participants can scale and adapt these ideas to fit their local contexts and community needs.

Presenters include:

DATE: June 12, 2025

TIME: 3:00 – 4:15 pm EASTERN (Remember to adjust for your time zone)

COST: $25 AASLH members/$45 nonmembers

To register or for more details, visit the AASLH Resource Center.

Join Today’s Museum People Call on Interpreting Christmas at Museums!

Are you ready to explore how the holiday season can transform your museum? Today at 12 pm Central Time (1 pm Eastern), the Illinois Association of Museums is hosting its monthly “Museum People Call”, and this month’s topic is Christmas at Museums and Historic Sites!

I’ll be joined by Ken Turino, my co-editor of the new AASLH book series Interpreting Christmas at Museums and Historic Sites, to discuss how your organization can leverage the holiday season to its fullest potential.

We’ll cover key topics to help you:

  • Leverage the holiday season to attract visitors and engage your community.
  • Increase financial stability through creative programming, gift shop sales, and end-of-year giving campaigns.
  • Enhance cultural sensitivity and inclusivity, ensuring your holiday interpretation is meaningful and welcoming to diverse audiences.

Whether your site has a long history of holiday programming or you’re just starting to explore the possibilities, this session will offer practical tips and inspiring ideas to align holiday traditions with your mission.

🎄 Join Us on Zoom 🎄
Click here to join the meeting
Meeting ID: 861 3328 4346

Let’s come together to make the holiday season brighter, more inclusive, and impactful for your museum and its visitors. We look forward to seeing you there!

PS. On Wednesday, December 25, the Gilded Age and Progressive Era podcast will release an interview about the Interpreting Christmas book with me, Ken, and Lenora Henson, formerly director of the Theodore Roosevelt Inaugural Historic Site in Buffalo, New York.

Unwrap Fresh Ideas on Interpreting Christmas at History Hour on November 26

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!

Interpreting Christmas Debuts to Enthusiastic Response at AASLH Conference

While I was traveling in England over the past few weeks, Interpreting Christmas at Museums and Historic Sites was released in print. The book made its debut at the American Association for State and Local History annual meeting in Alabama, where my co-editor, Ken Turino, was on hand to sign copies. We were thrilled to see the book sell out on the first day of the conference! It’s now listed on Amazon’s Hot New Releases for the “museum industry.” We are incredibly grateful for this positive reception. This project has been years in the making, and Ken and I (and the contributors!) are delighted to finally share this resource with you. A sneak peek at the table of contents and introduction is available.

If you missed out on purchasing a copy at the annual meeting or were unable to attend, you can order it online at Rowman.com or mail this order form. Use code RLFANDF30 at checkout to save 30%. This discount is available through September 2025. The book officially releases on September 20, so it should ship immediately when you order.

For those attending the New England Museum Association annual conference in Newport, Rhode Island, we’ll be presenting a panel discussion on Christmas on Thursday, November 7, from 11:00 am to 12:30 pm. Joining us will be Laurel A. Racine, Supervisory Historian and Program Manager for the National Park Service; Patricia West, recently retired Curator of Martin Van Buren National Historic Site and author of Domesticating History: The Political Origins of America’s House Museums; and David Rau, Curator of Visitor Engagement at the Florence Griswold Museum.

If you’ve had a chance to read Interpreting Christmas, we’d greatly appreciate a review on Amazon.com. Since history museums and historic sites are such a specialized field, your feedback can help others make more informed purchasing decisions.

Amazon’s Hot New Releases for the “museum industry“ for September 2024.