Lansing Historical Society Museum, which is Lansing Public Library’s lower level, has housed an annual holiday wonderland for four decades.
A grand opening for Festival of Lights, Christmas Trees Around the World takes place Nov. 28 upstairs in the library and features a free concert by choirs from Thornton Fractional South High School in Lansing and Thornton Fractional North High School in Calumet City.
Hours are from 6 to 8 p.m. Mondays-Thursdays, except Dec. 26 and Jan. 2, 2023, and noon to 3 p.m. Saturdays, except Dec. 24 and 31.
“That will be the kickoff and then we’ll all head downstairs to view the trees,” said Barb Dust, who has been curator of Lansing Historical Society Museum for 11 years.
She added that the 40 displays in Festival of Lights, Christmas Trees Around the World represent 30 cultures and take up 90% of the 3,500-square-foot museum.
“We always do something different. This year we’re adding a Ukrainian tree and a Czech tree because one of the high school kids who came in to help put all those trees together asked if we’re doing a Czech tree. Her grandma came from what was Czechoslovakia so I said, ‘Let’s do some research,'” Dust said.
“Last year we added the beautiful dollhouse that belonged to one of our earlier curators. Of course, there’s decorations and it gets lit up too.”
Festival of Lights, Christmas Trees Around the World — which began in 1981 and only took 2020 off — features trees representing places including Africa, Ecuador, France, Iceland, India, Italy, Japan, Lithuania, Mexico, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Puerto Rico, Russia and Sweden.
“People change it up a little bit every year. The lady who does the Indian tree dressed the mannequin in a different sari this time than it was last year and the saris are gorgeous. We do have some other ethnic costumes,” said Dust of Lansing.
“For people who like to read, at the museum we have a lot of explanations of countries’ different customs, the foods, the dinners they serve, and little stories and legends that go along with certain customs so there’s a lot to read about Christmas customs.
“We have a little Native American forest of trees. Also, we have toys from yesteryear and a lot of antique toys to go into our Santa sleigh.”
Festival of Lights, Christmas Trees Around the World also features displays for Hanukkah and Kwanzaa and about the history of the Christmas tree and community organizations including Lansing Association for Community Events and LARC, which serves people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
“It’s a joyful experience and it helps you appreciate the unity of a lot of people at this time of year celebrating together,” Dust said.
She noted that there are close to 100 society members.
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“It’s a great way to feel involved in your community, to know that you’re contributing to your community and meet new people,” Dust said.
“We can learn so much from history and realize who we are and what we have in common. Lansing was always a hardworking place. We have working-class roots. A lot of people can relate to that.
“We’re constantly learning about the history of this area — Lansing and the surrounding communities — and preserving it for the future but also educating the current residents of what the heritage of this place was and trying to be inclusive of all the people who have come in and include them in our history.
“We have a lot of diversity in Lansing and that’s why we’re showing that.”
Group tours for Festival of Lights, Christmas Trees Around the World are available by contacting Dust at 708-474-7497.
“Usually I give the tours and I will tell about the customs rather than having people read everything because I really like to do that. For the children’s tours we have some hands-on activities that go with the stories about the trees,” Barb Dust said.
“The tours can happen at other times for after-school groups or when children are on vacation they can come in during the day just by calling me and arranging the tour.”
Festival of Lights, Christmas Trees Around the World
When: Nov. 28-Jan. 5, 2023
Where: Lansing Historical Society Museum in Lansing Public Library’s lower level, 2750 Indiana Ave., Lansing
Tickets: free
Information: 708-474-2447, Ext. 176; lansingpl.org/calendar
Jessi Virtusio is a freelance reporter for the Daily Southtown.