Glencairn Museum hosts must-see holiday magic through Jan. 7

For those families and individuals looking for the magic and pageantry of Christmas along with the reason for the season, Glencairn Museum’s Christmas at Glencairn exhibitions and tour offer excitement and beauty for every age.

The program of events, which includes the popular annual World Nativities exhibition (donations for self-guided tour, or included with the guided “Christmas in the Castle” tour), continues through Sunday, January 7, 2018.

“Forty unique nativities are on display in custom-designed settings in the Upper Hall and Great Hall,” says Joralyn Glenn, Marketing & Public Relations for Glencairn Museum, “amid the stained glass, statuary, paintings and mosaics that are part of Glencairn, the former home of Mildred and Raymond Pitcairn.”

Various artists from around the world have created these depictions of the Christ Child’s birth as expressions of their own interpretations of the Christmas story. Each nativity has been painstakingly researched by Glencairn’s curator and museum researcher (also a husband-and-wife team), Ed and Kirsten Gyllenhaal, who have written labels to give visitors an understanding of the artist and his or her country, as well as the age of the piece.

While many of the nativities are from Glencairn Museum’s own extensive collection, the Museum also exhibits nativities from other collections, including other museums’ and those of the artists.

This year’s featured nativity has been created by R. Michael Palan and Karen Loccisano, another husband-and-wife team and professional artists from Bridgewater, N.J. Inspired by a painting by Flemish artist Pieter Bruegel the Elder, the artists used polymer clay, Styrofoam, wood and cardboard to develop the image of Mary, Joseph and Jesus in a 16th-century Flemish inn yard dusted with snow.

This nativity first delighted Glencairn visitors in 2014, and returns with added details. Children as well as adults will have fun locating the myriad fine touches and surprises, including Mary’s blonde locks, all the barnyard animals around and underfoot and the three kings given a happy welcome by the youngsters of the village.

Christmas at Glencairn is suitable for all ages, including youngest children under adult supervision. Strollers & backpack child carriers are prohibited and wheelchairs cannot be accommodated beyond the first floor.

For more information on the exhibitions and to register for the “Christmas in the Castle” tour, 267.502.2990 or GlencairnMuseum.org. Glencairn Museum is at 1001 Cathedral Road, Bryn Athyn 19009.

DETAILS of SELF-GUIDED EXHIBITIONS & GUIDED TOUR:

World Nativities exhibition, dozens of unique, curated scenes depicting the Christmas story from the viewpoint of artists & cultures around the world. Daily 12-4:30pm through Jan. 7. Closed Dec. 24 & 25. Sugg. donation $5pp for self-guided tour of both exhibitions.

Do You See What I See? Imagery in Nativity Scenes exhibition, exploring the meaning behind artistic representations of the Christmas story and featuring rare and unusual depictions in decorations, published illustrations, advertising, cards and more from the collections of Glencairn and the National Christmas Center and Museum in Lancaster, PA. Daily 12-4:30pm through Jan. 7. Sugg. donation $5pp for self-guided tour of both exhibitions.

“Christmas in the Castle” guided tour. Join this 45-minute tour to discover how Christmas was celebrated at Glencairn when it was the private home of the Raymond and Mildred Pitcairn family (1939 to 1979). Tour includes the family chapel and an elevator ride to enjoy the Philadelphia skyline from the tower. M-F 1:30 & 2:30pm; Sat & Sun 1:00, 1:30 & 2:30pm. $12 adults, $10 students/65+, half price Basic Museum members, free for Gold and Patron members and children 3 & under. Reservations strongly recommended for individuals & required for groups.