The ever controversial Shroud of Turin is making headlines again. New findings, reportedly by Italy’s National Agency for New Technologies, Energy and Sustainable Development, show that the image of a crucified man was projected into the cloth by a laser-like burst of light.
Whether you believe the Shroud is a fake or the actual burial cloth of Jesus Christ, this news creates one more occasion to contemplate one of His most profound quotes:
“I AM the light of the world. Whoever follows Me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” —John 8:12
But if you’re about to book your flight to Italy to get up close with the Shroud yourself, hold your horses. You’ll have to wait for the next public exhibition, which hasn’t been announced. The Cathedral of Turin is quite careful with the artifact and shows it only periodically to the masses. It was last on exhibit a mere 44 days in the spring of 2010.
Chanukah, the Jewish Festival of Lights, begins tonight. And for those who participate in a special online promotion, it brings with it the opportunity to win a trip to Israel.
Just go to the special Chanukah Web site and light a virtual candle each night for eight nights. Complete all eight nights and you’ll be entered in the drawing for a free Israel trip, courtesy of the Israel Ministry of Tourism and El Al Israel Airlines.
The backstory: The eight nights of Chanukah commemorate the miracle that took place during the time of the Maccabees, when God caused a one-day supply of lamp oil to last eight days—until a new supply could be prepared.
The Seleucid King Antiochus Epiphanes (215-164 B.C.) had outlawed Jewish worship and desecrated the Holy Temple in Jerusalem. The Jews needed to re-consecrate the Holy Temple and restore the biblical mandates, which included lighting the Temple’s seven-branched lamp stand.
Here’s an idea that will reflect well on you: Dashboard signs designed in such a way that they reflect scripture passages. Created by Get It In Your Soul, the Driving Reflections, as the signs are called, come in packets of 16 different scriptures and a non-slip holder to keep them in place, all for $10. It’s a clever way to keep your thoughts on whatsoever things are good, while keeping your eyes on the road.
There is something about Christmas in San Antonio that both comforts the soul and energizes the spirit. I’ve tried many times to analyze just how they manage to pull off that combination. Certainly the traditions that follow are essential to the mix.
24/7 On Tinsel, Pinatas And Enchiladas
Dickens once wrote that Christmas should be kept every day. For 70 years now, Mi Tiera Café has taken that to heart. Not only is this beloved Tex-Mex institution open ‘round the clock, it’s decked for Christmas year-round. If there’s a line for seating, consider it your cue to grab a Mexican hot chocolate and explore the décor while you wait.
A River of Lights
I don’t know who counts the bulbs, but this year the River Walk claims 1.8 million lights drape the downtown section alone. At the newer, oddly named and less-visited Museum Reach of the river, another hundred lights illuminate the water from beneath the surface.
La Gran Posada
In this traditional Hispanic procession, everyone tags along behind Mary and Joseph as they set forth Dec. 18 from Milam Park searching for a place to stay. They’re turned away from Market Square, the Governors Palace and the Bexar County Courthouse. But when they arrive at the 275-year-old San Fernando Cathedral, they’re welcomed with a Mariachi Christmas show.
View From the Top
Sometimes, what you need is to see things in perspective. Like from 750 feet above. You can do just that from the observation deck atop the Tower of the Americas, particularly fun at night for a bird’s-eye view of the Christmas lights.
It Came Upon a Midnight Car
Concordia Lutheran Church greets you at the curb with an audio CD, the better for you to experience the telling of the Christmas story during this year’s Drive-Thru Nativity—The Gift, Dec. 17-18. The stay-in-your-car route takes in 10 stops where imaginative sets are populated with live actors and animals.
The One-Man Christmas Carol
Scrooge had all night to become a different man. Come Dec. 17, actor Damian Gillen takes but a wee hour to transform from Scrooge, to Marley, to Bob Cratchit, to all the Spirits of Christmas and even Tiny Tim in Bah Humbug, a most engaging one-man staging of the classic Dickens story. Performed outdoors on the River Walk in the Arneson River Theatre.
A Whale (and Dolphin) of a Season
Look for celebrity snowmen, dolphins dancing The Nutcracker and an all new Shamu Christmas-carol show at Sea World San Antonio. Did I mention this is the place to boardThe Polar Express 4-D Experience?
Christmas With the Cowpokes
Texas Longhorn cattle, stagecoach rides and a medicine show are all part of A Cowboy Christmas at Enchanted Springs Ranch, an 86-acre working ranch whose Old West Town has served as a movie set. Dec. 17-18.
Not Dashing Through the Snow
What makes spirits bright on a San Antonio night is riding one of the horse-drawn carriages festooned with Christmas lights. They all depart from the Alamo.
Prowling the Shops
The boutiques of La Villita, Market Square and the River Walk make for a gallery-like shopping experience as interesting as the fine arts and imported handicrafts you’ll discover in them.
Six Flags Over Christmas
During Holiday in the Park, Six Flags Fiesta Texas is showered in lights and flush with live performances geared to the season. The Nativity story, with live animals and flying angels, takes top billing in The Majesty of Christmas, through Dec. 23.
In the minds of many people, the Ryman Auditorium is Nashville. And this month, the historic stage’s Christmas lineup is hard to beat for sheer variety—and for proximity to Music City’s other top holiday lights (lots and lots of lights!) and delights.
More Lights Than You Can Shake A Peppermint Stick At
Few resorts can hold a candle, much less a string of twinklers, to Gaylord Opryland. The place is covered in light displays from the front drive to the indoor riverwalk and everywhere—and we do mean everywhere—in between.
Deck The Dining Table
Historic Belmont Mansion, a Civil War survivor that enjoys a place among Nashville’s top 20 attractions as Tennessee’s largest tour home, is decorated for Christmas all month. But you really want to time your visit around these three special events: Christmas With the Acklens on Dec. 10 with refreshments and children’s activities; the Annual Christmas Dinner on Dec. 13 with lunch or dinner seatings; and candlelight tours Dec. 15 with caroling, gingerbread cookies and hot chocolate.
The Irish Are Coming
Last year’s show was so well-received, A Celtic Christmas at the Ryan brings the top of the Irish back again Dec. 14 for ancient Irish and Scottish Christmas carols, dance and a reading in Scottish dialect from the Glaswegian Bible about the birth of Jesus Christ. Who’ll be there this time around? Eight-piece Irish-Scottish band The Celts; Cathy Jordan, who has toured the world singing traditional Irish Sligo; Dublin’s pied piper Ivan Goff, of Riverdance and Lord of the Dance; The Nashville Irish Step Dancers; The Gael Strings; Children’s Celtic Choir; and comedian Jeffrey Durham.
Carols, Carriages And Candlelight
Belle Meade Plantation, a historic thoroughbred horse farm—turned tour home, restaurant and winery—is dressed in its seasonal finery for A Century of Christmas 1853-1953. The candlelight eveningDec. 9 promises Victorian carols and carriage rides.
Forget Silver And Gold, Just Go Platinum
Platinum-selling pianist Jim Brickman brings his rich instrumentation to traditional holiday tunes at the Ryan Auditorium Dec. 15 with plenty of special-guest vocals—all in Jim Brickman, A Christmas Celebration.
Little Christmas on the Prairie
The Ingalls family faces its toughest winter yet in Laura Ingalls Wilder Christmas, by Laurie Brooks. The Lakewood Theatre Company performs this play, spiced with period songs, through Dec. 17.
On Tour With The Lamb
In recent years, Christian recording artist Andrew Peterson has based his annual Christmas tour on his album Behold The Lamb Of God: The True Tall Tale Of The Coming Of Christ, which won Best Album of the Year, World Christian Music Editor’s Award 2004 and was named by Rhapsody.com as one of the ten best Christian albums of the decade. This time around, the show will hit Alabama, Kentucky, Ohio, Texas, North Carolina and elsewhere in Tennessee before culminating Dec. 18 in Nashville’s historic Ryman Auditorium.
An Old Hickory Homestead
The Hermitage, historic home of President Andrew Jackson, is open year-round for day tours. But it is particularly festive during the Christmas season. Special evening tours are scheduled Dec. 8 & 13.
Dinner With The Sister
Gaylord Opryland spreads the table for Louise Mandrell’s Christmas Dinner Party. Through Dec. 25, a traditional holiday meal comes with a blockbuster show for dessert: Louise, her band and special guests.
More Irish Are Coming
Hymn writers Kristyn and Keith Getty join traditional Irish musicians, the Tennessee Men’s Chorale and the Ladies Chorus for Joy! An Irish Christmas, an evening of carols honoring the LORD of the Christmas story. Dec. 19 at the Schermerhorn Symphony Center.
Someone Else at the Wheel
Holiday itineraries at Grayline Tours include Music City Christmas Wonderland, which takes in Nashville’s brightest Christmas light displays; Twinkling Tennessee Christmas, for the decorations in Nashville and Franklin; and Music City, HO! HO!, aboard the Christmas Trolley for a tour of Nashville by night with a swingin’, singin’ Santa.
12 Days Of Christmas In 2 Nights
For the fifth year, the chart-topping husband and wife duo of Amy Grant and Vince Gill perform traditional Christmas songs and secular hits at the historic Ryman Auditorium in their Twelve Days of Christmas show Dec. 20-21.
Butterball Meets Legends in Concert
Nashville’s up-and-comers perform popular and holiday hits, accompanied by a four-course dinner at Music City Christmas Live at the Fontanel Mansion & Farm through Dec. 28. Admission includes tickets to tour the 27,000-square-foot log home once owned by Barbara Mandrell.
Holiday at Cheekwood
The limestone mansion and 55 acres of formal gardens known as Cheekwood, the estate with Maxwell House Coffee connections, holds A Frontier Christmas at Cheekwood through Dec. 31.
Drive-Thru Synchronicity
Shadrack’s Christmas Wonderland doesn’t just light up the night, it sets it to music is what they’re calling the world’s largest light display—all LED—synchronized to the music of the season. Through Jan. 8.
New Year’s in 4-Part Harmony
Gospel quartet Legacy Five rings in 2012 at Gaylord Opryland Dec. 31-Jan. 2 during New Year’s Eve Celebration—A Southern Gospel Festival. Guests include Celebration, Booth Brothers, Greater Vision, Ken Davis, The Issacs, Freedom Singers and the Mark Trammell Quartet.
Travel Therefore 