Photography courtesy of Griffin Museum of Science and Industry

Muse fondly about the holidays, and certain iconic imagery like twinkling lights and glistening snowflakes may string through your mind.

As universal as these sights may seem, though, this time carries a distinct feel depending on where you live, with scenery and celebrations being as diverse as our world itself. If curiosity compels you to explore some wonderfully different takes during the season, look no further than the Kenneth C. Griffin Museum of Science and Industry.

Going to the Griffin

Located in Chicago’s expansive Jackson Park just steps from the shores of Lake Michigan, this museum is a wonderful reprieve from the Windy City’s characteristically snowy, chilly winters. Amid renowned displays dedicated to subjects such as space travel, battleships, and neural science is its annual spotlight on multicultural festivities: Christmas around the World and Holidays of Light. These highly regarded exhibits run from mid-November through the first week of January, during which the institution devotes its grand rotunda and much of its first floor to its festive showpieces. And, as a bonus, access to the exhibits is included with regular admission.

What’s on display

The museum website states that the Christmas around the World exhibit “began in 1942 with a single tree.” This original evergreen was newly decorated daily for twelve days as a nod to the dozen countries that fought alongside our nation in World War II. But as humble as an adorned tree may sound, it is no ordinary household centerpiece. The spectacle today centers on a four-story Grand Tree, a designation it certainly earns due to its impressive height, brilliant lights, and breathtaking array of opulent handmade ornaments.

Around the Grand Tree in the rotunda, you’ll find a veritable forest of over fifty artfully decorated trees—reflecting the collective efforts of volunteers from the Chicago metro area. In prior years, these works have featured trimmings such as international flags, angels, ornate bows, and even miniature exotic birds, though the exhibit changes annually. Strolling through the entire scene is an immersive experience, and each individual tree displays unique embellishments celebrating a fascinating culture, so they all warrant close inspection.

In the second seasonal exhibit, Holidays of Light, you can explore artifacts that represent other worldwide occasions, from solemn religious events to boisterous celebrations. Inside glass cases interspersed throughout the institution’s main floor, you’ll find eye-catching imagery from Chinese New Year, Diwali, Kwanzaa, Ramadan, Hanukkah, and more. As different as each may be, though, their unifying theme is illumination, and the exhibit makes a concerted effort to display twinkling artifacts alongside in-depth facts about each occasion’s history and ongoing importance.

If you’re seeking an enlightening and thought-provoking way to spend the season, consider the Griffin Museum of Science and Industry an essential stop. It is jam-packed with family-friendly exhibits, and Christmas around the World and Holidays of Light may just be two of its most inspiring. No wonder guests flock to the museum year after year to explore these spectacles and reflect on what holiday festivities mean to all of us.

For more info, visit msichicago.org