A big show celebrates the shortest day of the year

(DECEMBER 7, 2019) In the United States, the month of December has many holidays. They include Christmas, Hanukkah, and Kwanzaa. However, some people also observe the winter solstice. The winter solstice is the shortest day of the year. This year the winter solstice is December 21.

The Portland Revels is a local performance organization. It has presented a community show to celebrate the winter solstice every year for 25 years. The story changes every year. However, the show always has music, dance, and comedy from the late medieval period through the Renaissance era (approximately 1250s-1690s). The audience often sings along with the performers.

The name of the show this year is "The Ghosts of Haddon Hall." The story takes place in an old castle in England. The castle has been empty for 200 years. Visitors to the castle, however, meet ghosts from its long history. The visitors learn about many different winter solstice celebrations in history.

The idea this year is this: "Can we open the door to the future while holding on to what's important to us from the past?"