Winter Solstice Night at the Museum

November 21, 2011

Wednesday, December 21, extended hours 5:00-8:00 pm, Revels' Headgear Gallery performances, 6:00 pm

Celebrate the winter solstice during extended hours on December 21 from 5:00 to 8:00 pm at the Harvard Museum of Natural History. Explore human's fascination with the symbolic power of antlers during Winter Solstice Night at the Museum. In collaboration with The Christmas Revels, the Pinewoods Morris Men will perform the traditional Abbots Bromley Horn Dance in the museum's Headgear: The Natural History of Horns and Antlers gallery at 6:00 pm. The horn dance is the oldest known English ritual dance and features six human 'deer' with antlers weaving in and out in a hypnotic pattern to the sound of a haunting melody. Revels Artistic Director Patrick Swanson will introduce the performance and David Coffin, a versatile musician and featured performer in his 32nd year with Revels, will demonstrate horn-based musical instruments such as the gemshorns, the Pibcorn, and his ivory sopranino recorder.

At approximately 6:30 pm everyone will be invited to join a processional to Sanders Theatre, led by the horn dancers. All Christmas Revels ticket holders will be admitted free for Winter Solstice Night at the Museum in advance of the 7:30 pm curtain at Sanders Theatre just down Oxford Street. During the December 16-29 run of The Christmas Revels, just show your Revels ticket or ticket stub for half-price admission to the museum. Headgear: The Natural History of Horns and Antlers will remain on display through December 2011.

About the Harvard Museum of Natural History

The Harvard Museum of Natural History is located at 26 Oxford Street, a 7-8 minute walk through historic Harvard Yard from the Harvard Square T station. The museum is handicapped accessible. More than 192,000 visitors a year make the museum the University’s most visited.

Harvard Museum of Natural History: Open 9:00 am to 5:00 pm, except major holidays. Admission: $9.00; seniors and students $7.00; $6.00 ages 3-18; under 3 free. For more information on exhibits and events, explore the website or call 617-495-3045.

The press release is available for download in pdf format.

See also: Press Release