The last few weeks before winter break can certainly get dreary, but even with the traditional all-night study sessions and endless exams that will begin once classes conclude this week, there's still plenty of time to get out into the city to enjoy the fruits of the season.
Boston may not feature its classic holiday tales the way that New York City often does, but during the last month of the year, it has a charm all of its own. With traditional Christmas tree lightings and Hanukkah celebrations hosted downtown, there's no reason not to go out-on-the-town for some early festivities.
The city is full of traditional holiday activities. The Frog Pond, frozen over for ice-skating during the winter months, has long been a Boston favorite. Between admission, skate rentals, and subway fare, the entire excursion comes out to about $10, allowing you to save your cash for all your upcoming gift exchanges.
The city's Christmas tree at Prudential Center was lit up for the first time this Tuesday, but it will be shining all season long, along with decorative displays throughout the Prudential Center.
This Saturday, the Paradise Lounge is hosting a show entitled "A Hanukkah Celebration," which will feature Jewish comedians, musicians, and burlesque acts all in the spirit of the holiday. The African Meeting House in Boston has a Shabbat dinner and performance planned for Dec. 19, and the Leventhal-Sidman Jewish Community center has organized a series of events, a craft workshop, and menorah lightings for the duration of Hanukkah.
The holiday season is a great time for taking a trip down memory lane, and with the new seasonal exhibition at the Hynes Convention Center in Boston, you can quite literally do just that.
"The Enchanted Village" is an annual Bostonian tradition sponsored by the city which recreates a turn-of-the-century town on Christmas Eve. Visitors can take a train ride through a landscape that speculates what Boston might have been like a century ago. The exhibit is open from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily, and tickets are $1.
The freezing temperatures of Bostonian winters might not exactly be conducive to Christmas caroling, but that's no reason that you can't enjoy holiday songs. Tomorrow night, the Christmas Revels debut at Harvard University's Sanders Theater in the first of their month long holiday concerts.
Every year, the Revels pick a new ethnic group to pay homage to, and their repertoire this year highlights the Christmas traditions and songs of Quebec. The show features fiddlers, spoon players, clog dancers, and folk tales, and audience members are invited to join in and sing along.
Seats usually go for $20 and up, and can be purchased at the door or online through the group's website.
The Boston Gay Men's Chorus kicks off its holiday shows this weekend, with four performances at the New England Conservatory. The 150-man choir will sing traditional holiday songs celebrating both Christmas and Hanukkah, as well as winter favorites and a selection of Argentine folk songs from the season. The performance will also include a few dance acts, including a satirical version of "The Nutcracker."
The Boston Pops Orchestra returns to their home at Symphony Hall on Monday, Dec. 13, just in time for students eager for a night out during Reading Period to take a trip to a Winter Wonderland.
Since their founding in 1881, the Boston Pops have become one of the nation's most recognizable orchestras. Their "Holiday Pops" concerts include music from all sorts of holiday traditions, both secular and non-secular, and promises a festive night out away from the rigors of final exams. Tickets start at $30.
There's also plenty to do in Boston aside from the usual holiday activities. On Dec. 12, the Massachusetts Council of Minutemen and Militia will celebrate the 231st anniversary of the Boston Tea Party with a re-enactment of the historic event open to the public.
The night starts with a "town meeting" at South Hall (admission is $5, and only the first 600 people will be allowed inside), where actors will play out the debates leading up to the final protest. Afterwards, participants can follow the party over to Boston Harbor, where the traditional tea-dumping will take place.
Whether one wants to get into the holiday spirit early, is looking for a break between shopping excursions, or just trying to escape from the dreariness of Finals Week, there's enough to do around Boston to pass plenty of weary December days. It might not be a Winter Wonderland yet, but it's never too early to take advantage of winter activities.
