ELKO - Christmas comes with many traditions. This year's annual Elko Regional Interfaith Christmas Crèche Exhibit is putting a spotlight on some of those traditions. Of course, the first tradition would be that of the family's nativity scene, which is the heart of the Crèche Exhibit.
Often the family crèche or nativity display is associated with a family tradition, and each family's is a little different. Some nativities are passed down through generations. Some nativities are special because of where they come from, such as a foreign country. In some families the tradition is how the figurines are arranged, or maybe even the memory of how one of the pieces was broken and repaired. And for many it may be when the baby Jesus is placed in the manger or how long the nativity displayed.
In many families, what tops the tree is also an important tradition, whether it is a special angel, a lighted star, a ribbon bow, or the cardboard and foil star made by a child. This year's exhibit will be featuring a display of tree toppers.
The exhibit, which opens Thursday, November 29th and runs through Sunday, December 2, is planning on hundreds of nativities to be on display. Last year, a record number of 1,325 nativities-miniature to life-sized-were on display. While not expecting quite that many to be displayed this year, the organizers are still planning on hundreds of nativities to be brought in by the community for display, along with the tree toppers.
Christmas music and Christmas carols are another tradition of the season. A great line-up of live musical performances is scheduled during the exhibit. Spring Creek High School High Expectations Choir starts the live performances at 5:00 p.m. on Thursday the 29th.
Over the course of the 4-day exhibit many of the areas talented musicians will be performing, including Mountain View Elementary School Choir, Adobe Middle School Choir, and Elko High School Chorus, Advanced Choir, and Choraliers, just to mention a few. After the Choraliers performance, the Choraliers will treat us with a sing-a-long. The audience will have the pleasure of singing traditional Christmas carols with the Choraliers.
Other performing groups include the trio, An Uncommon Bond, (known by many as just Gail, Dixie, and Robin), who first performed at the exhibit last year; the Sunrise Ringers of the Elko Handbells; the Adobe Middle School and Elko High School Strings; and variety vocal and piano performances.
This year the Exhibit is please to have one of Elko's newest groups, Miner Chordsmen. The Miner Chordsmen is a barbershop chorus of approximately twelve men. They began in November of 2011 and are working on building membership to become a Chartered Chapter of the Barbershop Harmony Society, which is celebrating its 75th anniversary.
Another tradition of Christmas is giving and sharing. New to the exhibit is the opportunity to donate items for those in need. "We want to do more," said James Cooper, Crèche Committee Chairman. "We are asking for donations for the homeless in the area."
Inspired by the work of now-retired Deacon Craig La Gier, of the Catholic Church, who ministered to the homeless in Elko, it was decided to collect the items he usually gathered to help those he ministered to.
The exhibit will be a collection point for new or nearly new items for the homeless, such as tents, sleeping bags, warm clothes, hats, gloves, shoes, coats, and socks (new, white, over-the-calf socks only). Donation items may be brought gift-wrapped and tagged with what the item is inside, however gift-wrapping is not necessary.
After the exhibit, all items will be given to local agencies and organizations that will distribute these items.
The non-denominational exhibit is open to the public free of charge from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. each day at 3001 North Fifth Street in, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints West Stake Center.
Members of the community are invited to share nativities and tree toppers with the exhibit. Display items are to be brought and set-up at the Church on Wednesday, November 28th anytime from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Donation items may also be brought on Wednesday.
More information, including the schedule of performances, can be found at www.elkocreche.org. or by calling 778-3535 or 738-7748.
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