Ancient Pagan winter festoonery had a significant role in different cultures and societies. These festivals were held to celebrate the winter solstice, the shortest day and longest night of the year. The main idea behind these festivities was to welcome the return of the sun and ensure its continued presence for the following year. One of the well-known winter festivals is Yule, celebrated by the Norsemen in Scandinavia. Yule was a time of feasting, revelry, and gift-giving. People would decorate their homes with evergreen branches such as holly, mistletoe, and pine, symbolizing life in the midst of winter.
Enter on silver Lane at East Gate
Magic of Lights Returns to Pratt Whitney Stadium at Rentschler Field, the family-friendly drive-through holiday lights display with a tremendous amount of twinkling and magical lights to celebrate our grandest holiday of the year. Magic of Lights Returns to Pratt Whitney Stadium at Rentschler Field, the family-friendly drive-through holiday lights display with a tremendous amount of twinkling and magical lights to celebrate our grandest holiday of the year.
People would decorate their homes with evergreen branches such as holly, mistletoe, and pine, symbolizing life in the midst of winter. The use of evergreen plants represented the eternal and unbroken cycle of life, even during the darkest days of the year. Similarly, the ancient Romans celebrated Saturnalia, a festival honoring the agricultural god Saturn.
Magic of Lights at Pratt & Whitney Stadium in East Hartford
My family’s favorite way to kick off the holiday season is to pile into the car (especially with yummy snacks or maybe a travel mug of hot cocoa!) and drive through one of the many mesmerizing holiday light displays in our area. It’s a tradition we started waaaaay back when my now 11-year-old was only 15 months old.
My little “Boo” decked out in his cozy pajamas and ready for his first ride through a holiday light display. Ten years later the tradition continues!
This year, we were lucky enough to be invited to preview Magic of Lights at Pratt & Whitney Stadium, which is just a few minutes down the road from us in East Hartford.
Photo courtesy of Magic of LightsYou may recall that last year Magic of Lights was held at Toyota Oakdale Theater in Wallingford, where it attracted more than 190,000 guests during the holiday season. This year, Magic of Lights has moved to the Hartford area, and the drive-through experience is equally dazzling! Themed light displays using the latest LED technology and digital animations include the all new drive-through Blizzard Tunnel as well as returning favorites including 12 Days of Christmas, Winter Wonderland and The Night Before Christmas. And best of all, families and friends will experience the thrill of Magic of Lights from the comfort of their own cars– it’s the ultimate pandemic-proof holiday experience!
This is a cashless event, and you can even purchase your tickets ahead of time online for the ultimate in convenience (tickets will still be available at the gate for an increased price). Then it’s as easy as waving your QR code (straight from your phone or on a printout) at the entrance gate and you’re off!
The light displays spring up along a mile of winding road where visitors are encouraged to turn off their headlights and cruise at a steady slow pace to get the full dazzling effect. Don’t forget to tune your radio to 101.9 for festive tunes for the ride! Since we were there on a very uncrowded evening (Tuesday night is the time to go! LOL), we really got to take our time and enjoy every one of the fantastic light creations. Here are a few of our favorites!
You’ll spot magical creatures, wintery scenes, as well as a collection of holiday-themed displays. Our family celebrates Hanukkah, so we always appreciate the addition of a stunning menorah!
We had so much fun trying to spot all the Twelve Days of Christmas! And the candyland displays got us excited for another one of our annual holiday traditions– gingerbread house decorating!
Magic of Lights will open each day from 5pm and run through 10pm during the run of the show, though some exclusions may apply. Please visit www.magicoflights.com for a complete schedule. Tickets can be used any night Magic of Lights is open.
Now is a great time to visit Magic of Lights because through December 9th the cost is only $30 for a weekday ticket and $35 for an any day ticket, which includes weekends. Beginning Dec 10 – Jan 2, a weekday ticket will be $40 and an any day ticket is $45 when purchased online. Tickets can also be purchased at the gate for $50 on a weekday and $55 on a weekend (including fees). All tickets are per vehicle, NOT per person– so bring the whole extended family! And here’s a little insider tip: you can even plan to have little ones ride on adult passenger laps as you drive through because Holiday of Lights provides a “Buckle Up” area at the end of the drive through so you can all get safely settled back into your seats and buckled up before heading back out to the real road. So no arguments about who is going to have to sit in the back or in the middle! It’s a holiday miracle 🙂
Contactless tickets are on sale now at tickets.magicoflights.com. For more information and a complete schedule please visit www.magicoflights.com.
We hope we’ve inspired you to start a new tradition with your family this holiday season!
• 12.6 miles of light cord per Magic of Lights event
During Saturnalia, houses were adorned with laurel and greenery, and candles were lit to symbolize light and warmth during the cold winter months. The festival was characterized by feasting, gift-giving, and general merriment. In ancient Druidic traditions, winter solstice celebrations were known as Alban Arthan or "The Light of Arthur." Evergreen plants were used to decorate homes and sacred spaces, and bonfires were lit to represent the returning sun. It was believed that during this time, the spiritual veil between the worlds of the living and the dead was thin, allowing for communication and communion with ancestral spirits. Overall, the main idea behind ancient Pagan winter festoonery was to honor and celebrate the cycles of nature, particularly the return of the sun after the darkest part of the year. The use of evergreen plants and the lighting of fires symbolized hope, warmth, and the continuation of life during the cold winter months. These traditions have influenced modern winter celebrations such as Christmas and continue to be practiced in various forms around the world..
Reviews for "Examining the Spiritual Significance of Winter Festoon Rituals"
1. Sarah - 2 stars - Ancient pagan winter festoonery was not what I expected. I found the decorations to be quite garish and overdone, with an excessive amount of tinsel, colored lights, and plastic ornaments. The whole display seemed tacky and lacking in any real meaning or depth. I was hoping for a more natural and authentic experience, but instead, it felt like a cheap commercialized version of a winter festival. I would not recommend it to those seeking a more genuine and traditional celebration.
2. John - 1 star - I was highly disappointed with the ancient pagan winter festoonery event. The organizers claimed to bring back the spirit of the old traditions, but it was nothing more than a chaotic mess. The decorations were haphazardly placed and cluttered, giving off a sense of disarray rather than elegance or nostalgia. The whole experience felt forced and uninspired, leaving me with a strong desire to seek out a more genuine and meaningful winter festivity elsewhere.
3. Emily - 2 stars - I attended the ancient pagan winter festoonery hoping to connect with old traditions, but I left feeling underwhelmed. The decor was overwhelming and lacked the subtlety I was expecting from an event rooted in ancient customs. The excessive use of artificial materials and bright lights took away from the overall ambiance. I wished for a more understated celebration that focused on reconnecting with nature and the spiritual aspects of the season, but unfortunately, this event missed the mark for me.
4. Michael - 1 star - The ancient pagan winter festoonery was a complete disappointment. The decorations were loud and obnoxious, more resembling a children's birthday party than a celebration of ancient traditions. The event organizers seemed more concerned with making a profit than creating an authentic and meaningful experience. It felt like a shallow attempt at cashing in on a trend, and I was left feeling unsatisfied and longing for a more genuine celebration of winter festivities.