The Revels!

We had our annual pilgrimage to Sander's Theater in Harvard Square. My sister and I have gone for years, maybe 25?
My mother started coming a few years into it and she was hooked. It's a celebration of the winter solstice through dance and music.

Much of the fun and excitement come from getting dressed up and entering the gorgeous sacred building lit by stained glass.

When we were younger, both my sister and I wanted the magic and ritual of the holidays, not just the frenzied wrapping of presents on Christmas eve. So, as teenagers, we would sneak off to different churches for the singing and the candles.
We weren't really Christian, though. Not raised in any tradition, we would often feel uncomfortable with the service, turned off by the the stiffness of the sermon and the absence of women up on the altar. We would try and squint past all that stuff and enjoy the candles, but we often felt disappointed by our journey out on a cold winter's night.

Then my sister found the Revels! It was warm, welcoming and sacred. It celebrated winter and community through singing, dancing and storytelling. The theater and the soul of the the productions are magnificent. We found a home! We go back every year.






My girls have gone every year of their lives, except for one year when there was a blizzard. They plan the dresses they'll wear all year. We count down the days until the performance.



The intermission is really the most thrilling moment! The people on stage sing a song called Lord of the Dance and invite the audience to join them dancing in the grand lobby.

Here's a youtube video of dancing during a Christmas Revels, but in my experience people are usually more crowded and giddy! It is a delight. The girls really love to be part of such a joyous rowdy musical celebration.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W6CD5ETkvXU&feature=player_embedded




Hooray for the Revels and Happy Solstice!!