No excuse for Scrooges – Editorial

You hear the complaints every year. Christmas has become too commercial. The holidays have devolved into mercantile mayhem.

Scrooge types grumble that our culture’s most celebrated event has lost its meaning. We’ve forgotten what it’s supposed to be about.

They point to roads jammed with traffic. Malls and stores frantic with harried shoppers. Too many social commitments.

If you find yourself feeling overwhelmed—or worse, indifferent—about the season, then we challenge you to do something about it. Don’t just curse the darkness, as the phrase goes, but light a candle.

We live in a community with countless treasures waiting to be found or rediscovered.

Often lost in December’s bustle are some amazing events and performances put on by Baton Rougeans for Baton Rougeans, any of which are powerful enough to make the holidays feel real and worthwhile for even the most jaded soul.

These low-budget affairs don’t boast Hollywood stars or monster marketing budgets to create buzz. Blockbuster movies they are not.

What they do offer, though, are truly talented Baton Rouge adults and children who will delight and move you. These dedicated actors, artists, musicians and directors spend weeks, sometimes months, practicing and polishing these unforgettable productions.

With government funding drying up faster than an unwatered Fraser fur in your average toasty den, arts groups rely now more than ever on attracting paying audiences.

So, rather than complain about how shallow Christmas has become in our culture, create your own Baton Rouge traditions with family or friends. Go to a Christmas tree farm, select and cut your own tree. Take everyone ice skating at the River Center. Shop for gifts on Saturday mornings downtown at the Arts Market and spend your money with local artists.

Here are some other gems sure to put you in the holiday spirit:

• Dec. 3: Downtown’s festival of lights features the annual lighting of Baton Rouge’s community Christmas tree, not to mention another half a million bulbs. There are Christmas carolers strolling the streets, arts and crafts, a children’s village and a fireworks display. Festivities begin at 4 p.m.

• Dec. 5: LSU’s School of Music hosts an A Cappella Choir Candlelight Christmas Concert at 7:30 p.m. at LSU’s Union Theater. Tickets cost $18 and are available at music.lsu.edu.

• Dec. 18-19: Baton Rouge Ballet Theatre puts on The Nutcracker—A Tale from the Bayou with performances both days at the River Center at 2 p.m. and 6 p.m. Moving musical accompaniment by the Baton Rouge Symphony Orchestra makes this an annual favorite. Tickets are $20 to $24, available at brrivercenter.com.

• Dec. 3-18: Author David Sedaris’ The SantaLand Diaries is a wickedly humorous recounting of his gig working as a Christmas elf in the Macy’s SantaLand display. The Baton Rouge Little Theater stages the work Thursdays to Saturdays through the 18th on its second stage at 7155 Florida Blvd. Tickets are $15 via 924-6496.

• Dec. 11: Baton Rouge’s annual Christmas Parade is in its 60th year. Bundle up and head out for the 5:30 p.m. parade with floats, marching bands and fire trucks as part of the Cortana Kiwanis tradition.

In addition to these, there are any number of Christmas pageants and concerts presented by local churches in our area which are open to the public and free.