December 10, 2015


Holiday Activities
Saturday, December 12
Pawnee Bill Ranch | Pawnee, OK
Pawnee Bill Ranch Banner
The Pawnee Bill Ranch invites the community to help celebrate the holiday season on Saturday, December 12. The Friends of the Pawnee Bill Ranch Association's annual meeting is planned for 11:30 a.m. in the ranch's big barn, followed by a light lunch. The meal and meeting are open to Ranch Association members and those who desire to become members. As a special treat that day, the ranch is hosting a Santas of the World Tour from 1-3 p.m. in the mansion. The tour is free and open to the public. Visit the ranch, take photographs with these historical Santas, and listen to their stories. Perhaps you might even receive a stick from one of them if you have been "bad."
 
The Santa Claus with whom most of us are familiar is the result of the intertwining of Christian tradition, ancient and modern social customs, centuries-old legends, historical facts and the imaginations of a long line of writers and artists around the world. The Oklahoma Historical Society has developed a program depicting historical Santas who tell their own stories. They are dressed authentically from their particular time period and country of origin. Some of the Santas that may be featured are:
 
Black Peter (The Netherlands, 1550); Grandfather Frost (Russia, 1900) and Babushka (Russia, 1800); LeBefana (Italy, 1800); Ophelia Noel (France, 1800); Civil War Santa (United States of America, 1860); Sinter Claus (The Netherlands, 1808) and his wife; Weihnachtsmann (Germany, 1800);  Tundra Santa (United States of America, 1840); Tartan Santa (Nova Scotia, 1850); and St. Nicholas (Turkey, 1100).
 
In conjunction with the Santas of the World Tour, Pawnee Bill's 1910 mansion once again will be beautifully transformed for the holiday season. Holiday decorations will be put in place by staff members and volunteers from the community and can be seen during normal hours of operation December 1-31. Pawnee Bill's home is a Tudor-style Arts and Crafts bungalow and the decorations used for the holiday season are typical decorations that were used in a historic home.  
 
The Pawnee Bill Ranch is located at 1141 Pawnee Bill Rd., one-half mile west of Pawnee on U.S. Highway 64. The home is open Wednesday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday, 1 to 4 p.m. Regular admission is $5 for adults, $4 for seniors, $3 for students ages 6-18, and free for children age 5 and under. Please call 918-762-2513 for further information about the free Santas of the World Tour or other events at the ranch.
Cowboy Christmas Open House
Saturday, December 12, from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.
Sod House Museum | Aline, OK
Photo of a Sod House
To celebrate the holidays the Sod House Museum is throwing a big, frontier-style Christmas Open House on Saturday, December 12, from 1-3 p.m.
 
Rick and Larry Simpson of Skeleton Creek Productions in Enid will be presenting a taste of the Cowboy Christmas that was celebrated by the early day pioneers. The Simpsons will visit with guests at the open house, present poetry, tell tall tales, and talk about how cowboys celebrated Christmas. Join us in stepping back in time to the excitement of a Cowboy Christmas.
 
The museum will be decorated to represent Christmas in different time periods, along with a splash of Cowboy Christmas decorations, while the Sod House itself will be decorated for a traditional 1890s Pioneer Christmas. Enjoy cookies and hot cider provided by the Friends of the Sod House.
 
The Christmas Open House is our "thank you" for your continued support in the museum. Operated by the Oklahoma Historical Society, the museum is located southeast of Aline on State Highway 8. The museum is open Tuesday-Saturday, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. For more information contact Director Renee Trindle at 580-463-2441 or [email protected].
Holiday Events
Sunday, December 13, from 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Frank Phillips Home | Bartlesville, OK
On December 13, from 2 to 4 p.m., the Frank Phillips Home and the Jane Phillips Society (JPS) invite parents and children to "Santa's Cottage," located just to the south of the mansion. Re-enactors Brandon and Rachael Reid portray Santa Claus and Mrs. Claus and visit with children of all ages. JPS volunteers serve homemade cookies and punch. There is no charge for the Santa's Cottage event.
 
Also on December 13, from 2 to 4 p.m., the "Santa Walk" provides fun for all ages. Visitors are invited to stroll through the three floors of the Home and visit with the historic Santa Clauses. This is a juried group of re-enactors from around the state who have studied the history of Saint Nicolas and other Christmas legends from around the world, dating back to the 16th century, Goss explained. Each re-enactor has a particular Santa that they portray, the most modern being 1907.

Children under the age of 16 must be accompanied by an adult. Admission for the Santa Walk is $5 for adults, $2 for children 11 and under, plus tax. Tuba Christmas will perform at 3:30 p.m. that afternoon on the front porch of the mansion. "It's not every day that you'll see this," Kim Goss noted. "A group approximately 50 tuba and euphonium players performing holiday classics in a free outdoor concert, and anyone with the right instruments can join in." Bartlesville High School band director Alex Claussen, is in charge of this tradition which started at New York's Rockefeller Center in 1974 and has played out in 200 cities around the world.

The public is invited to bring lawn chairs and enjoy this beautiful concert. In case of inclement weather, the event will be held at the Bartlesville High School. The Home will be closed for the Christmas holidays December 23-25. It is closed the month of January for staff training, cleaning and archival work. For more information about the Home, hours of operation and tour times, call 918.336.2491, Ext. 103.
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From the Encyclopedia...
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