Christmas . . ..

prancing on air as before the altar of the lady chapel of the old church downtown something starts to shimmer . . . where the creche always goes but the shimmering up over the baby doll’s head growing and sailing up through the ceiling and sideways into the garden as a trumpeter begins . . . a message from the angels it must be . . . only a few allowed in the church and others being afraid to sit in a pew . . . the Holy Family needing to be outside for all to see instead wrapped up in furs . .

The Rockettes in the Radio City Christmas Spectacular. 2016. Photo credit Krista Schlueter for the New York Times.

Five costume designs for a 1937 production of Tchaikovsky's ballet “The Nutcracker.” 1937. Russian. Alexandre Benois, maker (1870-1937). via mutualart.com.

Christmas tree pin. Vintage. Rhinestones. Image © Jay B. Siegel. via Facebook. Many thanks to Christian De Bor who found it.

Chinese house concept for a 1919 production of Tchaikovsky’s ballet “The Nutcracker” that was staged at the Bolshoi Theatre in Moscow. Russian. Konstantin Korovin, creator. via tretyakovgallerymagazine.com.

Royal Copenhagen porcelain Christmas trees. 21st c. via dreweatts.com.

Set design for the Land of Sweets in Act II from the 1892 premiere of Tchaikovsky's ballet “The Nutcracker” which was staged at the Imperial Ballet Theatre in Saint Petersburg. Russian. via jadavisofmo.blogspot.com.

The Alamo at Christmas time, San Antonio, Texas. 1900 image via Vintage San Antonio - a photo history.

Abundant Coronation Diadem. Metal frame with red rhinestones. fairytalecreators.com.

Title page of Alexandre Dumas' “Histoire d'un Casse-Noisette” showing Clara, Fritz and Drosselmeyer, which the Nutcracker ballet was based on. 1844. French. via wikipedia.org.

Boat participating in the Coastal Christmas Flotilla, a floating holiday parade in North Carolina. 2019. via Facebook

Costume sketch for the Dance with Little Fifes aka Dance with the Mirlitons in Act II of the 1892 premiere of Tchaikovsky's ballet “The Nutcracker” which was staged at the Imperial Ballet Theatre in Saint Petersburg.

Promotional artwork for Cirque du Solieil's holiday show “Twas the Night Before . . .” 2019. Image © 2019 Cirque du Soleil. via cirquedusoleil.com.

The Nutcracker music box. Contemporary. American. Porcelain with gold and jewel tone accents. Plays the Dance of the Sugarplum Fairy. Bradford Exchange, maker. via bradfordexchange.com

Concert with the Boston Pops, streamed December 13, 2020. Boston Pops Orchestra and the Tanglewood Festival Chorus, Keith Lockhart, conductor. Justin Hopkins, baritone. Stu Rosner, photographer. Image via classicalwcrb.org.

Paper theatre with a Christmas tree set. 2021. American. Vincent X. Kirsch, maker. paperboxplayhouses on Instagram. via Instagram.

Santa Claus with Christmas toys on a sled drawn by white turkeys. ca. 1909. Schrader & Dennis, Three Oaks, Michigan USA.

Wax angels with gold wings. 1950s. Austrian. Bought by Genevieve Perry in Vienna. Collection of Sarah B Guest Perry.

Rockefeller Center christmas tree, New York City. Photo courtesy of Rockefeller Center. via news.artnet.com.

Set design for the 1892 premiere of Tchaikovsky's ballet “The Nutcracker” which was staged at the Imperial Ballet Theatre, Saint Petersburg. Russian. Konstantin Ivanov, creator (1859-1916). via alamy.com.

Interior shot for the “Christmas Spectacular Starring the Radio City Rockettes” with the photograph showing the projections that covered the Music Hall's walls. A collaboration with Intel. 2018 image via techwelike.com.

Rehearsal for the Together At Christmas carol service that was just held in Westminster Abbey in London and was hosted by Catherine Duchess of Cambridge. 2021 image. dukeandduchessofcambridge on Instagram. via Instagram.

Model of a set in Tchaikovsky's ballet “The Nutcracker”. Contemporary. Australian. Created for the West Australia Ballet. Upstage Designs, maker. via abc.net.au.

Benjamin Bradley’s main Christmas tree is thickly hung with history, with German glass ornaments dating back as far as 1880. Photo credit: Daniel Dorsa for The New York Times.

Scene from Cirque du Soleil's production of “Twas the Night Before . . .” at the Hulu Theater at Madison Square Garden (detail). 2019. Artwork Courtesy Cirque du Soleil. via timeout.com. at the Hulu Theater at Madison Square Garden (detail). 2019. Artwork Courtesy Cirque du Soleil. via timeout.com.

Diamond star tiara. ca. 1880s. via tiarascrowns.tumblr.com.

"And you will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth." 2026 Christmas creche, Boston College, Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts. Where my late father taught for many years. Madeleine Miclat '28 chickflickphotography, photographer. © Boston College. Taken from their Instagram.