Chicago Cultural Alliance Presents WORLD'S WINTER: CELEBRATIONS IN CHICAGOLAND, 1/10

Chicago, IL

This winter, the Chicago Cultural Alliance (CCA) presents a multicultural exhibit sharing ethnic holiday traditions including crafts, decorations and ceremonies from first voice perspectives with pop-up window displays and galleries in the Loop. World's Winter: Celebrations in Chicagoland, now on view through January 10, 2014, showcases the different cultural winter celebrations celebrated in Chicagoland including: Chinese New Year, Diwali, Filipino Simbang Gabi, German Silvester, Latvian Winter Solstice, Lithuanian Ku?ios, Polish Wigilia and Swedish Saint Lucia Day.

"Winter is a season of diverse celebrations," said Program Coordinator Izabela Grobelna. "Eight of the CCA's Core Members have come together to share not only the history of their winter cultural traditions with Chicagoans and tourists in the Loop but also how they celebrate their heritage today."

Participating CCA Core Members are: Balzekas Museum of Lithuanian Culture, Chinese-American Museum of Chicago, DANK Haus German American Cultural Center, Filipino American Historical Society of Chicago, Indo-American Heritage Museum, Latvian Folk Art Museum, Polish Museum of America and Swedish American Museum. The exhibit was developed in partnership with the Chicago Loop Alliance.

The winter traditions are displayed in five separate locations. The public can learn about all eight ethnic celebrations at the pop-up gallery at Block 37, lower level of 108 N. State, Dec. 5-31. Gallery hours are Monday-Saturday 10 a.m.-8 p.m. and Sunday 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Window displays and galleries featuring an in-depth look at individual traditions are located at the following locations: 210 N. Wells, 42 S. State and 22 S. Wabash. Swedish holiday decorations and treats will be available for purchase at booth 52 in the Christkindelmarket at 50 W. Washington, Nov. 26-Dec. 24.

The CCA and its Core Members are also hosting multiple exhibit related events including tours of Core Member sites, cultural performances, holiday bazaars, cooking classes and family educational activities are planned. For more information, visit chicagoculturalalliance.org.

The Chicago Cultural Alliance is a partnership of Chicago's ethnic museums and cultural centers whose mission is to effect social change and public understanding of cultural diversity through first voice perspectives. The Alliance connects its member museums and centers to flagship arts and cultural institutions, universities, schools, businesses and government agencies. Visit chicagoculturalalliance.org to learn more about its programs and partners.