Washingtonians are so lucky. Especially at Christmastime.
There are soooo many ways to find and celebrate the Season here.
Today I scooted down to the National Gallery of Art (just 7 minutes on the green line!). There was a lunchtime tour focusing on some of their paintings that depict the Christmas story and nativity.
I loved it.
I probably never would have spent time on my own to search out these particular paintings and look at them - but the tour was reeeallly good. I actually learned a lot that made ejoying the paintings even more enjoyable.
For example...
This one has a pregnant Mary with her pregnant sister and Saint Nick in the corner in red. Mary was always portrayed in red & blue - representing divine love (blue) and...something else. I didn't take notes...
This one has the Magi and was one of the first times that the three kings represented different races and the three known (at the time) continents - Europe, Asia, Africa. Apparently the kneeling king was painted to be staring at the baby Jesus' kibble & bits. They wanted to be sure it was the boy king. Seriously.
In this one, the tour guide (excellent!) is pointing out that in the older painting, Joseph is portrayed as old and so completely not likely to have actually impregnated Mary - rather than God. In those times Joseph was portrayed as a fatherly guardian to Mary. By the Middle Ages he is younger and better looking.
And some more...
And of course, the Nationally Gallery itself was beautiful. The guide even explained the significance of evergreen trees and lights to the Christmas tradition...
A great 60 minute injection of Holiday Spirit.
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