With each coming year, it feels as though the Christmas season becomes more and more commercialized. For 13 years, Frederik Meijer Gardens has done its part to deter this with its annual exhibit, “Christmas and Holiday Traditions Around the World.”

This year at the Gardens is no exception, with 33 decorated trees, seven unique displays, and a 20-foot long train.

From America’s own traditional Christmas decorations such as poinsettias, fir trees and Santa Claus, to Filipino parols and Polish bombkis, the exhibit encompasses all types of traditions from around the world— just as the name advertises.

In case you did not know that parols are star-shaped lights hung in the Philippines instead of fir trees, or that bombkis are glass ornaments in Poland blown out by mouth, scrolls are set out in front of each display. The scrolls explain holiday customs of the particular country and describe the decorations.

Decorations on the trees represent both the customs and the cultures of each country. Butterflies and feathers ornately deck the Brazilian tree. Beneath the tree are children’s shoes, waiting for the gifts from Papa Noel. Koala ornaments hang on the tree of Australia, and the Ukrainian tree is covered with “spider webs.” Everyone can take part in the tradition of trying to find the Christmas pickle that is hidden somewhere on the German tree.

The displays are not solely about Christmas. A new exhibit this year features the Chinese New Year. The display includes lanterns, gong, dragon and fireworks that are all symbolic of the 15-day festival. There are also exhibits about Kwanzaa, Hanukkah and Eid ul-Fitr.

The permanent exhibits of the park that are open year-round are decked out in holiday deco. The train, which used to be called the Polar Express and is now named the Gardens Holiday Express, chugs along over 600 feet of track through indoor gardens.

Rick Jensen, Public Relations Specialist at the Gardens, says the exhibit is highly volunteer-oriented. As most know from personal experience, trees don’t decorate themselves.
“We spend to two three weeks setting up the displays and decorating,” said Jensen. “Over 200 volunteers came in this year. We couldn’t pull off this exhibition without them.”

One volunteer in particular comes back every year.

“Lena Meijer, Fredrik Meijer’s wife, comes to decorate the German tree every year,” said Jensen. At 80 years old, she still comes to help set up the display that is a part of her own heritage.

Lena Meijer has the right idea. Finding the display that is a part of your own family’s history is one great aspect of the exhibit that makes it an interactive, personal experience unique to each individual.

American traditions take promin-ence in the exhibit. Roof-top Reindeer can be seen Dec. 8, 15 and 22 from 1 to 4 p.m. Santa visits and the Original Dickens Carolers carol on Dec. 11 and 18 from 6 to 8 p.m. Carriage rides are offered Tuesday evenings, but cost an additional $35 dollars to the $9 entrance fee.

“The carriage rides are a fun thing for students to do. They’re horse-drawn and take you through a 35 acre portion of the park that is lit up with Christmas lights. All the sculptures are lit up as well,” said Jensen.

If you can’t spring the $35, do not let the cold stop you from taking a walk through the park to view the lights on your own.

“The carriage rides are a popular, thing to do on dates,” said Jensen. “The exhibition itself is a great date thing to do.”

My advice: take the money you would spend on a present this holiday season and instead give your family or significant other the gift of time and a new experience. The exhibit is open from until Jan. 6, so you still have plenty of time.

Note: Frederik Meijer Gardens has announced that they will be open from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. from Dec. 26-29. For more information, go to the Frederik Meijer Gardens web site.