Road Stories: "May Your Days Be Merry and Bright..."

Today’s soft dusting of snow cloaked the trees and bushes in a white mantle. It felt like living in a snow globe. The world was transformed and the drab and ordinary disappeared in a magical moment. Christmas is like that – a magical time of year that provides a little more merriment and a dash of sparkle as we celebrate the wonder of the season.

The bright red of the cardinals against the background
of white adds a real holiday feel

The hope and promise of the birth of the Christ Child is the essence of Christmas. A star guided the three Wise Men to Bethlehem. A bright light appeared to the shepherds as angles announced the birth of the Light of the World. Lights have always been associated with Christmas and represent man’s hope for a bright new world. While the commercialism of the season can be overwhelming at times, there is still a sense of joy and, indeed, hope that is expressed in light displays that dance in the night.

The tunnel changes colors from reds to purples as you walk through

The Climatron at Missouri Botanical Garden behind a dazzling
display of lights in the garden's fountains

Every branch of this tree is covered in brilliant blue LED lights

A fairy princess among the lighted trees at the Missouri Botanical Garden

We previously wrote about the Holiday Festival of Lights in Charleston, but various locations right here in the St. Louis area feature festive lighting displays. Commercial enterprises (Yogi Bear’s Jellystone Park in Eureka), religious institutions (the Shrine of Our Lady of the Snows in Bellville) or municipal venues (Tillis Park in St. Louis County or the St. Louis Zoo in the city) are all quite impressive. Another spectacular display that can be “experienced” more than just “viewed” is the Garden Glow at the Missouri Botanical Garden, popularly known as Shaw’s Garden. The Garden Glow is in its second season. We have attended both years, and this second edition far exceeds last year’s initial offering. The dazzling display focuses on light, nuances of color, and pattern instead of figures or dioramas. No animated elves or lighted deer. Music at several sites adds to the sensory experience. Walking through shimmering tunnels or amid dozens of vibrantly colored trees makes you feel like you’ve stepped into the wondrous fairyland that you imagined as a child.