Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park, one of the nation's most significant sculpture and botanic experiences, is proud to host the 15th annual Christmas and Holiday Traditions Around the World exhibition taking place November 18, 2009 through January 10, 2010. The exhibition highlights more than 40 international holiday trees and displays.
A new international display will debut this year – a Vietnamese celebration of the Lunar New Year titled Tet Nguyen Dan (pronounced "day wen don"). More than 2,500 years old, it is the most important cultural occasion to the Vietnamese, honoring the union of nature, humans, culture, the living and the dead. Tet Nguyen Dan, which translates to "the first morning of the first day," also includes rituals, gifts and plants.
"Tet Nguyen Dan, along with our other cultural displays, offers a unique way to celebrate the holiday season," said Lisa Roo, Assistant Curator of Special Exhibitions at Meijer Gardens. "As visitors walk along our scenic corridor, lined with evergreens, they discover ornaments with century-old legacies, symbols of important celebrations and a rich history of holidays around the world."