Festival of Light
Light amazes, connects, surprises, inspires, and offers peace and hope. Every year, Museumpark Orientalis, a meeting place for everyone seeking inspiration from various perspectives on humanity and the world, celebrates the Festival of Light.
From December 16, 2023, to Sunday, January 7, 2024, the museum park was once again a magical place that literally and figuratively shone light on young and old. A place where you felt transported to another world for a moment. Where connections were formed with other cultures. And where new art and traditional nativity scenes from all over the world met. In short: the perfect place for a special afternoon out or an (evening) stroll.
Did you miss it? No problem at all, next winter we will celebrate the Festival of Light again!
Renewed light route
Museum Park Orientalis featured a new light route this year, where visitors walk alongside and through light art. Inspiring, surprising, and photogenic objects (such as mirrored treetops, wheels of life, and illuminated Buddhas), combined with our unique national monuments and the light labyrinth. In the middle of this light route, on the lake of the Arab village, the extraordinary artwork * Reflection * floated like a 'Persian carpet' of paintings. It was created by newcomers from five different asylum seeker centers, an international school, and students from ROC Nijmegen and HAN. A mystical atmosphere like a fairytale from *1001 Nights* was created by the ElanArt Foundation. A nice detail: the works on the water were partly made using pruning waste sourced from our own museum park.
Do the Double
If you started a first walk around 3:00 PM and then did another one in the dark, you experienced the museum park in two totally different ways!
Nativity scenes
The Festival of Light was naturally best experienced when it was already getting dark, but there was plenty to see and do in the museum park during the day as well. In the main building, nativity scenes from all over the world could once again be admired, including parts of the largest Christmas diorama in the Netherlands. Furthermore, more than twenty creative individuals showcased their own LEGO nativity scenes.
We also campaigned for 3FM Serious Request with a beautiful glass nativity scene from our own collection. This year, the Glass House was located on the Market Square in Nijmegen, and we asked visitors at our glass nativity scene to contribute as well. That raised a nice sum of money, namely €185. Thank you, donors!
Shepherd's procession with lanterns
On the first Wednesday of the year, we held a shepherd's walk with lanterns. Children brought their own lanterns and took a lantern walk across the grounds.
Your own LEGO nativity scene
We challenged our young visitors to build their own nativity scene creation and display it in our museum. By now, there are over twenty beautiful LEGO nativity scenes in the display cases!
Did you participate? You can pick up your nativity scene on January 10, 2024, between 14:00 PM and 19:00 PM. And maybe a prize…!
LABYRINTH
During the Festival of Light, the labyrinth was once again atmospherically decorated. In this fairytale setting, it was extra special to walk the labyrinth.
The centuries-old path shape of the labyrinth is a path that leads in only one direction, from the outside in and then back out again (so not a maze where you get lost). Wouldn't it be wonderful to look back in this way at the themes that have been important to you over the past year? Or perhaps to look ahead to what lies ahead for you in the coming year?
During this edition of Feest van Licht, it was possible to participate in a labyrinth workshop on several occasions. You could experience how you slow down while walking, and be fully in the present moment , perhaps arriving at surprising insights.
Limes Festival
Museumpark Orientalis and the Valkhof Museum in Nijmegen joined forces during the Limes Festival last winter. With their combined knowledge and the beautiful museum park as a backdrop, you could get a taste of Roman life during these days. Did you know that the Limes (pronounced 'Lie-mes' ) was the border of the Roman Empire, and that it ran right through this area? In Roman times, this place was bustling with activity, and that is still visible today.
Throughout the entire Christmas holiday, a Roman program for young and old could be enjoyed. At the Roman Christmas market, you could be surprised by centuries-old crafts or join in searching for traces of the Romans at the pottery shard table. Perhaps someone even discovered their hidden archaeologist talents. At the unique Roman Christmas market, you can buy authentic Roman products. The artisans make products on the spot, so you can see, hear, taste, and smell what the Romans knew how to make.
