The holiday season is in full swing as the weeks go by and the temperatures drop day by day. Nights are longer, Christmas shopping lists are being checked off, and decorations and festive lights have been put up on display all around the city!
One such place is Bayou Bend, a historic mansion which was the Houston home of philanthropist Ima Hogg. Among other things, Hogg, known as “The First Lady of Texas,” remains famous for establishing the Houston Symphony and donating a sizable collection of artwork to the Houston Museum of Fine Arts. Bayou Bend is now also owned and maintained by the MFAH.
Our Intensive English students got to go on a small tour of the grounds on the season’s inaugural Christmas Village event last Friday night. The long pedestrian bridge over the Buffalo Bayou was lit up in shining white lights, and there was a palette of blues, reds, and greens shimmering in the thousands of lights around the gardens.
A large tent on the garden grounds contained a small food hall and a tall Christmas tree centerpiece. Chugging around the tree was a miniature model railroad, which some of the Intensive English students enjoyed watching.
The students also discovered an area where they participated in snowball fights and sledding down a hill. And while neither activity could make use of real snow, they both proved to be a delight.
Later in the evening, the Intensive English students toured the interior of Ima Hogg’s mansion, which was fully decked out for the holidays inside and out. An entertaining theatrical performance whisked the students through each room, ending up in a gilded dining room with Santa himself ready to feast on a splendid Christmas dinner.
The next order of business was Santa’s Sweet Shop, where the Intensive English students browsed for souvenirs and candy. After a few group pictures and a little more exploration, the night wound to a close. And with just a short time left before the end of the session, the students’ trip to the Christmas Village was the perfect way to cap off the year!
by Hadrian Barbosa