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Thronateeska opens new holiday exhibits

• The Santa Museum and Season of Light exhibits are now open at the Thronateeska Heritage Center.

J.D. Sumner

ALBANY — Teddie Lee and her friend Barbara Hines really like Christmas. That’s why Saturday, the two said they just had to be the first people to enjoy Thronateeska Heritage Center’s Santa Figurine display.

The display features more than 2,500 different likenesses of the jolly ole’ elf. From porcelain statuettes to Santa-themed ceramic castings, nearly every conceivable Santa-semblence can be found in the exhibit at the Center’s Museum of History.

“I collect Santas so I like coming to see the display each year,” Lee said. “I guess we just like Santas.”

The display consists of a collection by Don Fisher and is in its third year at the center, according to museum officials.

“I think it’s just darling,” Hines said.

The display covers a large part of the museum’s floor and wall area.

Saturday was the opening day of the exhibit which is slated to run through December 29.

The exhibit coincides with the Season of Light program at the center’s Wetherbee Planetarium, which follows the development of such venerable, light-themed Holiday customs as the lighting of the Yule Log and the Jewish ritual behind the lighting of the Menora, museum officials said.

For Lee and Hines, who spent a good bit of time inspecting the figurines, the Santa event kicks off the Christmas season.

Lee said that she used to love the Santa displays when they were in a different section of town and is happy that the museum picked up the tradition.

“I used to go look at them when it was at the corner of Oakridge and Westover and I’m glad they’re doing it now,” Lee said.

The figurines feature Santa in all his variations from all over the world. Kris Kringle, Father Christmas, Saint Nick or even the Ash Man — Germany’s version — can be found resting comfortably on the shelves at the museum.

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