Holy places to visit during Christmas include tours, creches

It's possible this Christmas season to visit a number of holy places that bring a spirit of peace to an otherwise hectic time.

In addition to a classic tour of Temple Square with its glittering lights and life-size manger scene, there are several other activities that work well for families who want to leave commercialism behind.

— The creche exhibit at the Church History Museum, 45 N. West Temple, Salt Lake City, offers sweet and unique looks at the birth of Christ, including nativity scenes created by artists in Poland, Germany, Sweden, Sri Lanak and India. Goats, turkeys, a lion, and even a jaguar and an ostrich are part of the scene along with unusual gifts for the holy child.

Nativities of a variety of materials — fired terra cotta, olivewood, metal and fabric — are part of the international exhibit.

The exhibit will be on display until Jan. 8 and admission is free. Hours are 9 a.m.-9 p.m. Monday through Friday with 10-7 p.m. hours on Saturday and Sunday. Special gallery tours are available by appointment by calling 801-240-4615

The museum will be open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. New Year's Eve and Jan. 2 and will be closed Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and New Year's Day.

— Garrick and Ginger Hyde open their home in South Jordan for tours of the nativities they've collected for sale from artists in impoverished countries.

Tours are by appointment and up to 25 people may come on each visit to check out creative nativities made by artists in South America, Africa and Asia, of corn husks, reclaimed paper, fabric and wood, even bullet casings and metal drums.

The effort is a family project designed to help those in need and keep the Hyde family centered on their blessings. Profits from the sale of the nativities and ornaments go not only toward providing income to the artists and their families but to provide scholarships.

The tours are free and reservations can be made at worldnativity.com. You can purchase a favorite nativity set or two from the website.

— Families and individuals can take a tour of Touch of Bethlehem in Washington, Utah, just outside St. George, created as a gift for the community by Judy Call.

Each year, Call turns her home into the city of Bethlehem and decorates each room to celebrate the birth of the Christ child. She has up to 500 visitors each year, 50-60 a night, who come through her home and listen to her stories.