The show is based around a dialog between an astronomer and his five-year-old daughter (played by Biology Professor Maria Fichera’s daughter, Carina) who wants to know why we have Christmas traditions like mistletoe, candy canes, twelve days of Christmas, decorating houses with greenery, and  the Star of Bethlehem. The show explains the origins of many of our Christmas customs and then investigates when Jesus might have been born.

After narrowing down the date, the show takes the audience back to Jerusalem and Bethlehem around 3 BC and attempts to look into the sky and find something that might have been interpreted as the famous Star which led the Wise Men to the Christ Child. Fascinating new historical clues have led to an interesting new twist to the story …but you’ll have to come and see for yourself to discover just what this new theory actually is!

Tickets are by reservation only and are $5 per seat, pay at the door. The presentation will last about 45 minutes. To make reservations, send an e-mail to planet@eastern.edu or call 610.341.1390. Leave a name and the number of seats you would like to reserve and you will get a confirmation within one to two business days. For more information, visit www.eastern.edu/planetarium