Una Noche de Las Posadas
Celebrate a Santa Barbara Holiday Tradition

Saturday, December 16, 2006 at 6:00 p.m.
El Presidio de Santa Barbara State Historic Park - 123 E. Canon Perdido Street &
Casa de la Guerra - 15 E. De la Guerra Street
FREE Community Event

Las Posadas (The Inns) is the time-honored reenactment of Joseph and Mary's search for lodging in Bethlehem as it was once celebrated in early California. In it, groups of children and adults go from house to house singing a traditional song requesting lodging (posada). At each house, the owner responds with a refusal (also in song), until they reach the designated site where the owner recognizes Mary and Joseph and allows them to enter. Many Latin American countries continue to celebrate this holiday in the traditional manner. In many places, the posada has evolved into a religious and social celebration, paying a festive homage to the journey. The public is invited to participate in this rich cultural tradition, experiencing first-hand the way in which Santa Barbara’s Spanish and Mexican residents celebrated Christmas in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries.

The festive evening will begin with a short mass by Father Virgil Cordano of Mission Santa Barbara, and the singing of traditional Spanish songs in the historic Presidio chapel led by El Coro del Real Presidio de Santa Barbara. Attendees then have a chance to join the choir in a procession led by a young Joseph and Mary and their burro, Wilson, strolling and singing over to State Street, through the Paseo Nuevo shopping mall and into De la Guerra Plaza. The procession will end at Casa de la Guerra as Joseph and Mary finally find lodging, and guests enjoy more singing, traditional refreshments, hot cocoa, and a piñata for the children. All are encouraged to join us in this beautiful holiday event!

Special Candlelight Holiday Reception
Featuring a performance by Javier Rovira of Spain

El Presidio Chapel - 123 E. Canon Perdido Street
Monday, December 18, 2006
Cocktails 5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.
Performance 6:30 p.m.
Suggested Donation $20
RSVP required by 12/14/06 to attend - 805.965.0093

Javier Rovira is a young and promising pianist who has played internationally in many prominent theaters. Rovira has played with the Symphonic Orchestra (Moscow), Ermitage (San Petersburgh), and Camara (Camberra). As a soloist he has performed in Washington, Melbourne, Madrid, Moscow and Tokyo. Come and enjoy music, tapas, wine, martinis and a selection of fine cheeses from Barrie Lynn - The Cheese Impresario. Co-sponsored by the Consulate General of Spain, Santa Barbara Olive Company, Stockholm Kristall Vodka, and The Cheese Impresario.

HOLIDAY MEMBERSHIP SPECIAL
The perfect gift this holiday season!

Looking for a unique gift idea this holiday season? Membership in the Santa Barbara Trust for Historic Preservation makes a great present for that special someone, as it is truly the gift that lasts all year long. As an incentive this holiday season the Trust is currently offering a holiday membership special in addition to the regular benefits of membership - give the gift of membership and receive a copy of the critically acclaimed new book, "Allies of the Earth: Railroads and the Soul of Preservation" by Alfred Runte (retail value $29.95), along with a holiday greeting card (see left) for yourself or the recipient of your choice. Click here for a list of membership levels and incentives (Does not apply to student memberships)

Membership supports educational exhibits at our two museums, archaeological restoration of Santa Barbara’s birthplace, El Presidio; living history demonstrations; education activities serving thousands of schoolchildren, and community events that trace both Santa Barbara’s and California’s rich cultural past through the arts. For more information on how to take advantage of this opportunity please call 805.966.1279 or email jared@sbthp.org. Supplies are limited. Promotion expires 1/1/2007.

SBTHP Staff Spotlight
Director of Business Affairs, Sally Fouhse, celebrates her 7th...

This past November the Santa Barbara Trust for Historic Preservation celebrated the seventh anniversary of Associate Director of Business Affairs, Sally Fouhse. Sally came to the Trust in 1999 after five years with the Fresno Metropolitan Museum. A jack-of-all-trades, she is the Trust's accountant, oversees real estate interests, and is in charge of human resources and overall site administration. A graduate of UC Davis, Sally recently received her Professional Accounting Certificate through UC Santa Barbara Extension.

Among her professional accomplishments, Sally is a national grant reviewer for The Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLA), a grant-making federal agency supporting museums and libraries of all types. She is also a peer reviewer for the American Association of Museums (AAM). In 2004 Sally became one of the founding members of Los Distinguidos, a special recognition circle for those who pledge to contribute $10,000 or more in current or deferred gifts to the Trust's Pearl Chase Endowment which was created to receive and encourage planned gifts and bequests, and to provide a permanent financial base for the Trust's ongoing preservation and restoration work.

Trust staff members joined Sally in celebrating her career at the Trust during a recent potluck where she was surprised to receive a cake from Trust Executive Director, Jarrell Jackman, Ph.D., and flowers from the Board of Trustees.