Seasonal & Holidays
Christmas Has Arrived at the Louisiana State Capitol Rotunda
Louisiana State Capitol Nativity Scene Ensures the Grinch Won't Steal This Year's Christmas: Baby Jesus Debuts at Baton Rouge Rotunda
This Christmas season marks the debut of the Baby Jesus at the Louisiana State Capitol. For the first time, a Nativity Scene is on display at the same property that hosts the Louisiana Legislature and Louisiana Governor’s offices.
WHAT: Louisiana State Capitol Nativity Scene
WHEN: Now through Epiphany, Thursday, January 6, 2022, open daily from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. (Central), except for Christmas Day (December 25) and New Year’s Day (January 1) when the building is closed
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WHERE: Memorial Hall of the Rotunda at the Louisiana State Capitol, 900 North Third Street Baton Rouge, LA 70802
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ADMISSION: FREE, open to the public, no mask required
The Louisiana State Capitol Nativity is one of many being erected at state capitol buildings across America this Christmas, proof that the holiday celebrating the birth of Christ is alive and well in 2021. Supply chain shortages, COVID-19-prompted social distancing, and an industry-announced scarcity of Christmas trees, have brought about fears that festivities could be dampened this year.
“There are always people who would intentionally play the Grinch and try to steal the spirit of Christmas,” observed Tricia Parsons, who coordinated the State Capitol Nativity in the Memorial Hall of the rotunda in Baton Rouge. “Others would allow Christmas tree shortages, COVID restrictions, or manufacturing and distribution problems to take the ‘merry’ out of Christmas. But the true joy of the season is not found in the trappings of trees, parties, or purchased gifts. It resides in the hearts of those who celebrate the humble birth of the Christ Child – the King of Kings.”
The Louisiana State Capitol Nativity Scene opened December 20, with a ceremony that included a thanksgiving prayer, scripture from the Bible’s account of the first Christmas, and the singing of the hymn, “O Come All Ye Faithful.” The Christmas crèche was donated by Architectural Preservation, LLC, a Baton Rouge based historic preservation and restoration construction company. Prior to public opening, the Nativity receive a blessing from by Father Luke DeMeyer, pastor of Our Lady of Sorrows Catholic Church in Baton Rouge.
Parsons noted the centuries-long historical significance of the holy family display and shared that the custom of displaying figures depicting the birth of Jesus Christ owes its origins to Saint Francis of Assisi, who displayed the first known Christmas manger display for Christmas Eve 1223.
Parsons is one of many citizens across America keeping the “Christ” in Christmas this year, as the Thomas More Society and the American Nativity Scene help private groups to display Biblical manger scenes on government property this Christmas.
The following state capitols featured a nativity scene in 2020: Arizona, Arkansas, California, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Texas, Washington, and Wisconsin. Additionally, for Christmas 2021, state capitols scheduled to feature nativity displays for the first time in Alaska, Kentucky, Louisiana, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, and Wyoming.
About the Thomas More Society
The Thomas More Society is a national not-for-profit law firm dedicated to restoring respect in law for life, family, and religious liberty. Headquartered in Chicago and with offices across the country, the Thomas More Society fosters support for these causes by providing high quality pro bono legal services from local trial courts all the way up to the United States Supreme Court. For more information, visit thomasmoresociety.org.
About the American Nativity Scene
The American Nativity Scene is dedicated to the display of nativity scenes in every state capitol in America during the Christmas season. The committee ships nativity scenes, which have been donated by an anonymous benefactor, to citizens throughout the United States who wish to give witness to the true meaning of Christmas by setting up a privately funded crèche in a public forum. The Thomas More Society provides the organization with legal help in securing permits and defending challenges as needed. Visit americannativityscene.com.