Press Releases

Mother Christmas will be telling tales of Christmas past at Big Pit: National Coal Museum on Saturday & Sunday 15 & 16 December and explaining what life is like at this time of year in the ‘Christmas’ household.

Visitors to the museum at Blaenafon will get a sneaky behind-the-scenes look at Mother Christmas at 11.30am, 12.30pm, 2pm, 3pm as Sharon Ford, Education Officer, Big Pit explains:

“We are delighted that Mother Christmas has taken time out to help us celebrate again this year. Mother Christmas has a range of fascinating stories to tell, which will entertain the whole family. There will also be an opportunity to make a range of Christmas crafts to take home, including Snowman masks.”

The National Roman Legion Museum will also be focusing on seasonal decorations but ones which are suitable for a Roman feast. On Saturday 15 December, Father Christmas will join the Romans at the Museum who will be preparing their home in time for the Saturnalia Festival.

From 11am – 4pm, information will be shared on which legends and customs of Christmas past are still alive today. Visitors to the museum in Caerleon will be able to learn more about the origins of kissing under the mistletoe and how decorating Christmas trees can be linked back to the Romans.

‘At Home with Mother Christmas’ costs £1 per child; admission to ‘Saturnalia’ is free.  Places cannot be booked in advance.

Amgueddfa Cymru – National Museum Wales operates seven national museums across Wales.  These are National Museum Cardiff, St Fagans: National History Museum, National Roman Legion Museum, Caerleon, Big Pit: National Coal Museum, Blaenafon, National Wool Museum, Dre-fach Felindre, National Slate Museum, Llanberis and the National Waterfront Museum, Swansea.