Holiday Tree Lighting
& Christmas Feast for the Horses
Saturday December 1, 2012
4:30pm
Join us at the MSPCA at Nevins Farm as we begin new traditions and update old traditions, celebrating our holidays by honoring the animals who share our lives.
A New Tradition - The MSPCA at Nevins Farm Holiday Tree
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Extend your holiday giving to animals by supporting our Holiday Tree - and celebrate your pet as well! Photo-personalized ornaments will display your pet's picture at the MSPCA at Nevins Farm throughout the month of December. Your donation will help the thousands of homeless animals cared for at the MSPCA at Nevins Farm each year.
Don’t miss out! To include your pet’s photo on an ornament on the tree in time for the lighting ceremony, we must receive your photo and donation by November 30.
No photo? No problem! We can produce a festive ball, bell or star prominently featuring your pet’s name. (We are sorry, but photos cannot be returned.) Or, honor an animal awaiting adoption here at Nevins Farm! We'll feature one of the hundreds of animals currently waiting for new homes.
Make this holiday season truly a season of giving. Honor your pet while helping others in need, by supporting the Nevins Holiday Tree.
Reviving an MSPCA Tradition
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In 1916, when horses were still the main mode of transportation, and the streets of Boston were crowded with horse-drawn carriages, the Massachusetts Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals began a tradition of serving 'The Horses' Christmas' in Post Office Square in Boston, just before the holiday. A Christmas tree decorated with carrots, apples, oats, sugar and corn stood near to the Angell Memorial Monument, and all drivers in Boston were encouraged to bring their horses into Post Office Square and let them eat their fill. For the drivers and their helpers, steaming hot coffee and donuts were served, so that all went away with full bellies.
The Christmas Feast for the Horses continued as an annual tradition, until the 1950's when horses no longer worked the streets of Boston, pulling carriages for long hours and little reward. Now, nearly a century after its start, the MSPCA at Nevins Farm invites you to join us for our 2012 Christmas Feast for the Horses.
Open House & Christmas Feast for the Horses
Saturday, December 1, at 4:30pm
We invite the public to join us in creating a feast for our horses, by bringing fresh carrots, apples, oats, and peppermints to share with our horses. Visitors may tour the Equine Center barn and place treats in the Christmas Stockings of our horses awaiting adoption. The Noble Family Adoption Center will also be open from 4:30-6:30 for visiting, and we'll be serving light refreshments and enjoying festive holiday music.
Interested in the history of the Christmas Feast for the Horses? Click here to read some of the original news stories covering this event nearly a century ago!
Holiday Tree Lighting
Saturday, December 1, at 5:15pm
Gather at our Holiday Tree at 5:15pm to meet a few of the dozens of horses in our care, led by a very jolly Special Guest! Immediately following, we'll light our 2012 Holiday Tree, decorated with photo-personalized ornaments bearing your pet's names! Enjoy festive holiday music, and light refreshments as we kick off a joyous holiday season.
For more information on the Holiday Tree and the Christmas Feast for the Horses, contact Heather Robertson at (978) 687-7453 x6118, or via email at hrobertson@mspca.org.
If you would like to make a donation to Nevins Farm, but do not wish to create an ornament, click here.
Photos with Santa
Saturday, December 1, during the Open House
Immediately following our Holiday Tree Lighting, during our Open House in the Noble Family Adoption Center, Santa will be available for photos with your family (including your canine members, on a leash please). This is a BYOC (Bring Your Own Camera), and there is no photo fee, although donations are suggested to help us care for our animals. Due to the expected crowds, we cannot accommodate photos with cats, rabbits, and our other furry friends. Please visit our Boston Adoption Center's Santa Days to have your other furry friends photographed with Santa.
