Lights become national draw
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NEW ZEALAND — Christmas lights at the Hamilton New Zealand Temple have become a national event that draws people from cities all over the nation.
The Hamilton City Council considers it to be one of the major attractions to their city. The lights are turned on each night at 9:15, at dusk, during a 19-day period from Dec. 13 until New Year's Eve. During this period, more than 70,000 people from many cultures come to see the lights and to feel the Christmas spirit. Between 9:15 and 11:30 p.m. up to 1,000 people a night also take a free, self-guided tour through the visitors center where missionaries greet them and describe the events of the Restoration, as well as the true meaning of Christmas.
In keeping with Church emphasis of preserving family time, the visiting choirs and outdoor pageantry are limited to Tuesday through Saturday nights so these participants may be with their families on Sunday and Monday evenings.
