By MICHELLE ADAMS / Community Columnist

During this season of daily deals, cyber sales and rush orders, the American Village in Montevallo offers a moment to relax, dine and imagine the festivities of Christmas during a formative time in this country.

Tour the American Village as part of its annual Colonial Christmas Luncheon this week and next week, Dec. 9-11 and 16-17 at 10:30 and noon.

The American Village was created to be a place for young people to learn “stories of liberty” and to encourage good citizenship and leadership.

This educational center not only shares the values of liberty and the U.S. Constitution, but also illustrates the early American way of life through its architecture and reenactments for visitors, showing how those colonial ideals have surpassed time to influence American life today.

The Christmas Luncheon is hosted by Dolly Madison in Liberty Hall, during which time she will recount stories of her days in the White House.

Madison’s popularity as a hostess in Washington, D.C., is believed to have helped her husband get elected as president.

Believing that the people of the country were just as much her constituency as they were her husband’s, she was the first to officially support a specific public project.

The tour includes a visit to the country’s only full-scale replica of the Oval Office to hear presidential stories and to the National Veterans Shrine and Register of Honor, which honors veterans’ service, and houses sculptures, paintings and interactive media, including a website and database containing memorabilia and stories of veterans and active service members.

Christmas is assuredly celebrated during the tour, as guests visit the Lucille Ryals Thompson Colonial Chapel to sing along in a Christmas concert, and view the Christmas Village collection with 55 buildings, over 150 figurines and a working Southern Railway train.

Then join Martha Washington for a Christmas party in colonial Virginia set in American Village’s rustic barn.

“The entire program evokes the spirit of Christmas, of coming together, of recognizing the great blessings we have in life and our shared traditions of celebrating this special season,” founder and CEO of the American Village Citizenship Trust Tom Walker said.

For more information, contact the American Village at 665-3535, extension 1031, or email christmas@americanvillage.org.