A Williamsburg Christmas
The harvest is finished. Sheaves of corn and wheat fill the barn to feed the livestock and the larder is stocked with jars of preserves that will see the family through the long cold winter months. Days are at their shortest, the sun’s meager warmth never quite easing the biting chill that grips the air. Snow piles up around the house and buildings and fingers grow numb from the chores that can’t be forgotten: the farm equipment must be repaired, fences fixed, and livestock fed and cared for.
As most Virginians in pre-revolutionary America were members of the Anglican Church, the arrival of Christmas meant the observation of Advent, of fasting and repentance, followed by a meal of celebration on Christmas Day. Certainly not the Christmas of today.
But those that could afford it followed the British aristocratic custom they brought with them from England. The landed gentry created lavish table decorations and presented multi-course feasts, with hostesses seeking to outdo each other with their culinary and decorating talents as well as to display their social status. A fancy decorated table and twenty or thirty dishes served around an elaborate centerpiece of desserts would not be considered too lavish.
Today, Christmas in Virginia’s pre-revolutionary village of Colonial Williamsburg—America’s oldest and largest Living History Museum—melds the historical with the modern for a unique celebration of the holiday season.
Deck The Halls . . .
The concept of decorating Colonial Williamsburg for Christmas actually began with an offhand suggestion, soon after the restoration began in 1934, to place a single candle in the windows of the restored buildings–there were only four at the time–to help brighten the winter darkness, and maybe even draw a few visitors.
The custom rapidly gained popularity, and soon wreath artists began adding berries, pine cones, nuts, holly, and other natural materials and by 1939 the “Williamsburg Christmas Look” was attracting hundreds of visitors, launching a contest for the best door decorations. Blue ribbons were hung b y the winning entries, and in 1969 the “Christmas Decorations Tour” was inaugurated.
Williamsburg continued to grow into its present 173 acres, including 88 original 18th-century buildings and hundreds of structures that have been faithfully reconstructed on their original foundations. A sizable staff of carpenters, florists, historians, masons, culinary workers, and actors recreate everyday events that echo the feelings, culture, family, and workday activities of the lives of average villagers of Williamsburg in pre-revolutionary America.
Settled in 1633 Williamsburg became the capital of Virginia in 1699, as well as the social and cultural center. Though the seat of government was transferred to Richmond in 1780, Williamsburg lives on today as robustly as it did in its prime years.
And as Colonial Williamsburg grew, so did the giddy celebration of new and old Christmas traditions. The lighting of a single candle in the windows of the four restored buildings has grown to more than 1,200 candles (electric for safety) flickering in the windows of over 100 buildings from Thanksgiving weekend through January 1st. More than five miles of white pine bough ropes encircle doorways and windows, spiral around columns and railings, and Christmas carols echo from the streets and doorsteps throughout the restored area.
Today Williamsburg’s outdoor Christmas decorations are known and admired around the world. The floral staff produces several dozen elaborate door wreaths and elegant interior table and mantel decorations, and behind the scenes tours show the creative process of making the wreaths and other decorations that will adorn the buildings.
The thousands of visitors that stroll the streets of Colonial Williamsburg snapping pictures hoping to copy the best designs have sparked a mini-industry of how-to books, demonstration videos, and workshops for the creation of wreaths. (Go to the Christmas in Williamsburg page on Colonial Williamsburg’s Web site for instruction on how you can make a wreath for your home, motorhome, trailer, 5th wheel, or tent.)
This year visit a Living History Museum near your campground or home base to see how our ancestors celebrated America’s most popular holiday.
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Colonial Williamsburg is one of my favorite places. I’ve visited in the spring and summer but never during the winter holidays. I must do that one day.
This really is a delightful time to visit Williamsburg. If at all possible, go on a weekday, when the area is not as busy. The holiday decorations add a nice touch.
Find a place to park and ride the free shuttle bus that runs around the perimeter of the historic area (you’ll need to have purchased a “pass” to visit the historic area and ride the shuttle.) You can get on and off the shuttle near places of interest, and save your feet. This is a big area, and you’ll be glad you did.
An outlying site that you will need to drive to is Carters Grove. It’s restored to the early 1900’s instead of the Colonial period, but well worth the time.
Thanks Jim for the additional getting-around information. When my wife and I visited, we intended to spend a day there. Ended up being five days. And we loved every minute of it, though our feet complained a bit.
This is a very historic area, including not only Carter’s Grove, but also Jamestown, site of the first permanent English settlement in North America, and Yorktown, site of a decisive battle in the Revolutionary War.
Bob, your article brought a small tear to my eyes.
The history Williamsburg depicts is a wonderful experience for the little ones. I have been there several times over the years, starting when I was a little one from the nearby state of Maryland. I have very fond memories from that time.
My folks took us kids there twice – once in the summer and once during Christmas vacation. When driving back home from that Christmas visit, my dad stopped at a forested area and cut our Christmas tree. It was so neat having that tree tied to the top of our 1936 Ford with the branches hanging over and anticipating the decorating of it for the upcoming Christmas Eve.
Fred
Hi Bob,
What campground do you recommend during this time of the year? We normally go up around Halloween for “Hallow-Scream” at Busch Gardens (beautiful), and all the great shows at Colonial Williamsburg like “Cry Witch” and “Crime and Punishment” as well as the Cherokee Nation visiting(really cool!). Are there nice campgrounds that stay open year-round and are close to Colonial Williamsburg? We would love to visit during Christmas time.
Michelle
Fred – Being born and raised in Lancaster, PA, I too remember going there with my parents. I hadn’t been back in 30 or more years until Lynn and I took the trip. We had a great time, as it is a good destination for adults and children. Since I was writing an article on W-burg at the time I was also able to go behind the scenes and see some of how it is run and the painstaking efforts they take to make the history accurate. Bob
Michelle – Anvil Campground I think stays open all year and has reduced winter rates. http://www.anvilcampground.com or 1-800-633-4442. During the summer they run a shuttle between attractions, though I don’t know if they do in winter. Bob
Michelle and others,
If you are military or retired military you can stay at this Mil FAMCAMP. I liked it pretty well. It is small and friendly and right on the edge of a fishing lake. Nice and quiet, big pine shade trees, concrete pads and plenty of wildlife.
The cost is $15-$18 per day. It is only 6 miles away and from on base take entry road Sandra Ave/Perriman Road to the Colonial National Historic Parkway west and go under I-64 straight into W’burg.
1088 Sandra Avenue. (Base road)
Cheatham Annex Recreation Cabins and RV Park on the U.S. Naval Weapons Station just across from Interstate 64.
Fred