Additional photos from Christmas in Colonial Williamsburg can be found in our flickr album here.
Showing posts with label Christmas. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Christmas. Show all posts
Monday, January 13, 2014
Christmas Decorations from Colonial Williamsburg, Part Two: Windows
Following up on the preceeding post, here's a collection of 18th-century windows bedecked with holiday cheer!
Additional photos from Christmas in Colonial Williamsburg can be found in our flickr album here.
Additional photos from Christmas in Colonial Williamsburg can be found in our flickr album here.
Tuesday, January 7, 2014
Christmas Decorations from Colonial Williamsburg, Part One: Doorways
As we mentioned in the last post, one of the highlights of every Christmas season at Colonial Williamsburg is the decorations. Made entirely from natural and hand-made materials, these festive wreaths, garlands, swags, and sprays add a splash of color to the often drab landscape of the winter city.
Christmas decorations were an integral part of the holiday season in England and Colonial Virginia, with candles abundant and evergreens, mistletoe, holly, and bright red berries brought into homes and churches to drape across mantles, wind around banisters, and frame windows and doorways. Yet while archival sources in the form of written descriptions and prints attests to the popular use of indoor decorations, there is little to no evidence to suggest anything similar was done out-of-doors.
With newly-restored Colonial Williamsburg less than a year old in 1935, researchers and historians were challenged with a way to cater to elaborate visitor expectations of what a "colonial" Christmas might have looked like. Using only natural materials, they envisioned a historically-inspired but not strictly historically accurate holiday display full of "old-fashioned" and "homemade" charm and character. As Oliver and Theobald explain, "Christmas in Williamsburg was never meant to be a re-creation of the eighteenth-century version" (41).
We took so many pictures of the decorations that we've decided to divide them into several posts. Here's a selection of doorways to Christmases past.
Sources and Resources:
- Colonial Williamsburg's "Christmas in Colonial America" page
- Kostyal, Christmas in Williamsburg
- Oliver and Theobald, Williamsburg Christmas: The Story of Christmas Decorations in the Colonial Capitol
- Rountree, Christmas Decorations from Williamsburg
Christmas decorations were an integral part of the holiday season in England and Colonial Virginia, with candles abundant and evergreens, mistletoe, holly, and bright red berries brought into homes and churches to drape across mantles, wind around banisters, and frame windows and doorways. Yet while archival sources in the form of written descriptions and prints attests to the popular use of indoor decorations, there is little to no evidence to suggest anything similar was done out-of-doors.
With newly-restored Colonial Williamsburg less than a year old in 1935, researchers and historians were challenged with a way to cater to elaborate visitor expectations of what a "colonial" Christmas might have looked like. Using only natural materials, they envisioned a historically-inspired but not strictly historically accurate holiday display full of "old-fashioned" and "homemade" charm and character. As Oliver and Theobald explain, "Christmas in Williamsburg was never meant to be a re-creation of the eighteenth-century version" (41).
We took so many pictures of the decorations that we've decided to divide them into several posts. Here's a selection of doorways to Christmases past.
Sources and Resources:
- Colonial Williamsburg's "Christmas in Colonial America" page
- Kostyal, Christmas in Williamsburg
- Oliver and Theobald, Williamsburg Christmas: The Story of Christmas Decorations in the Colonial Capitol
- Rountree, Christmas Decorations from Williamsburg
Tuesday, January 8, 2013
Gingerbread Houses 2012
Our gingerbread house-making tradition with family friends continued this year, though we were forced, for the very first time in 19 years, to forge ahead with one of the group missing. With Ashley now living far enough away that a day-trip home is no longer possible, we were one house-maker down, so we decided to invite all of the parents to join us for a change. The dads (surprise, surprise!) declined, but the mothers agreed, so we ended up with five houses this year between the two families!
Last year, we reported that 2012 would be the 20th anniversary of our house-making tradition, but after a year-long diligent search for pictures and other "archival evidence" on the part of both friend T and myself, we've come to the conclusion that we probably started our tradition a year later than we initially assumed. That means that this year was officially our 19th (despite last year's report to the contrary), and that next year we'll be celebrating the "big" 20th. So all of those ideas that we were brainstorming last year are still on the table for next year's round of houses!
My inspiration this year came from candy canes, though it still has a pseudo-Victorian flair. As usual, I started by "painting" my walls with frosting, but instead of doing the standard solid color, I did a marbled look with red and white. I wasn't quite sure if the experiment would be successful, but in the end, it worked pretty well and I was generally pleased.
The pillars of the front porch literalize the candy cane theme, which is carried into the tiled roof. Green wreaths, garlands, and little sprigs of holly add a splash of green to the mix, making for the most Christmassy house I think I've ever created!
Friend T's house came out lovely, created to echo a traditional New England farmhouse, complete with stone chimney, long back porch, and a mini grove of trees.
Her brother J's house, as expected, was yet another engineering marvel. After last year's windmill, we wondered what new tricks he could possibly have up his sleeve, but he certainly didn't disappoint; his lighthouse actually does light up, cleverly concealing its electric components within walls of gingerbread, pretzels, and frosting. Pretty impressive, isn't it? It goes without saying that the bar for next year's creations has now been considerably raised by the introduction of this new potential!
And just in case you're wondering, T and J's mum crafted a log cabin house, decorated with Christmas lights and surrounded by a neat little pretzel fence. My mum ended up with the most traditional house, covered in gumdrops and lots and lots of frosting. When we arranged them all on the table for a finale photo (see above), we were quite chuffed with how cute they all looked together, clustered in their little ginger village.
Our mini ginger-village!
Last year, we reported that 2012 would be the 20th anniversary of our house-making tradition, but after a year-long diligent search for pictures and other "archival evidence" on the part of both friend T and myself, we've come to the conclusion that we probably started our tradition a year later than we initially assumed. That means that this year was officially our 19th (despite last year's report to the contrary), and that next year we'll be celebrating the "big" 20th. So all of those ideas that we were brainstorming last year are still on the table for next year's round of houses!
My inspiration this year came from candy canes, though it still has a pseudo-Victorian flair. As usual, I started by "painting" my walls with frosting, but instead of doing the standard solid color, I did a marbled look with red and white. I wasn't quite sure if the experiment would be successful, but in the end, it worked pretty well and I was generally pleased.
Waiting for the "paint" to dry: my walls are on the left, with J's on the right.
The pillars of the front porch literalize the candy cane theme, which is carried into the tiled roof. Green wreaths, garlands, and little sprigs of holly add a splash of green to the mix, making for the most Christmassy house I think I've ever created!
My "candy cane" house...
...with the front porch decorated for Christmas!
Roof detail.
Friend T's house came out lovely, created to echo a traditional New England farmhouse, complete with stone chimney, long back porch, and a mini grove of trees.
T's "New England farmhouse" house.
T's house from above.
Her brother J's house, as expected, was yet another engineering marvel. After last year's windmill, we wondered what new tricks he could possibly have up his sleeve, but he certainly didn't disappoint; his lighthouse actually does light up, cleverly concealing its electric components within walls of gingerbread, pretzels, and frosting. Pretty impressive, isn't it? It goes without saying that the bar for next year's creations has now been considerably raised by the introduction of this new potential!
J's lighthouse with...you guessed it...a light!
And just in case you're wondering, T and J's mum crafted a log cabin house, decorated with Christmas lights and surrounded by a neat little pretzel fence. My mum ended up with the most traditional house, covered in gumdrops and lots and lots of frosting. When we arranged them all on the table for a finale photo (see above), we were quite chuffed with how cute they all looked together, clustered in their little ginger village.
The gingerbread-and-pretzel log cabin crafted by T and J's mum.
Additional pictures can be found in the flickr set. Stay tuned for next year's anniversary edition of the Gingerbread House Tradition!
Sunday, December 30, 2012
Inspiring Christmas Present with Folk Art from the Past
We both apologize for being so silent of late. With hectic work schedules and Christmas preparations, neither of us has been able to find any time to blog over the past month. We promise a series of (we think!) exciting posts - some belated and Christmas-related, some with sewing projects, and some quite random! - coming up very soon, so stay tuned! :-)
This year, our family decided to spend Christmas week in Colonial Williamsburg. Over the next few posts, I'll share some of my favorite sights from "Christmas past" around town, but here's a little taster to whet your appetite in the meantime. One of my (many) favorite places to visit in Williamsburg during the Christmas season is the museum building which houses the DeWitt Wallace Decorative Arts Museum and the Abby Aldrich Rockefeller Folk Art Collection. Every year, the museum displays a massive two-storey Christmas tree in its atrium, which is literally drowning in hand-crafted ornaments. The ornaments, many inspired by the folk art pieces in the collection, are created by the museum staff and local volunteers. Over the years, more and more ornaments have been added, and the tree itself has become a symbol of the tradition of American hand-crafted artistry over the centuries.
This year, I captured a handful of the many beautiful little pieces that reflect the clothing and fashions of the past. What fashionable miniature treasures can be you spot in the pictures? :-)
Some of the ornaments, like the two above and the one below, feature portraits from the Abby Aldrich Rockefeller Folk Art Collection. The one below is one of my favorite portraits to bring out during our interpretive fashion programs and presentations because little girls delight in giggling to learn that their brothers would have been dressed like these two little boys in the eighteenth century!
Below is one of my absolute favorites. Does she remind you of anything in particular?
If you'd like to read more about folk art ornaments and find some inspiration for creating your own, I highly recommend The Art-Full Tree: Ornaments to Make Inspired by the Abby Aldrich Rockefeller Folk Art Museum, by Jan Gilliam and Christina Westenberger (the latter of whom we had the pleasure to meet during the recent B&T gown workshop!). Most of the ornaments featured in the book are currently displayed on the tree in the museum.
A Christmas tree decorated with hand-made folk art ornaments, the
traditional holiday centerpiece of the Museums of Colonial Williamsburg.
This year, our family decided to spend Christmas week in Colonial Williamsburg. Over the next few posts, I'll share some of my favorite sights from "Christmas past" around town, but here's a little taster to whet your appetite in the meantime. One of my (many) favorite places to visit in Williamsburg during the Christmas season is the museum building which houses the DeWitt Wallace Decorative Arts Museum and the Abby Aldrich Rockefeller Folk Art Collection. Every year, the museum displays a massive two-storey Christmas tree in its atrium, which is literally drowning in hand-crafted ornaments. The ornaments, many inspired by the folk art pieces in the collection, are created by the museum staff and local volunteers. Over the years, more and more ornaments have been added, and the tree itself has become a symbol of the tradition of American hand-crafted artistry over the centuries.
This year, I captured a handful of the many beautiful little pieces that reflect the clothing and fashions of the past. What fashionable miniature treasures can be you spot in the pictures? :-)
Some of the ornaments, like the two above and the one below, feature portraits from the Abby Aldrich Rockefeller Folk Art Collection. The one below is one of my favorite portraits to bring out during our interpretive fashion programs and presentations because little girls delight in giggling to learn that their brothers would have been dressed like these two little boys in the eighteenth century!
Below is one of my absolute favorites. Does she remind you of anything in particular?
If you'd like to read more about folk art ornaments and find some inspiration for creating your own, I highly recommend The Art-Full Tree: Ornaments to Make Inspired by the Abby Aldrich Rockefeller Folk Art Museum, by Jan Gilliam and Christina Westenberger (the latter of whom we had the pleasure to meet during the recent B&T gown workshop!). Most of the ornaments featured in the book are currently displayed on the tree in the museum.
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