History.org: The Colonial Williamsburg Foundation's Official History and Citizenship Website

2012 Holiday Media Kit Images

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• Illuminations - firing guns into the air and lighting fireworks - were commonly used during the 18th century to celebrate major events such as great military victories, the birthday of the monarch or the arrival of a new colonial governor. To usher in the holiday season, Colonial Williamsburg carries on this tradition on Dec. 2, 2012, with Grand Illumination.
  
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• During Grand Illumination, fireworks are launched over three buildings in the Revolutionary City - the Governor's Palace, the Capitol and the Magazine.
  
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• Young guests sit in awe of the fireworks at Grand Illumination. During this celebration, guests can add their own sparkle with the lighting of glow sticks.
  
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• Colonial Williamsburg's Junior Fifes and Drums entertain crowds with military music. Founded in 1958, the Fifes and Drums perform in Colonial Williamsburg's Revolutionary City nearly 500 times during the year, in daily programs from mid-February through December and during special programs observing major holidays.
  
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• Families gather around a cresset at R. Charlton's Coffeehouse. During Grand Illumination, guests can purchase hot cider in refillable mugs to enjoy before the festivities begin.
  
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• One of Williamsburg's original 18th-century buildings, the Courthouse of 1770 was the seat of local government and housed municipal and county courts until 1932. During the holiday season, it is the site of some of Colonial Williamsburg's evening programs.
  
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• For more than 50 years, Colonial Williamsburg's guests have enjoyed touring Duke of Gloucester Street in the manner and fashion of the 18th century, as passengers on one of the Foundation's horse-drawn coaches. During the holidays, coach drivers talk about the Revolutionary City and mention points of interest along the drive.
  
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• Colonial Williamsburg's early music ensemble, Governor's Musick, performs concerts by candlelight in the Governor's Palace.
  
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• Colonial Williamsburg's evening program, "Christmastide at Home," explores a 19th-century holiday in Williamsburg. Dr. Charles Minnigerode, a professor at the College of William and Mary, brought the German tradition of putting up a Christmas tree during the holidays. Minnigerode's tree, adorned with handmade decorations such as popcorn strings, was the first tree in the city and was put up in the St. George Tucker House.
  
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• Colonial Williamsburg landscape foreman Hunter Curry designs a wreath to be placed in the Revolutionary City. Colonial Williamsburg's outdoor Christmas decorations are known for their use of natural materials available during the 18th century. These typically include pine and boxwood wreaths decorated with fresh pineapples, apples, oranges, pomegranates, nuts, pinecones, holly and other natural materials. During the Christmas Decorations Walking Tour, guests learn about 18th-century holiday traditions and the history of Colonial Williamsburg's renowned decorations as they tour the Revolutionary City throughout December.
  
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• The only limits to creating Colonial Williamsburg holiday decorations is the imagination. During the annual holiday decorations contest, one resident uses gingerbread dough to create decorations. This design features bees, beehives and honey.
  
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• Snow covers the garland and wreaths used to adorn the Bryan House.
  
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• The Governor's Palace, home of the Royal Governor, is elegant with simple decorations such as garland, boxwood wreaths with pomegranates.
  
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• Colonial Williamsburg's holiday decorations are firmly rooted in the traditions of Christmas and have emerged as a universal standard for the creative use of natural materials including a generous supply of pine, boxwood, Frasier fir, holly, magnolia leaves, yarrow, assorted fruits and berries.
  
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• One of the doorways to Chowning's Tavern features mugs with dried orange slices.
  
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• Guests to the Art Museums of Colonial Williamsburg during the holidays enjoy the toys on display.
  
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• Families enjoy the Long Island Dollhouse, a 12-foot dollhouse found in New York. The Long Island was built around 1900 and consists of pieces from the 19th and 20th centuries.
  
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• This holiday season at the Art Museums of Colonial Williamsburg, guests can enjoy a tour based on the book, "The Art-Full Tree: Ornaments to Make Inspired by the Abby Aldrich Rockefeller Folk Art Museum." During a tour based on the book, guests discover how handmade, folk-art inspired ornaments are created, tour the museum with the author and explore the art that inspired the ornaments. Guests can create art-inspired ornaments to take home.
  
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• Employees and their families and friends join together every year to add to the ever-expanding collection of homemade Christmas tree decorations. Many of the ornaments are reminiscent of objects in the museum's collection.
  
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• New ornaments from "The Art-Full Tree: Ornaments to Make Inspired by the Abby Aldrich Rockefeller Folk Art Museum" have been added to the museum's tree. An aluminum angel, a cross-stitch tulip, a fabric doll and a recycled plastic landscape are among the ornaments on the tree.
  
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• During the holidays, guests experience unique shopping, fine dining and historic charm in Merchants Square's 42 fine shops and restaurants. This is a shopping experience unlike any other with the best in personal service, high-quality merchandise, worldclass food and shop owners who really care.
  
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• It's not Christmas until guests hear the old holiday jingles and see the jolly old man with the red coat. Guests can enjoy milk and cookies with Santa at the College of William and Mary Bookstore. In addition, Father Christmas can be seen strolling through Merchants Square during the holiday season.
  
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• Scotland House features gifts and apparel from Scotland, Ireland and England.
  
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• Gov. George Yeardley listens attentively as Rev. Richard Buck offers a prayer in the candlelit Memorial Church at Historic Jamestowne during the holiday program, "At Christmas be mery." This early Virginia Christmas program features a welcome by Governor Yeardley and singing carols in the historic church. Guests herald in the season by the bonfire with light refreshments and the firing of the Christmas guns in the shadow of the old fort.
  
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• The WILLIAMSBURG Craft House tradition continues with beautiful pewter, silver, fine ceramic giftware, folk art and jewelry. Engraving is available to personalize gifts.
  
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• Guests choose from the full line of WILLIAMSBURG-brand home furnishings and accessories including furniture, bedding, rugs, lighting, dinnerware, flatware, glassware, prints, fabrics and decorative accessories at WILLIAMSBURG At Home.
  
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• WILLIAMSBURG Celebrations offers a full assortment of holiday decorations, seasonal floral arrangements and garden accessories during the holidays.
  
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• During the holidays, guests can select seasonal wreaths and arrangements. Heirloom seeds and plants, herbs, flowers, 18th-century clay flower pots and bird bottles also can be found in the shop's inventory.
  
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• A rare Virginia snow cloaks the Williamsburg Inn with white. Fresh pine roping, fruits, flowers and ornaments in the gold and green colors of the Regency period make the Inn festive all season long. Wood fires burn in the lobby fireplaces, creating cozy spaces to greet friends.
  
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• The Regency tree in the lobby of the Williamsburg Inn was designed to reflect the furnishings and architectural details of the Inn. Highlighted by the striking Prince of Wales crown of needlework and ostrich plumes at the top of the tree, it celebrates one of the great art patrons of this period, George IV of England.
  
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• The Goodwin Room is one of four beautifully appointed spaces in the Inn where seasonal dining events, afternoon tea, luncheon or a cocktail make seasonal gatherings special.
  
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• Dinner, Sunday brunch or tea in the elegant Regency Room make gathering with friends and family during the holidays memorable.
  
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• The Restoration Bar in the Williamsburg Inn is the perfect spot to meet friends for a cocktail to toast the season.
  
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• Nothing says elegance quite like afternoon tea served in the Terrace Room of the Williamsburg Inn.
  
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• Located in the heart of Colonial Williamsburg's Revolutionary City, the Brick House Shop is a Colonial Houses – Historic Lodging property that is perfect for a family to rent during the Christmas season. This charming house includes two bedrooms and baths, a fireplace and a trundle bed under the queen canopy bed in the main bedroom on the first floor.
  
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• Draperies in the living room of the Brick House Shop are historically accurate cotton, unlined and trimmed in a cotton or wool tape rather than hemmed to save fabric. The tape trim was dyed in a color to complement a color in the fabric. All fabrics and furnishings are inspired by original fabrics and furnishings from the colonial period.
  
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• The bedroom on the main floor of the Brick House Shop is a queen canopy bed with a trundle that pulls out. A full private bath adjoins the bedroom.
  
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• The George Jackson House is festooned in pine roping and natural decorations for the Christmas season.
  
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• The bedroom on the main floor of the George Jackson House has an adjoining sitting room with a fireplace, a queen sleeper sofa and a private bath. Two more bedrooms and a bath upstairs make this a perfect house for a family to enjoy during the holidays.
  
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• A Christmas tree and classic American furnishings provide the comfortable feel of a gracious Southern home in the lobby of the Williamsburg Lodge.
  
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• The lobby area of the Williamsburg Lodge includes Christmas trees and comfortable furnishings perfect for gathering to mingle with friends and other guests during the holidays.
  
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• Folk art pieces such as this drum are decorated with fresh flowers and greenery during the holiday season at the Williamsburg Lodge.
  
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• A special haircut and makeup advice in the salon of the Spa of Colonial Williamsburg make a great gift for someone special during the holiday season.
  
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• A relaxing pedicure in the nail salon at the Spa of Colonial Williamsburg is a great way to treat oneself during the holidays.
  
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• Experts at the Spa of Colonial Williamsburg can provide advice on skin care and makeup for guests of the hotels and day visitors.
  
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• Peanut soup served in King's Arms Tavern or made at home from a recipe in a Colonial Williamsburg cookbook is an elegant touch for a holiday dinner.
  
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• In colonial Virginia, shrubs were popular fruit juice concoctions spiked with alcohol and vinegar. Shrubs have evolved into nonalcoholic fruit juice beverages served over crushed ice, frozen fruit ice or sorbet.
  
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• What little boy would not enjoy ice cream in a Colonial Williamsburg tavern for a Christmas season treat?
  
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