For many families in eighteenth century America, Christmas was a time for celebration, feasting, and frivolity.
Join the Daniel Boone Homestead on Sunday, Dec. 6, from 12 to 4 p.m. to experience Christmas as it was almost 300 years ago with your family and friends.
Visitors can take a Christmas horse-drawn wagon ride through the historic area, learn about English and Pennsylvania German holiday celebrations, listen to colonial music and the Homestead Carolers, and see the Amity Colonial Dancers in the Wayside Lodge. In the historic area, visitors will learn about the different Christmas traditions of the families who lived on the property throughout the eighteenth century as they tour the festively decorated buildings.
In the Boone House, volunteers will cook a Christmas meal in the hearth and talk about the English Christmas traditions. Visitors can enjoy colonial parlor music by Robert Mouland and learn about Christmas confections, including a gingerbread house, toy candy, and sugarplums. As visitors make their way to the Bertolet Log House, they can stop and watch a blacksmith hard at work in his shop. The Bertolet Log House will be decorated for the Pennsylvania German Christmas celebration, and children can partake in a Christmas craft. In addition, volunteers will demonstrate spinning and textile processing. Join the Homestead Carolers as they meander throughout the historic area singing joyous, holiday medleys. A horse-drawn wagon will take visitors on a winter ride past the historic buildings and stop near the Wayside Lodge, where visitors can watch the Amity Colonial Dancers perform and learn a few, fun steps.
Make sure to keep an eye out for the Belsnickel who will stop by the Homestead for a visit! The Belsnickel, part of eighteenth century rural Pennsylvania German Christmas lore, is much different from today’s jolly, old Santa Claus.
In the visitor center, visitors can warm up with complimentary hot chocolate and hot wassail. Don’t forget to look for that perfect gift for everyone on your Christmas list in the gift shop and bookstore. All books are 20% off throughout the month of December! Don’t miss this great opportunity to take a stroll through Christmas Past and enjoy an afternoon of old-fashioned, good cheer!
Admission: Adult $6.00 (16+), Youth $4.00 (5-15). Children under 5 and Friends of the Daniel Boone Homestead members are free, no other discounts apply. Light refreshments provided. Please no pets and no smoking. Call 610-582-4900 or visit <www.danielboonehomestead.org> for information. This program is sponsored and run by the Friends of the Daniel Boone Homestead.
