“It starts right after Thanksgiving,” says sales interpreter Karen Barclay from her perch behind the counter. Visitors come through the door, some with one or two, others with a handful, a few with an entire box.
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Visit Our Gingerbread Village!
Stop by the lobby of the Williamsburg Lodge in December to see this year’s version of the gingerbread village.
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Is Rolling Polling the Right Way to Vote?
An 1844 election poll lists how voters cast their ballots in a Senate race.
By Bill Sullivan
As Americans head to the polls today, much of the news coverage is focused on turnout. Inevitably the numbers will disappoint, at least in comparison with a presidential election year.
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This week’s podcast: A Sermon for the Season
Colonial Christmas celebrations tended to the austere, with some colonies eschewing festivities entirely. Enter the Rev. George Whitfield, celebrity preacher of the Enlightenment era. His edict to observe, albeit modestly, was a revelation to his flock.
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Deck the doors: Official judging takes place this week
Every year since the late 1930s, visitors have flocked to Colonial Williamsburg during the holidays to see the original, handmade Christmas door decorations. And so do the judges….
Giving Thanks in Colonial America
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Though Thanksgiving would not enjoy national holiday status until Lincoln declared it in 1863, Virginians have been finding reasons to give thanks in all seasons since the beginning. Feasts of thanks might have been staged to celebrate a marriage, a child’s arrival, or the queen’s birthday….
The Joys of Toys
If you’ve grown tired of your new toys, have a look at some of ours from the collections of the Art Museums of Colonial Williamsburg….
Teaching Christmas?
Educators will find a wealth of free primary sources, classroom activities, and lesson plans at history.org/teach. Teach your students the history of Christmas this week with A Colonial Christmas in Williamsburg….