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FeedFind the Holiday Spirit
Between the shopping, the decorating and the stress, we could all use a healthy dose of holiday spirit to help us reconnect with the joy of the season. There are plenty of opportunities to rekindle the wonder. Here are some highlights.
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Visit a Museum
Local museums go all out for the holidays, using them not only as a crowd-pleaser but also as educational tools that reinforce their missions. Here are some don’t-miss favorites.
Longwood Gardens Christmas
Through January 11
One of the season’s most eye-popping spectacles, this celebration showcases the horticultural gem’s floral displays, which last year included winterberry, winter-flowering begonias, tulips, amaryllis, narcissus, cyclamen, snapdragons and, of course, thousands of scarlet poinsettias. Guests also gasp when they enter the Music Room, which traditionally depicts a room decked out for the holidays. Last year the room was outfitted in silver and white for a glittery feast. This year it will become a sumptuous country gentleman’s retreat.
It’s fun to wander inside the 4.5-acre conservatory, especially in winter, but the wonder extends beyond the towering glass walls. Consider the more than 500,000 outdoor lights draped on 74 trees, an outdoor skating rink, music and a collection of Christmas trees.
The display attracts about 200,000 visitors each year. “The Christmas season is the busiest time of the year at Longwood,” says Amy Shearer, head of marketing and public relations. “For some guests, it may be the only time of the year they visit, so it is important to us that the spectacular gardens, outdoor lights, ice skating shows and concerts create a truly memorable experience.”
The increasing traffic has prompted a new timed ticket admission fee. Tickets are issued for specific dates and times, limiting the number of guests who can tour during each period. Call (610) 388-1000.
Yuletide at Winterthur
Through January 4
During the holidays, select rooms in Winterthur, an American Country Estate, the former home of Henry Francis du Pont, are repositories for past and present traditions. Last year, for instance, tableaux demonstrated how, over the course of the 19th century, the holidays evolved from an adult-centric celebration in the colonial period to a child-centric festival.
The focus this year is on “generations of celebrations,” says Vicki Saltzman, senior communications manager. “We’re looking at different types of holiday celebrations, not just here at Winterthur but at other du Pont houses.”
For the first time, Winterthur will display a giant poinsettia tree, which will be located in the conservatory. The tree was a mainstay at Mt. Cuba, the former home of Mr. and Mrs. Lammot du Pont Copeland.
Elegant tablescapes designed by Tiffany & Co. will add a touch of holiday style to the Winterthur conservatory. Lavish tabletop settings will flank the stunning pink poinsettia tree, adding Tiffany’s inimitable style to this year’s Yuletide sights.
One room in Winterthur will pay tribute to the du Pont family’s practice of calling on relatives on New Year’s Day, a tradition since the 1800s, Saltzman says. Male members of the family make the rounds while females stay home to serve refreshments to the gentlemen, who bring small gifts, such as chocolate. “By the end of the day, there’s lots of chocolate,” Saltzman notes.
The 45- to 50-minute tours typically include the fifth floor, home to the conservatory, the du Pont dining room and the Chinese Parlor. The parlor was created from three rooms to showcase a full set of 18th-century Chinese wallpaper that du Pont purchased.
Last year the yuletide event also included the sixth floor, and this year, the fourth floor will receive the spotlight. As usual, The Court, which is comprised of four historic houses’ facades, will also be highlighted.
Hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily except for Tuesdays in December, which are 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. The museum is closed on Christmas Day.
Admission, which includes entrance to the galleries and garden, is $22 for adults, $20 for seniors and students, and $12 for children ages 2-11. For information, call 888-4600 or visit www.winterthur.org.
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