Wreaths of Colonial Williamsburg
On Sunday, I spent the day in Colonial Williamsburg during their “Grand Illumination” kick off for the Christmas season.
I am going to have to break up the posts to several to cover all that I saw!
Here you will see the beautiful wreaths and door decorations!
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some of them look so fallish instead of the Christmas colors. Why is this? Is it because that is what was around to decorate with back then? I sort of think it is, but just asking
In Colonial times they would have used what they had available. So most would have been fall colors. Of course some of the wreaths I didn’t show were a little too modern for colonial times.
I was in Williamsburg at Christmas many years ago, and loved the fruit and greenery decorations. Thank you so much for refreshing my memories of that visit.
You are so welcome! It is such a wonderful time to see Williamsburg. We are looking forward to having some of the same at Belle Grove! Thank you for stopping by!
Wife and I were right there about a month ago! Nice area. 🙂
It was really beautiful! We love going to Williamsburg. I am trying to get as much as I can before I head to Belle Grove.
I like the apple and pineapple one!
I do too!
That was my favorite, too, although they were all rather spectacular.
I am hoping we can do something close to that at Belle Grove next year. Maybe we might have a wreath class or two!
Oh that sounds just wonderful!
😉
Quite a variety of wreaths. I am sure that you have some great ideas for wreaths for next Christmas at Belle Grove.
Thank you! I do! I plan on having several of these styles there next year!
Years ago, a good friend and I spent a week in Colonial Williamsburg during the Christmas season — nary, a Christmas passes I do not reflect on it. Your photographic tour rekindled the wonderful memory … I particularly like the last photo … it is different take on the wreaths and decorations I remember. Delightful post. Thank you!! 😀
I am so glad we were about to bring back some good memories for you! Thank you! I really enjoyed seeing them and was so excited to share them with everyone!
When I lived in Richmond, Williamsburg was one of my favorite haunts at Christmas. Then, when I came out here, I made colonial wreaths with fruit every year for the front door for a long time. And I made the fruit cone centerpieces for the Christmas table, too.
Wow! I have yet to try them. Maybe you will have to come and show me how to do them next year!
They are easy. Get some flower pics and wreath wire at Michael’s or the florist. And it helps to look at pictures in books too. Would love to make them with you!
I can’t wait! We will need to do some classes at Belle Grove next year.
Thanks for the great pictures. I love Williamsburg!
You are so welcome! We do too! Thank you for stopping by!
So beautiful, love all the fruit!
Thank you! It was great fun sharing them!
They are amazing – beautiful place. Thanks for sharing!
You are so welcome! They were just beautiful! Thank you for stopping by!
Wow, so artistic and individualized. Is this a traditional activity that people did to decorate for the season? Or, is this something modern people have added to a historic town? The only living history places that I have been to at Christmas have all centered around the Victorian era which was a bit different.
You know I haven’t looked into that yet. Maybe you have provided me a new research angle for a new post! Thank you! I will get back to you on that one!
We are headed there in a couple weeks… can’t wait! I do find it funny that they used pineapple in some of the wreaths. I’m sure they didn’t have a huge supply of pineapple back in colonial times (though I could be wrong).
Oh wow! I hope I didn’t spoil your fun in seeing them! I am going to look into what they did for decoration in the colonial times to see what they would have used, exactly. Thank you for stopping by! I look forward to seeing pictures from your trip!
Looks great as always. My wife and I will be down at CW in a few weeks for the New Years celebration and can’t wait as we love it down there around the holidays. 🙂
Thank you so much! I know you will have a great time! I haven’t been there for New Years. Is there anything great happening during that time?
Its similar to the Grand Illumination in that they have a nice fireworks display and everything decorated for the holidays, but they also have First Night with lots of bands and events around the town. 🙂
Oh cool! Maybe we will have to join in the fun this year! Thank you for let us know!
The pineapple is an important player in those decorations – imagine how rare and unique they were the first time people saw them. 🙂
I love the pineapples in the wreaths. The pineapple is an unofficial symbol of Williamsburg. They have it on almost everything they sell there. So I think that is why they use it a lot. Also it is a symbol of “welcome”. Thank you for stopping by!
I’ve been there twice, so very long ago, but still remember it well. It’s an experience everyone should have.
It is a wonderful place! It so cool to walk the streets and know that great men and women once stood there.
This takes me right back to my childhood. Thanks for bringing some of the best of VA to Abidjan today!
I am so glad we were able to bring some wonderful memories back for you! Thank you for stopping by!
Very beautiful. Simple materials used to create such elaborate decorations. Thank you for sharing and inspiring.
You are so welcome! We thought they were just beautiful too! Thank you for stopping by!
Nice! I was thinking about getting a wreath this year . . .
May you could make one! (Just add bacon and biscuits!) lol
That would smell amazing!
🙂
😉
These are all nice. I wish though I had the doors or window treatments seen for my own place to show something like these off.
jerry
I think they would look good almost anywhere! I was thinking about having some smaller ones like these inside on the door of the rooms next year. Thank you for stopping by!
All are so beautiful. Great post for the season. Thanks!
Thank you! We are glad you liked it!
Number one on my to do Christmas list is to hike down to the Dairy Barn and prune the cedar trees. I need the branches for my wreath. Then I read your post. Perfect time. Wonderful inspiration. The sun is shining. The monsoon rains have stopped. Now all I have to do is recreate the Williamsburg wreaths. V.
Oh you have to show me how us use the cedar trees! We have them at Belle Grove and in the newspaper pieces from the Thornton period, they used them to decorate the house. I just don’t know how to use them right!
You are so welcome! Just share you photos please!
I hope to make one tomorrow. And of course will post photographs. Much excitement in our house as Friday our son-in-law comes to visit, from Toronto. I’m shaking and baking in the kitchen. Virginia
Ohhh I want some baking! What are you making?
Double chocolate chip cookies. The house smells wonderful. V.
Wow! I can smell it all the way over here! 😉
Beautiful wreaths and door decorations. I like how fruit were incorporated into most of the wreaths you have shown.
Thank you! I loved the organic wreaths and how they used what they had to make them. I love natural pieces.
Love the variety and classic looks. Thanks for sharing the beauty.
You are so welcome! We loved sharing them! Thank you for stopping by!
My husband and I have spent two Christmases at Williamsburg and loved both trips. I’m including wreaths from those trips in my posts this month.
How cool! I can’t wait to see what the past ones looked like!
Really lovely
Thank you!
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Michelle
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Beautiful – I did not realize that about the wreaths, that they may not have been more festive like what we are used to. It makes sense. Since I like fall colors I really l like them. I have always wanted to go Williamsburg during Christmas.
You should go! It is so worth the time to see. I am going to do some more research on colonial Christmas decorations and a post will soon follow! Thank you Patty!
I look forward to your post on the decorations and yes, Williamsburg is on our list. 🙂
Reblogged this on Attractions, Next Exit and commented:
A little something for the Christmas spirit
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I love the wreaths with the pineapples. Did you know that the pineapple symbolises prosperity and also privilege, because they were so rare in Europe? The pineapple symbol is a popular quilting motif, both in piecing and applique, and in quilting designs. There is more information here: http://www.levins.com/pineapple.html
Thank you! That is such good information! I have a post coming up that briefly talks about it. Thank you for sharing it!
I was there at the same time! I bet we saw each other at some point. I haven’t gotten around to editing or posting mine yet, but it will take more than one post (like you) – there was so much to see. Did you stay for the fireworks? I did not. I was out of there about 2 pm.
Nancy
Oh wow! We could have bumped into one another and never known! I did stay for the fireworks! I was on the Palace Greens with my son. I have pics coming up on those too! I was there from 12pm to 7:30pm. It was great!
Elegance lives!
Yes it is wonderful! Thank you for stopping by!
Reblogged this on The Ashton FlowerShop's Blog and commented:
Here’s how they do it ‘over the pond’ in the USA. Fabulous original decorations.
Thank you so much for sharing our blog with your readers! We hope they will enjoy looking through our other posts and joining us on this wonderful journey. We are so excited to bring this Southern Plantation back to life!
Michelle
http://www.virginiaplantation.wordpress.com
They’re all gorgeous!
Yes they were! I was ready to seek off with one or two 😉