Yuletide At Winterthur Makes History Sparkle

Every year, Winterthur Museum near Wilmington, Delaware, gives us a picture of Christmas in the past. Above is an early tree decorated with candles seen in an inn setting off of the court which is surrounded by historic building fronts including the Red Lion Inn which was located near present Bear, Delaware. Next we see a four poster bed complete with stockings laying on a snowy white bedcover. And since there are fabulous floral arrangements all year in the museum, flowers are saved and dried to create this dream of a tree made of these colorful flowers.

Next we see a dining room setting with ribbons connected to a chandelier (aside: I learned that the museum has breakaway connections at the top of the chandelier so that a pull on the ribbons won’t bring down a valuable chandelier). The partygoers would pick a ribbon and follow it to the far end, where they would find a present. Then we see a designer’s creation of a peony tree (the gardens have a wonderful peony collection). Finally, the popular Montmorenci staircase, which was originally in a South Carolina home and altered to fit into Winterthur. For reservations, see http://www.winterthur.org/?p=529 .  The good news for me and my friends was that Yuletide at Winterthur was free for Winterthur members!