Christmas has been celebrated in the Williamsburg area for more than 400 years, but in 2017 residents stepped up their wreath and garland games.
Every year, Colonial Williamsburg residents participate in a holiday decorating contest; the challenge is to make seasonal decor look authentically colonial, according to Elizabeth Hay, a tour guide for CW. That means made of local materials, from the landscape, that would have been available to colonists.
“Every year you see something new, but this year people have really gone above and beyond,” Hay said.
The competition began in the first years of CW’s reconstruction, when John D. Rockefeller Jr. rebuilt the city with the goal of historical accuracy. In the early 20th century, historic-area residents followed what was then the modern fashion, with electric lights and store-bought items, according to Hay.
To preserve colonial authenticity and encourage more colonial-style decorations, Rockefeller started the contest. It has been a tradition ever since.
The competition is divided into two categories: professional and amateur, said Anna Cordle Harry, Colonial Williamsburg’s community affairs manager. Participants can hire a professional to make their decorations or make them on their own.
Decorations are displayed on the outside of homes and shops in CW, each reflecting the style of the residents and owners.
For colonists, Christmas was “a big social season”
Many designs incorporate Williamsburg-specific themes, such as pineapples and fifes. Colonists had access to special fruits and vegetation from the Caribbean for holiday celebrations, according to Hay.
This year, wreaths vary in size and complexity, from simple branches woven together to one made of colonial printed paper.
“When you look at those beautiful decorations, like the oranges, that just reminds you what a big social season it was,” Hay said.
Many colonial decorations derived from the season’s social aspects, ranging from parties to foxhunts. In the 18th century, Christmas was the most popular day to get married, according to Hay.
In addition, parties celebrated the end of the agricultural season, Hay said, providing colonists a source of communication and social interaction.
Even now, these parties are reenacted in CW by actors and history buffs, such as Hay.
Hay, who has worked at CW since she was a little girl, has been leading tours since 1992. She even once lived in a historic CW home and participated in the decoration contest.
Spotlighting features that might otherwise go unnoticed
Making the decorations can be difficult, Hay said, but past creations can provide guidance.
The wreaths and decor are judged by an anonymous group whose members have a background in colonial-style decorations, according to Hay.
Judges evaluate the general theme, whether materials in the decor are appropriate and what is growing around the building, Hay said.
“They definitely look at how the decorations pick up architectural features on the buildings,” Hay said. “That’s what’s so great about this time of year; you’re noticing things on these beautiful buildings and there’s so many wonderful features that would otherwise go unnoticed.”
Winners are announced in two waves: after the Grand Illumination and a few weeks later, according to Hay. The prizes are usually around $200, which can help defray the cost of the materials.
Hay looks forward to the competition every year.
“Everyone is pretty hardcore about this,” Hay said. “We have real fans for these decorations and I’m always inspired by how enthusiastic they are.”
CW promotes the historic-area holiday decorations with tours.
Tickets are $20 and can be purchased online. Christmas-themed tours run until Monday, after which CW’s regular tours will commence.
