Candles on my Fireplace Mantel
Plantation Candle Light Tour
This evening we toured the Plantation which was lite by candle light. We learned about the history of the Plantation and Christmas celebrations of long ago.
We started the tour in the dining room where the dinning room table was set with an elaborate faux food feast. The tour guide talked about having multiple desserts made with sugar. Years ago, sugar was very rare and expensive so it was a show of wealth to have many desserts. We were then treated to a holiday musical selection of a pianoforte and cello played by young, but very talented, musicians. The young ladies of the era might have been looking for husbands and this was one way of getting noticed.
The tour then went through the large entryway which could have been used for dancing. Up the large staircase we went and entered the young girl’s bedroom where we learned the history of black and white silhouettes.
The master bedroom had an actress dressed in a period costume talk about “her experiences” with the Civil War. She mentioned during the Civil War people had “starvation balls” where no food was served. The only refreshment served was water due to the scarcity of food during war time.
We returned downstairs and toured the newer part of the house where the Christmas tree was decked out with small candles, paper cut outs and chains. Children’s toys were placed on the lower branches of the Christmas tree and the adult presents were placed on the higher branches.
We were then given an opportunity to make a tree ornament out of ribbon and a dried slice of apple.
Outside we toured the kitchen and the laundry room where a roaring fire burned in each fireplace. At the end, cookies and hot apple cider were served. A vintage sled was pulled out and Santa posed with visitors in front of the sled.
Wonderful evening at the Plantation putting all the members of our group in to the true holiday spirit.