Courtesy of The Colonial Williamsburg Foundation
The holidays are upon us, and once again, the quaint streets of Colonial Williamsburg will mark the season in a dramatic and stunning style.
With bated breath, groups of people who have waited all year long will gather for the signal. At a single command, candles will light up every window of every building in the extraordinary community. Surrounded by historic homes decked out in beautiful yuletide wreaths, garlands, and decorations, the first booms will be heard. Shooting lights will zip into the sky, exploding into brilliant fireworks, and illuminating upturned faces. As the fireworks get bigger, so will the smiles, as visitors watch in awe of one of the most amazing Christmas events in the country - Williamsburg’s “Grand Illumination.”
Throughout December, on event days, festivities will begin at 5 p.m., as guests tour the historic town. An hour later, they are invited to join the community Yule Log procession and join in holiday songs as the procession goes down Duke of Gloucester Street. Along the way, cressets – metal baskets filled with kindling which hang from poles - are lit, and festivities go into full swing. The procession ends at a bonfire, where visitors make a wish, and toss a sprig of greenery into the flames. There are dramatic plays retelling well-known holiday stories, food and beverages, and booths with unique gifts. Of course, no celebration would be complete without a visit from Father Christmas. The night culminates in a special candle and tree lighting, paired with a spectacular pyrotechnic show, simultaneously starting at both the Governor’s Palace and Capitol Building.
It is, altogether, a feast for the eyes and perhaps the most unique and magnificent holiday celebration in the country. Its humble beginnings, however, not only changed Williamsburg’s traditions, but those of celebrations around the world. You see, whenever you see a candlelight decorating a window at Christmas, you know it is rooted in “Williamsburg Style” – a signature holiday staple born from the desire to celebrate the holiday with elegant simplicity.
It began in the late 1920s and early 1930s, when the Rev. William A. R. Goodwin convinced tycoon John D. Rockefeller, Jr., to fund the ambitious restoration of Williamsburg’s public buildings so that future generations could appreciate the colonial capital. When opened in 1934 as a tourist destination, the public interest was intense. Goodwin was surprised when people continued to visit during the winter, and especially at Christmas. The unanticipated wonder left many local leaders rushing to create a holiday themed event that fused elegance with whimsy.
Courtesy of The Colonial Williamsburg Foundation
There was a bit of rough start early on, most notably when President of the College of William & Mary John Stewart Bryan refused to switch the schools decorative Christmas lights from red to white – as organizers were asking all locals to use. He eventually relented, albeit grudgingly. The first planners also wanted to make it abundantly clear that the celebration did not reflect that of one during colonial times – when lighted trees, window candles, wreaths, and caroling were not customary. At that time, such extravagance was saved for a royal achievement or a battle won. Instead, colonists usually celebrated by going to church, firing guns into the air, and enjoying fox hunts, balls, and tasty food. Santa, Christmas trees, and all the decorations did not become prevalent for generations.
In fact, a large part of today’s traditions was born from the popularity of Williamsburg’s “Old Fashioned Virginia Christmas,” which organizers first unveiled to the public in 1940. Visitors were enchanted by children caroling, music from the Fife and Drum Corps, and the lighting of the town. The event continued to draw larger crowds, eventually reaching the tens of thousands, when revelers would be delighted by the simultaneous lighting of all candles after coordinated cannon fire.
Soon fireworks, which had never been linked with holiday celebrations, were incorporated, and every year more homes, businesses, and government building joined in on the event. In 1941, over 600 electric candles were sold for the occasion, and suddenly the placement of white lights or candles in windows at the holidays began to spread around the country.
Mrs. Louise Fisher, the “Flower Lady”
Another addition to the historic city’s decor was a new type of decorated foliage, the Williamsburg Christmas Wreath. Prior to this time, wreaths were plain, and mainly hung indoors. In 1936, Mrs. Louise Fisher, known across the region as the “Flower Lady,” oversaw Williamsburg’s holiday decorating – and she introduced a new style. Inspired by Renaissance artwork, she rejected the garishness of plastic embellishments, and instead embraced natural materials. Fisher began using fruited wreaths on the outside of front doors in the exhibited areas – quite a pioneering idea at the time. It did not take long before the throngs of visitors brought home with them a fervor for the style, and soon everyone wanted “Williamsburg Wreaths” on their front door.
Magazine articles featured instructions on recreating the fashionable Williamsburg “feel,” and it became a national sensation. By the 1970s, the local competitions between neighbors over the best wreath soon attracted even more tourists, and the “Garlands and Greens” tour was born.
The influential trend has since evolved to include more personal touches, with strips of leather used at the shoemaker’s wreath, playing cards on the tavern’s, soap balls at the laundry’s, and every other imaginable incorporation from scallops and oyster shells, to clay birds and gingerbread cookies.
Currently, the influence can be seen from New York to Milan – as “Colonial Revival” decorations are the most prevalent in the world. Homes across the world – with candle-lit windows and decorated wreaths - unknowingly join in on celebrating the holidays in the “Williamsburg Style” - a true Virginia-born tradition.
To think that it all started in the small but exquisitely restored Colonial Williamsburg is quite astonishing. It is owed all to those pioneers who started the tradition, and the ingenious people and organizations that continue to make each year’s celebration. It is now called the Grand Illumination,” one of the most dynamic and beautiful in the world.
Courtesy of The Colonial Williamsburg Foundation
This year is no exception. Previously, the event occurred only once a year, however, revelers will now get to experience three-times the fun as the program has been expanded to three separate weekends! With the current need for social distancing in mind, The Colonial Williamsburg Foundation announced that the event was expanded to include December 3-4, 10-11, and 17-18, 2021.
“We have much to be grateful for in 2021,” said President and CO of the Williamsburg Foundation in a recent interview. “The pandemic is finally releasing its grip on our community … we invite guests to gather and reflect on our friendships and living in such a welcoming community.”
The festivities will begin each Friday night, with the Lighting of the Cressets, eighteenth- century entertainments on Duke of Gloucester Street, the Yule Log Celebration, a holiday procession, plays, “glorious music,” and a “joyful appearance by Father Christmas.” The fireworks, simultaneously going off from the Governor’s Palace and Capitol Building, can be viewed at safely distanced reserved areas (visit colonialwilliamsburg.org) with perfect views of the extraordinary show.
“Three weekends of programming and fireworks offer more options for visitors and the community to enjoy Greater Williamsburg’s hospitality,” said Williamsburg Mayor Douglas Pons. “We welcome everyone to spend time with neighbors and friends as we celebrate the season along the Duke of Gloucester Street.” For more information, reservations, or inquiries, please contact colonialwilliamsburg.org.
The House & Home Magazine sends its deepest appreciation to The Colonial Williamsburg Foundation, including representatives Miranda Jarrell, Ellen Petz, and Ashley Loiacono, for their invaluable help in the research of this article.