Time travel: Historical house celebrates holiday traditions across centuries

Maeve Bauer, Contributing Writer

Ghailah Nyeanchi, Contributing Writer

Agecroft Hall & Gardens will host its “Yuletides at Agecroft: Christmas Open House” event on Sunday, Dec. 8 to celebrate Christmas in “17th-century England, 19th-century London, and 20th-Century Richmond,” according to its website. 

Yuletides at Agecroft has occurred for over a decade, according to Sarah Yount, Agecroft Hall’s marketing and development manager. 

“It’s a wonderful opportunity for the community to come together,” Yount said.  

Yuletides also offers an opportunity for locals to enjoy a little holiday spirit with a historical twist, Yount said. There are engaging activities for attendees of all ages. 

The event will feature activities repeated throughout the day in the courtyard from 12:15 to 4:30 p.m., according to Yount. These activities include a “‘Twas the Night Before Christmas” puppet show, Christmas carols, 17th century Christmas music and a reading of “A Christmas Carol” by Charles Dickens. 

The event includes scheduled activities from 12:00 to 5:00 p.m. where attendees can create their own Christmas crafts, visit with Father Christmas, meet with World War II reenactors and get free hot cider, according to Yount.

“We also have opportunities for attendees to take a peek in Agecroft Hall for self-guided tours,” Yount said. 

One of the ways Agecroft is incorporating 20th-century Christmas celebrations is to display the library of the original owners of Agecroft Hall, T.C Williams Jr. and Elizabeth Williams, according to Yount. 

The library will include a guest book, punch bowl, tree and other items that would’ve been popular when the Williams’ hosted Christmas, Yount said. 

The events with Charles Dickens offer an opportunity for attendees to connect with the 19th century, according to Yount. The museum also offers displays of the Yuletide Feast to incorporate 17th-century England in their celebrations. 

“Christmas Open House” will also host different vendors, according to Yount. Daily Coffee Company, a mobile coffee truck, and Shelly’s Kitchen, a cupcake vendor, will offer refreshments for purchase.

Agecroft is a “cool place where you can time travel without really leaving Richmond,” Yount said. 

Looking back to the Tudor period, you can see a handful of differences in traditions, according to Anne Kenny-Urban, the executive director at Agecroft Hall. 

The time before Christmas was a time of piety and restraint, as opposed to today where most start celebrating before Thanksgiving, Kenny-Urban said. Between Christmas and Jan. 6 was a time of feasting and celebration.

Oppositely, there are a number of traditions that started in the Victorian era that we still celebrate today, according to Kenny-Urban.

There are a handful of Victorian-era traditions still around, such as caroling, telling and retelling Charles Dickens’ “A Christmas Carol” and Christmas trees, according to Kenny-Urban..

“You didn’t have Christmas trees until Queen Victoria’s husband brought them from Germany,” Kenny-Urban said.

Anyone can enjoy the wonders at Agecroft during the “Christmas Open House as it’s free, according to Kenny-Urban.

“This is an opportunity for us to give back to the public who support us all year long,” Kenny-Urban said. “We also have a mission. We want everyone to be able to visit Agecroft.” 

Agecroft holds a handful of free events throughout the year, hoping to give opportunities for all of Richmond to enjoy, according to Kenny-Urban.

Emily Cunningham, business manager of Agecroft, said one of her favorite parts of the “Christmas Open House” is the decorations created by the horticulture department.

“The wreaths and all the little swags and decorations are all from our grounds,” Cunnigham said.  

The practice of using resources found in the environment is similar to how Christmas decorations were made in past centuries, according to Cunningham.

Agecroft Hall opens their Sweet Shop annually at the Christmas Open House, according to Cunningham. The Sweet Shop is housed in a Tudor kitchen exhibition within the museum. 

While other programs have a more structured approach to historical foods and recipes, the Sweet Shop offers more freedom, according to Cunningham. 

“It’s a little loose and a little more fun than some of the other events,” Cunningham said. “It’s more about serving the people who come to see us and giving them fun treats.”

In addition to creating homemade, vintage-inspired goods, The Sweet Shop features a lot of items from bakeries around Richmond, according to Cunningham.

“We will be heavily featuring pastries and things from Sugar and Twine in Carytown and Whisk Bakery this year,” Cunningham said.  

Yuletide uses baked goods from outside vendors to keep up with the demand for sweets from attendees, according to Cunningham. She’s seen attendance rates increase over her past five years at Agecroft. 

“It is very exciting,” Cunningham said. “We love to see a big crowd and a good turnout.”

Festivities aren’t complete without baked goods, according to Cunningham.

“Baked goods add to festivities, as they always have throughout the millennium,” Cunnigham said. “Something sweet never hurts.” 

While registration is not required, attendees can RSVP for the event on the Agecroft Hall website.