Grand Illumination

Yesterday's comment from Linda made me think about how much I take where I live for granted. I should therefore mention that these holiday wreaths are part of a larger Colonial Williamsburg celebration we call Grand Illumination. It used to be that the holiday festivities here kicked off around the time of Thanksgiving Day and more or less culminated in one night called the Grand Illumination, when there would be a huge fireworks display along with numerous other events. Now, though, because of its huge popularity, Grand Illumination is spread out over the three consecutive weekends in December before Christmas. Tonight, then, is the final night of Grand Illumination when there will be yet a third magnificent fireworks display. The wreaths, though, stay up and are replenished as needed throughout Christmastide.

You should come! :-) We have people visit from all parts of the world and on any given day, as I walk the old colonial capital's streets, I can hear people speaking in seemingly countless different languages and dialects. It's fun!

Palace Greens

Governor's Palace

Colonial Williamsburg

Linking again today with Skywatch Friday.

Buds?

Not sure what those red and white things are. Buds? Part of what makes these holiday wreaths so interesting, I guess.

Mystery

Of course, what I'm left wondering is how they attach these shells to the wreath. I assume it's by way of some tiny wires. But, if so, then they are p-r-e-t-t-y well hidden.

Beehive

Colonial Williamsburg, Virginia

Ball

Colonial Williamsburg, Virginia

York Town

Colonial Williamsburg, Virginia

Feather

Colonial Williamsburg, Virginia

Busy Season

'Tis the busy holiday season in town these days, what with Grand Illumination weekends coming up, special holiday concerts, the D.O.G. (Duke of Gloucester) street ice skating rink, etc. Hard to keep up with it all, frankly. 

Advent

Today is the first Sunday in Advent. Depending on which tradition you follow, the season began either at sundown yesterday or at midnight. Following the former practice, I hung a wreath on my front door and set flameless candles in the windows, as is customary here in the colonial capital. 

Traditions

Well, it's that time of year again when all kinds of decorative wreaths begin popping up around the colonial capital. I found this one hanging on the door of the regional library. 

I've begun the process of decorating, too, beginning with a Christmas tree and, to better accommodate incoming family members (including two dogs!), rearranging the furniture. I'll set candles (electric!) in the windows beginning tonight, another Williamsburg tradition.

Poinsettias

So when did poinsettias become a "thing" at Christmas? I looked it up on National Geographic's website. Here's what I found:

"Franciscan missionaries arrived in Mexico in the 16th century and eventually began setting up elaborate manger scenes at Christmastime. Holly, Europe’s holiday flora of choice, was nowhere to be found for the dioramas, but when the missionaries saw the red and green colors of this local plant—that happened to burst into color every December—they knew they had the perfect stand-in."

Reminders

 

It's a special time of year, to be sure. Everywhere, there are small and sometimes not so small reminders.

Ring Out, Wild Bells

 

Merry Christmas everyone! Hope you all had a wonderful Christmas Eve and are not too tired out this morning. :-) I finally got in a half hour after midnight this morning after singing one service yesterday morning and three last night. Whew! Lots of fun. 

Ring out, wild bells, to the wild sky,

   The flying cloud, the frosty light:

   The year is dying in the night;

Ring out, wild bells, and let him die.

Ring out the old, ring in the new,

   Ring, happy bells, across the snow:

   The year is going, let him go;

Ring out the false, ring in the true.

Ring out the grief that saps the mind

   For those that here we see no more;

   Ring out the feud of rich and poor,

Ring in redress to all mankind.

Ring out a slowly dying cause,

   And ancient forms of party strife;

   Ring in the nobler modes of life,

With sweeter manners, purer laws.

Ring out the want, the care, the sin,

   The faithless coldness of the times;

   Ring out, ring out my mournful rhymes

But ring the fuller minstrel in.

Ring out false pride in place and blood,

   The civic slander and the spite;

   Ring in the love of truth and right,

Ring in the common love of good.

Ring out old shapes of foul disease;

   Ring out the narrowing lust of gold;

   Ring out the thousand wars of old,

Ring in the thousand years of peace.

Ring in the valiant man and free,

   The larger heart, the kindlier hand;

   Ring out the darkness of the land,

Ring in the Christ that is to be.

-- Alfred Tennyson

Oranges

Odd, isn't it, how certain images provoke thought. This wreath had me thinking of those suffering from hunger all around the world this season.

As promise wakens in the sleeping land:

They carol, feast, give thanks,

And dearly love their friends,

And hope for peace.

-- Susan Cooper 

Survivor

 

On the corner of Duke of Gloucester (aka Dog Street) and Palace Green Street now hangs this lovely wreath. Amazingly, it survived the rain storm that swept up the east coast this past Sunday night. Well anchored, I'd say.

Owl

 

Lantern

 

Third Sunday of Advent

 

Hanging of the Greens