Just outside of Washington, D.C., in Alexandria, Virginia, is George Washington’s sprawling estate, Mt. Vernon. It’s fascinating to visit at any time of year, but especially so during the holidays on one of their special Christmas by Candlelight tours. We visited this year on the evening of December 4.
Once arriving at Mt. Vernon, we were led into Mt. Vernon’s impressive Visitors Center & assigned to a group, based on the name of one of the many people the Washington’s hosted at Mt. Vernon during the holidays. Our group this year was that of Count Luigi Castiglion, an Italian who met George Washington at one of his holiday gatherings & was so impressed by his demeanor, he went back to Italy & wrote a book about him. After having some time to admire the beautifully decorated Christmas trees & very impressive model of the home in the visitors’ center, our group name was called & we were led to an 18th Century hospitality area. Here folks gather around fires burning brightly in kettles, sample apple cider & ginger cookies, sing colonial holiday carols & even get to see the Christmas camel, an “exotic” animal which Washington had brought in specifically for the enjoyment of the guests. All these activities take place outdoors, & we were lucky enough this year to have a beautiful evening to enjoy them in (last year, it drizzled the whole time & was quite cold, it wasn’t nearly as fun).
Finally, our group name was called again by a women dressed in period clothing, carrying a candlelit lantern. As we slowly made our way down a winding dirt path toward the house, we were transported back in time to 1797, the Washington’s first year back at Mt. Vernon for Christmas, following his service as president. As we stepped into the intricately detailed, turquoise (!) dining room, “Mrs. Washington” herself greeted us & told us about the traditional Christmas feast. Additional costumed actors, including other Washington family members & household servants, greeted us throughout the first & second floor of the house (the third floor, where Martha Washington lived after the death of her husband, is not included on the tour). At a stop in the kitchen (back then, not actually inside the home), we were greeted by the housekeeper, who told us of Mrs. Washington’s great Christmas fruit cake, which required 4lbs of butter & 30 eggs. A recipe tailored to today’s appetites was given as a souvenir as we departed – I can’t wait to try it out!
The tour of the house lasts about 40 minutes, & afterward there is time to explore some of the outdoors buildings, including the greenhouse where lively dance lessons take place. Unfortunately, the tombs where the Washington’s are buried are not included in this night tour. Afterword, explore more of the Visitors Center, where there’s a beautiful Mt. Vernon gingerbread house & musicians playing period holiday sons.
Even if you’ve seen Mt. Vernon during the day (probably way-back-when on a school field trip), if you’re looking for a festival way to celebrate the season, & view our first president in a whole new light, a trip there for Christmas by Candlelight is an evening well spent.
Tickets for specific dates & times can be purchased online – as of today, they still have tickets available for the evenings of December 10 & 11 & December 17 & 18.
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