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FOR those who want to make a
holiday visit to a home entirely
devoid of commercialization,
George Washington’s Mount Vernon is the ideal escape from the modem world of flashing twinkle lights and talking toys.
One of the only national attractions to remain open Christmas Day, Mount Vernon has resisted the temptation to take liberties with a “colonial Christmas.”
“Many people don’t realize that Christmas as we know it did not become popular until the 19th century,” says Mount Vernon curator Christine Meadows. “Christmas with the Washington family would not have included a house full of decorations or Christmas presents under a tree.”
Instead of celebrating on a single day, the Washingtons commemorated a holiday season beginning Christmas Eve and lasting through the next 12 days to Epiphany. Guests were frequent (as was the case throughout the year).
Weather permitting, the Washington family might have attended Christmas morning church serves at Pohick Church, where Washington was a vestryman. As the dates on many of his letters will attest, he also found Christmas a good day for
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