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October 2002
It's not too early to begin thinking about decorating for Christmas, and one
of the ever popular decorating themes is known as the Colonial Williamsburg
style. Abundant with fruit, vegetables, foliage, herbs and dried flowers, the
charm of Williamsburg wreaths, swags, and centerpieces has delighted
generations of Americans.
Ironically, what has come to be known as the Colonial Williamsburg style of
holiday decorating never actually existed in colonial times. No one in
eighteenth century America would have been caught dead with real fruit tacked
to the front door, left to rot or be eaten by squirrels, when food was so
scarce. They certainly would not have used such exotic and precious
commodities as the pineapples, pomegranates, and citrus fruits we see
displayed today. In those days, Christmas decorations were more spartan,
making use of natural materials at hand, such as magnolia leaves, holly
berries, milkweed pods, sumac berries, cotton bolls, rosemary, laurel,
boxwood and pine. Common was the practice of "sticking the church" with
green boughs on Christmas Eve. Garlands of indigenous evergreens were hung
from the church roof, the walls, the pillars and the galleries. Sometimes
even the pews and the pulpit were included. Private homes were much more modestly adorned.
The practice of affixing fruits, dried flowers herbs, and other plant life to
basic Christmas forms such as wreaths and garlands began in the earlier years
of the 20th century, at a time when Christmas was growing in significance and
the Colonial Revival style was a leading decorating trend. The holiday
fashion appears to have been suggested by the terra cotta carvings of the
noted fifteenth century Italian sculptor Luca della Robbia and his heirs,
whose family name has become synonymous with fruit and foliage swags. Even
then, only wealthier American citizens decorated in such a style.
Colonial Williamsburg first officially dressed up for Christmas in 1936, and
by 1939 the "della Robbia" style wreaths, which were then created by some
more of the talented local ladies, had caught on in popularity. Thus, the
Williamsburg Christmas look was launched. Annual decorating contests ensued,
and the public became so enamored that, in 1969, the Williamsburg "Christmas
Decorations Tour" was inaugurated.
Today, your professional florist can create a centerpiece for you in the
traditional Williamsburg mode. Familiar elements such as boxwood, magnolia
leaves, holly, apples, oranges, pine cones, roses, deep-toned chrysanthemums,
pheasant feathers, and the requisite pineapple - a long- standing symbol of
hospitality - may be combined to produce the arrangement. Fresh fruit is
secured on wood florist's picks, and piercing the fruit through the blossom
end rather than through the skin helps keep it fresh longer. Alternatively,
realistic artificial fruit may be used. A silver Revere bowl would be a
period-appropriate container. Customarily, the centerpiece would be rounded,
compact, and symmetrical - almost regimentally so. Quite a departure from
today's relaxed standards, to be sure, but classically beautiful in it's own
right.
Intrigued by this festive theme? Call or visit your local florist soon and
have a glance back at history with your own Williamsburg style Christmas
centerpiece.
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