→ Homestead Recreating 18th Century Christmas – Pottstown Post
Watch out kids because Belsnickel’s going to show up!
danielboonehomestead.org
12/7: A Homestead Christmas 12-4pm
Admission Adult (13+) $6.00, Child (5-12) $4.00. FDBH members free, no other discounts apply.
For many families in eighteenth century America, Christmas was a time for celebration, feasting, and frivolity. Join us at the Daniel Boone Homestead and experience Christmas as it was almost 300 years ago with your family and friends. Visitors can take a Christmas horse-drawn wagon ride through the historic area, learn about English and Pennsylvania German holiday celebrations, listen to the Homestead Carolers, and see the Amity Colonial Dancers in the Wayside Lodge. In the historic area, visitors will learn about the different Christmas traditions of the families who lived on the property throughout the eighteenth century as they tour the festively decorated buildings.
In the Boone House, volunteers will cook a Christmas meal in the hearth and talk about the English Christmas traditions. New this year, visitors can learn about Christmas confections, including a gingerbread house, toy candy, and sugarplums in the English parlor. As visitors make their way to the Bertolet Log House, they can stop and watch a blacksmith hard at work in his shop. The Bertolet Log House will be decorated for the Pennsylvania German Christmas celebration, and children can partake in a Christmas craft. In addition, volunteers will demonstrate spinning and textile processing. Join the Homestead Carolers as they meander throughout the historic area singing joyous, holiday medleys. A horse-drawn wagon will take visitors on a winter ride past the historic buildings and stop near the Wayside Lodge, where visitors can watch the Amity Colonial Dancers perform and learn a few, fun steps. Make sure to keep an eye out for the Belsnickel who will stop by the Homestead for a visit! The Belsnickel, part of eighteenth century rural Pennsylvania German Christmas lore, is much different from today’s jolly, old Santa Claus.
In the visitor center, visitors can warm up with complimentary hot chocolate and hot wassail. Don’t forget to look for that perfect gift for everyone on your Christmas list in the gift shop and bookstore. All books are 10% off throughout the month of December! Don’t miss this great opportunity to take a stroll through Christmas Past and enjoy an afternoon of old-fashioned, good cheer!
Admission: Adult $6.00 (13+), Youth $4.00 (5-12). Children under 5 and Friends of the Daniel Boone Homestead members are free, no other discounts apply. Light refreshments provided. Please no pets and no smoking. This program is sponsored and run by the Friends of the Daniel Boone Homestead.
Related Posts
In my mind's eye, the fanciful events depicted in Der Belsnickel Suite portray two special days on a family farm in a rustic and sturdy home built from field stone. ...
→ At Weiser and Boone homesteads, they're remaking history | WEEKEND
The French and Indian War will be returning this Sunday from noon to 4 p.m. at the Conrad Weiser and Daniel Boone ...
Yes! Kick Santa to the curb and turn Belsknickel loose upon the land.
For more 'Ask A PA Dutchman' episodes and Pennsilfaanisch Deitsch language videos check out Doulgas Madenford's YouTube channel.
Der Belsnickel
Oh, do you know that ugly, that nasty man?
Wow! Can you call that fellow a human being?
Yes, that he is a human, may be believed by whomever wants to,
He ...
→ A sweet taste of Birdsboro’s history
Bill and Tracy Smith opened Moonlight Winery in early 2014 to run as a side business in order to keep their full-time positions while still ...
→ Belsnickle Santa of yesteryear was not so jolly - The Herald-Dispatch
More details here on the legendary Belsnickel. I do take issue with the following...
Needless to say the first Belsnickle ...
→ This and That — The history of Santa Claus - Delphos Herald
Belsnickel came from Pelz Nichol, stemming from St. Nicholas and the December 6th gift giving holiday. Kris Kringle ...
→ Is He Santa Claus, Saint Nicholas, Kris Kringle or Pelznickel?
Santa Klaus is exhausted. Perhaps it's time for him to share the burden and ask for some help. Christmas isn't ...
I came across this Belsnickel story on the Appalachian Lifestyles blog by Matthew Burns. He was gracious enough to grant me permission to repost it here. Enjoy.
Christmastime in the Land ...
→ ‘Yes Helen, there is a Belsnickel’.
The sound is not that great but this clip is very informative and well worth watching if you want to learn more about the Pennsylvania Dutch tradtion of Der Belsnickel.
→ City of Reading embraces ugly Christmas tree - The Morning Call
Perhaps Reading should adopt the phenomena of the "Worlds Ugliest Christmas Tree" as a yearly ritual. Pretty, well decorated trees can ...
→ Pennsylvania Folkways: The Belsnickel brings light and darkness - Reading Eagle
After having read many articles about Belsnickel, I find that one the most interesting aspects about the tradition is ...
In the Belsnickel's world, Christmas shouldn't be so enjoyable for the naughty kids. He comes at night, dressed in dirty furs, face blackened with charcoal. He has one purpose: To ...
→ Pennsbury Manor prepping for festive Holly Nights celebration - Bucks County Courier Times
Experience the enchantment of Pennsbury Manor by candlelight. Enjoy crackling bonfires, carolers, candlelit tours of the Manor ...
* I'm still in the process of formatting the Deitsch version. Scroll down for English version.
Die Nacht for de Chrischdaag
'S waar die Nacht for de Chrischdaag
und dorch es gans Haus ...
→ Talking Christmas traditions with Don Yoder - Philly.com
→ “Days of the Belsnickel” Lunch Tour Pennsylvania at the Landis Valley Village & Farm Museum
Start with a video, then take a guided tour through the village, decked out Pennsylvania ...
→ Old-fashioned Christmas in Lehigh County offers look at Pennsylvania German life in 1842 - lehighvalleylive.com
Saturday, December 6: 1:00 pm– 6:00 pm, last tour 5:15: A Pennsylvania Dutch Christmas
Travel back ...
→ Christmas Candylane opens Friday for holiday season - LancasterOnline
Santa Claus, the pleasant bearded elf dressed in red (in case you thought I was referring to some other Santa Claus), was not predestined to be a worldwide Christmas icon ...
→ Friends of Hopewell Furnace celebrate “Bill of Rights Day" - Berks Mont News
The Friends of Hopewell Furnace invite the public to celebrate the 225th anniversary of the Bill of ...
VIDEO| Origin of the “Belsnickel” In Under A Minute
Der Belsnickel Suite, a symphonic work by Dave Kline performed by the Reading Philharmonic Orchestra
Charter Day at Weiser and Boone homesteads, they’re remaking history
VIDEO | Ask A PA Dutchman: The Belsnickel
Der Belsnickel by Henry Harbaugh
Moonlight Winery – A sweet taste of Birdsboro’s history
Belsnickle Santa of yesteryear was not so jolly
The history of Santa Claus with reference to Belsnickel and Kris Kringle
Is He Santa Claus, Saint Nicholas, Kris Kringle or Pelznickel?
Christmastime in the Land of the Belsnickel by Matthew Burns
‘Yes Helen, there is a Belsnickel’
VIDEO | A living history presentation on the PA Dutch tradition of the Der Belsnickel
City of Reading embraces ugly Christmas tree
Pennsylvania Folkways: The Belsnickel brings light and darkness
Belsnickel: A slightly terrifying Pennsylvania Dutch tradition
Pennsbury Manor prepping for festive Holly Nights celebration
Twas The Night Before Christmas – Translated into Pennsilfaanisch Deitsch by Thomas C. Zimmerman
Talking Christmas traditions with Don Yoder
Landis Valley Museum “Days of the Belsnickel” Lunch Tour
Troxell-Steckel Farm Museum old-fashioned Christmas offers look at Pennsylvania German life in 1842
Hersheypark’s Christmas Candylane opens Friday for holiday season
Meet Belsnickel, the Counter Claus
VIDEO: What is a Belsnickel?
Friends of Hopewell Furnace celebrate “Bill of Rights Day”
