Christmas By Candlelight:Old Sturbridge Village

Christmas by Candlelight at Old Sturbridge Village

Jamie, Kim, Jake, Barbara, Sarah, Erik, Me, Pahl

One of the winter programs I had the pleasure of attending this past December was Christmas By Candlelight at Old Sturbridge Village. Old Sturbridge Village totes itself as a living museum of a recreated 1830's town in rural New England.  Within its 200+ acres and 40 historical buildings, attendees can freely walk around and enter buildings and spaces and interact with costumed historians as they work the tasks of the past including pottery, woodworking, smithing, general store, preaching, bank, etc. What makes Christmas By Candlelight particularly special is that the entire town is ready for Christmas. Decorations are up on the inside and outside of every building. You can attend the tree lighting and are invited to sing yuletide carols. Many of the buildings are offering fresh baked or brewed samples of hot apple cider, sweet breads, and cookies that were made for Christmas specifically in the early 19th century. 

Old Sturbridge Village is a lot bigger than I remember it being since the first time I went back in or around 30 years ago on a school trip. I have faint memories of entering the general store and the gift shop, but I don't remember the extended bridge around the pond next to the Qunebaug River, or any of the extended houses and fields beyond that.  I was able to go on this wonderful trip because my friend Barbara and her husband Jake are members of the museum and they won 6 free tickets to Christmas By Candlelight at a members only gathering!  Barbara said they had expanded a lot since the last time I attended, so my suspicions that it was bigger were confirmed. 

The area around the pond and river were beautifully lit up at night by lights that reflected off the water. There was a large covered bridge over the river which housed many evergreens that you could attach a holiday wish to. A smithery and grain area lays further beyond that as well as fields a plenty for livestock (which were safely put to bed in their pens for the night time event). 

Pretending to be a business man with younger wife

Every time there's a meeting at a museum, Pahl and I love to try to match the time period, the activity, and or the lecture being offered. This time we went for simple (for us), nearly puritanical looking pieces that highlighted classic black and white. I decided that it was the perfect time to bring out my Elegant Solid Color Skirt in Black from the brand Yuan Su.  What I love about this skirt is that it is quite long and elegant and that the slightly nordic design above the bottom hem is actually embroidered into the material. For such a lovely piece, it also includes contrasting ribbons that you can lace up on the sides and back of the skirt, as well as functional pockets. It's definitely a good piece to have if you identify mainly as a Classic EGL enthusiast. I paired it with a Time Memory long sleeve cotton blouse which I had purchased somewhat randomly back in May of 2022 when I first began my EGL fashion journey. It is quite perfect for classic or maybe even old school looks, but it didn't lay well under the jumper skirts I had at the time, so that's why it took so long to make its debut.  And of course, my big black bonnet, which basically goes with everything---Classic, Regency, and over the top Gothic.  I didn't bother with makeup, (I bet people in the 1830's in rural New England were also skipping that part) but I was wearing several layers including thermals top and bottom, fleece lined socks, and lined knee high boots. The last fashion meeting at Elizabeth Park prepared me for dressing for colder temperatures. 

You can't really see the intricacies of Pahl's outfit outside of the white collar of his shirt with the red paisley and black puff tie and "Sherlock Holmes" great coat. He was wearing suspenders and a beautiful red waistcoat under the coat, but again, function over fashion dictates on outside excursions when the temperature is cool. 

Everyone else in our group either went full on cozy Christmas vibe with red and green throughout or classically cut wool coats and sneakers. Barbara also applied very festive and vibrant makeup as part of her look. 

The preaching place, located between the cemetery and the tree lighting. Many short concerts were held in front of this building during the event

Pahl should receive an acting award for this photo in front of the cemetery gates

Kim captured an enthusiastic costumed historian talking to Pahl and I before the tree lighting. He told us that all of their costumes are provided by the museum.

Better picture of my full coordinate before it got too cold

The Christmas by Candlelight program was so fun!!! I would love to do it again sometime. I definitely prefer historical living museums when it is too cold for all manner of insects to be buzzing around.