Christmas at Surratt House

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(12-07-2016 10:07 AM)Eva Elisabeth Wrote:  Nice. I've never heard of the ribbon spider web, I cannot imagine it's of German origin (I think Germans are too traditional to let a tradition ceased, especially regarding Xmas. This said a real Xmas tree has real candles, not electric ones!!! And it's not to be decorated before Xmas Eve morning.)

You cannot see them in this photo, but the Surratt tree has about 8 original candles on the tree with clip-on holders and tiny candles -- and a wooden bucket (for water) with a sponge on a long stick in case of fire.

The standard Christmas tree in Southern Maryland was a cedar tree (they grow anywhere and everywhere) up until trains could bring the prettier firs and spruces of the north into Baltimore and D.C. markets.

When we first began decorating the museum for the holidays in 1976, we used cedar trees for the parlor table; but they are very difficult to decorate - and then, the fire marshal protested live trees where large crowds (and a wooden, historic house) were involved. It wasn't fun having to spray all the greenery before decorating either (to remove "Christmas spiders" and other varmints).

When I was a child, we actually had an advent wreath in our front hall until Christmas Eve. We did not decorate the tree until that day either, Eva.