Teacher Resources
: Lesson Plans
: A Colonial Christmas in Williamsburg
GRADE LEVEL: Elementary & Middle School
BACKGROUND INFORMATION:
Feasting and celebration were a big part of the Christmas season in colonial Virginia. Then,
as now, families and friends gathered to celebrate the holiday with the best their tables could
offer. In eighteenth-century Virginia, the holiday season began on December 24 and ran through
Twelfth Night on January 6. For centuries, Twelfth Night was really the highlight of the holiday
season. Although this celebration was not deeply rooted in the American colonies, in the eighteenth
century it was celebrated in Virginia, Maryland, Delaware and Pennsylvania.
TIME REQUIRED:
Three to four lesson periods of 60 minutes each
MATERIALS:
INSTRUCTIONAL FORMAT
OBJECTIVES:
As a result of this lesson, the student will be able to:
- plan a colonial Christmas event
- demonstrate colonial Christmas customs
- participate in a colonial Christmas activity
SETTING THE STAGE:
Discuss the following with students. There are no eighteenth-century sources
which highlight the importance of children at Christmastime - or of Christmas
to children in particular. In a diary entry of Philip Vickers Fithian dated
December 18, 1773, he tells about "the Balls, the Fox-hunts, the fine
entertainments." None was meant for kids, and the youngsters were cordially
not invited to attend. Sally Cary Fairfax was old enough to keep a journal and
old enough to attend a ball at Christmas 1771, so she was not one of the "tiny
tots with their eyes all aglow." The emphasis on Christmas as a magical
time for children came about in the nineteenth century. So what did the children
of Williamsburg do to celebrate Christmas in the eighteenth century? If they
were old enough, they might attend church, stick some holly on the window panes,
help prepare a great dinner, go to a party, and perhaps visit friends.
STRATEGIES/PROCEDURES:
Give each student a copy of the Graphic
Organizer: Christmas Then & Now. Have students work in three (or six
if you prefer) collaborative groups. Each group will self appoint a group leader,
a recorder and a reporter. Group I will investigate colonial decorations; Group
II will explore eighteenth-century foods; and Group III will look into eighteenth-century
singing. After students have read the primary sources on their topic, have the
group leader facilitate a discussion on similarities and differences between
today and the eighteenth century. Ask the group recorder to fill in the team's
responses on the Graphic Organizer: Christmas
Then & Now. Finally ask the group reporter to report to the class the
group's findings.
Next have students plan a Twelfth Day of Christmas party by working in three collaborative groups.
Group I can decorate the classroom with sprigs of holly for the window. Real holly or
student-created/drawn and colored holly can be used. If real holly is used, have students be
authentic by using wax to adhere the holly to the window panes.
Group II can plan the food with a simple fare, e.g. wassail and gingercakes..
The receipts provided in Receipts
and Other Suggestions for a Twelfth Night Celebration are two good recipes
to use. Other authentic receipts can be found in Recipes
from the Raleigh Tavern Bake Shop.
Group III can write (using quill pens, if desired) invitations to one another,
other classes and/or parents. The model invitation provided in "Receipts
and Other Suggestions for a Twelfth Night Celebration" will give students
an idea on how to write their invitation.
After all preparations are complete, enjoy an eighteenth-century holiday with
your students. Have students begin with singing, break for a short repast, and
continue with more singing.
ALTERNATE PLAN:
The date is December 25, 1778. Ask students to assume the role of an American solider in the
war for Independence. They are to write a letter home and describe how they spent Christmas as a
soldier. Hint, have them write about things they were not able to do.
EVALUATION/ASSESSMENT:
Writing as an eighteenth-century child, each student will create a journal
describing how they assisted their parents in preparing for a party in celebration
of the twelfth day of Christmas. Each journal will include making plans, inviting
friends, decorating, and participating in this twelfth day of Christmas party.
Encourage students to include illustrations in their journals. Teacher and/or
parents can prepare journal pages by soaking onion skin typing paper in coffee
and allowing to dry. Then on a sewing machine stitch three sheets together by
sewing papers in half widthwise. [Optional: Students may use quill pens to make
journal entries.]
This lesson plan was developed by Carol Mason of Tiffany
Elementary School, Chula Vista, California; Glenna Raper, Davis Elementary School,
Davis, Oklahoma; and the staff of Colonial Williamsburg's Department of School
& Group Services.
Learn more about Christmas
in colonial Virginia
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Historic Triangle