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Old Sturbridge Village
captures the Spirit of the Season in December
Visitors invited to explore when and from where Christmas
came to New England
STURBRIDGE, Mass. December is Old Sturbridge Village's
"fifth season," the time when the re-created 19th-century
Village is transformed by exhibits that tell when and from
where Christmas came to early New England. Research shows
that early New Englanders, descendants of the Puritans, did not
celebrate Christmas, but long-standing visitor curiosity about
the history behind today's traditions is addressed throughout
the month at the history museum with a program entitled Spirit
of the Season (Dec. 1- Jan. 1).
The festively decorated Village, open
daily from 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., glows with candlelight on six
Friday and Saturday evenings (Dec. 2, 3, 9, 10, 16 & 17,
5 to 9 p.m.) for Christmas Traditions by Candlelight,
featuring holiday music performed by area groups, samples of
some of the foods long associated with the holiday, fireside
readings of "A Visit from St. Nicholas," and Father
Christmas himself.
Horse-drawn sleigh or wagon rides are
offered during the day on weekends as well as the special evenings,
and visitors are invited to bring skates and weather permitting
take a spin around the ice-skating area on the Common.
Daytime programs also falling during Spirit of the Season include
Family Vacation Week (Dec. 26-31) and First Day
(Jan. 1), each featuring special hands-on activities.
A New Year's Eve celebration
with a historical twist is offered at Bullard Tavern in the museum
Village (Dec. 31), and New Year's Day Brunch at Oliver
Wight Tavern at the museum's entrance (Jan. 1). Reservations
for New Year's events may be made by calling 508-347-0395. Museum
admission is not required to dine at Oliver Wight Tavern.
Daytime admission is $20 for adults,
$18 for seniors (age 65 & up), and $5 for youths (ages 3
to 17); with admission free for children under 3. Evening admission
for Christmas Traditions by Candlelight is $12 per person, with
admission free for children under 3.
Old Sturbridge Village is located just
off Route 20 in Sturbridge, Mass., at the intersection of the
Massachusetts Turnpike (I-90) and Interstate 84. It is one hour
west of Boston, 3 hours northeast of New York City, and under
one hour from Hartford, Conn., Providence, R.I., and Springfield
and Worcester, Mass. More information is available by visiting
www.osv.org or by calling 800-SEE-1830.
Make reservations at Sturbridge, Mass., hotels,
motels, inns and bed and breakfasts
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