Pennsbury Manor

Happy Hanukkah! On the first night of this celebration of lights, take a moment to appreciate this menorah from the late 1600’s, which is part of the collection at The Jewish Museum! The backplate of this menorah would have reflected the light from the candles placed in it, creating a brighter glow. At Pennsbury Manor, we have polished metal sconces in many of the rooms, which would have acted the same way - as mirrors to help a candle cast more light! Candles are a beloved... tradition in many winter holidays. Are you enjoying candlelight at home these days? Share a photo in the comments below! This menorah is held by The Jewish Museum; visit their website to learn more about this menorah (including an explanation of the imagery of Judith and Holofernes), or for a high-resolution version of this photo: https://thejewishmuseum.org/collection/17379-hanukkah-lamp

Have you ever heard of a Frost Fair? Ann Shipley, Museum Educator at Pottsgrove Manor, explores this fascinating tradition of holding festivals on the Thames River when it froze over. Learn about the sights, smells, sounds, and souvenirs of this once-in-a-lifetime event! Many thanks to Ann and the Pottsgrove Manor team for sharing your research with us! P.S. Make sure to RSVP to our Facebook event, and adjust your notification settings so you don’t miss out on any of the Holl...y Nights at Home content! Questions? Message us and we’ll get you set up! Find the event here: www.facebook.com/events/371379160738335/ See more

Join Father Christmas for an exploration of traditional tree ornaments, and learn how the Victorians changed our ideas about Santa's suit! The music in this video is a recording of the 18th-century English tune Sir Charles Sedley's Minuet, played by Robert Mouland! P.S. Make sure to RSVP to our Facebook event, and adjust your notification settings so you don’t miss out on any of the Holly Nights at Home content! Questions? Message us and we’ll get you set up!... Find the event here: www.facebook.com/events/371379160738335/

Holly Nights wouldn’t be complete without good music! Enjoy this demonstration of a Baroque flute, a hurdy-gurdy, and an English guitar, as Pennsylvania’s own Robert Mouland recreates the sounds of an 18th-century American Christmas. P.S. Make sure to RSVP to our Facebook event, and adjust your notification settings so you don’t miss out on any of the Holly Nights at Home content! Questions? Message us and we’ll get you set up! Find the event here: www.facebook.com/events/371379160738335/

Welcome to the Holly Nights at Home Virtual Tour! We'll be exploring the Manor House, William Penn’s reconstructed 17th-century country home. Step inside and learn about how we decorate the house for Holly Nights. At the end of the tour, you’ll learn about pomander balls! If you’d like to make your own pomander ball, have some cloves and a citrus fruit ready, as well as some ground spices like cinnamon and nutmeg if you have them. If you purchased a Take-Home Craft Bag, you’l...l have your clementine and cloves all ready to make a basic pomander! A pencil can also be handy for poking holes in thicker-skinned fruits. Many thanks to our volunteer tour guides (and our curator), who recorded this tour virtually! Their dedication to the Pennsbury Manor community has helped bring some of the beloved Holly Nights atmosphere into 2020. The music in this video is a recording of the English Country Dance tune A Hole in the Wall, played by Robert Mouland, one of Pennsylvania’s finest historical instrumentalists. P.S. Make sure to RSVP to our Facebook event, and adjust your notification settings so you don’t miss out on any of the Holly Nights at Home content! Questions? Message us and we’ll get you set up! Find the event here: www.facebook.com/events/371379160738335/