Pennypacker Mills

Because of the state mandate, the county is closing all historic sites until Jan. 4th, so we will not be able to give any tours. We look forward to re-starting visitation once it is deemed safe to do so. Have safe and happy holidays.

With Christmas becoming a popular holiday under Queen Victoria, the demand for glass ornaments in all forms grew. Everyone wanted colorful bulbs and shimmering clear glass decorations. We have quite a collection of ornaments that Governor Pennypacker and his family used on their tree including the classic, and still popular, glass icicles that bring the feeling of winter inside, but without the melting. The Pennypackers had icicles in clear, as well as red and green glass. Today, glass icicles are still a popular decoration adorning trees across the globe, and we use new versions just like the ones they had on our tree in the mansion, and sell them in our Museum Shop.

Initially used by German bakers to decorate cakes in the 19th century, Victorian scrap soon found new uses starting around 1880. It was used to decorate cards for birthdays and holidays throughout the year, and quickly became popular for embellishing scrap-books and wrapped gifts, and for making Christmas ornaments. Scrap came in easy to use sheets that were mostly pre-cut, leaving only thin tabs to cut off before use. They were very versatile and were used in combination wi...th fabric, cotton batting, tinsel and the popular foil die-cut German Dresden ornaments. They also found use as design elements for furniture and jewelry boxes. Victorian scrap is still popular today for use on greeting cards, as well as scrapbooking and handmade ornaments for holidays or everyday use. German and England companies still produce scrap using the same techniques and vintage designs. If you want to try using some scrap, we have a variety of designs in our Museum Shop. See more

Christmas as we know it today might not exist if not for Victorians, specifically Queen Victoria and writer, Charles Dickens. It was a dying holiday by the mid-1800’s and then everything changed. To help her husband, Albert, deal with his homesickness, Queen Victoria introduced the traditional Tannenbaum, or fir tree, in 1840 from his German traditions into the Royal Christmas celebrations. Prior to that, most English homes had a traditional yule log that was for warmth, not... decoration. Soon after, Christmas became a festive holiday of family, decorations and gatherings. Storytelling was a popular pastime for Victorians as well, with ghost stories gaining popularity year-round. The tradition of decorating a tree, however, dates back to Martin Luther, but it was Victoria’s influence that made it common practice for all. Charles Dickens, already a well-known author, published ‘A Christmas Carol’ on December 19, 1843. He incorporated many aspects of this new Christmas celebration into an intricate story about tradition, reminiscing of the past, social issues, choices, family and, of course, ghosts. Many credit his story with solidifying the Christmas we know today. The English poet Thomas Hood once wrote, "If Christmas, with its ancient and hospitable customs, its social and charitable observances, were in danger of decay, this is the book that would give them a new lease. That's how powerful a tale it is. And it doesn't take that long to read. (How Christmas Was Saved, And So Were We; Waitsel Smith, 2008) Christmas in America combines aspects from many different countries and their celebrations. From the Christmas tree (German), clear toy candy aka barley candy (Germany, England and Scotland, then later Pennsylvania), leaving cookies for Santa (Germany/Norway), and, in 1882, electric Christmas lights were introduced in New York by Edward Johnson, an associate of Thomas Edison. Throughout the years new traditions are born while older ones sometimes fade away, but the spirit of Christmas with its chill in the air (unless you’re in Australia), snowy dreams, and diet-crushing parties lives on. What traditions do you practice that may be unique to most? See more

WE WILL BE CLOSED UNTIL JANUARY 4th due to the state mandate. Have safe and happy holidays.