Lighting up history
Pennsbury Manor welcomes holiday season with annual Holly Nights event Dec. 7 and 8
By Samantha Bambino
The Times
This Thursday and Friday, Pennsbury Manor will transform into a holiday wonderland complete with bonfires, hot cider and 400 lanterns illuminating its grounds. This is Holly Nights, a two-part winter tradition that has been taking place at William Penn’s former estate for nearly 40 years. More than 2,000 locals are slated to join in the festivities as the manor helps Bucks County kick off the holiday season in true colonial style.
There was an air of excitement at Pennsbury Manor last week as a number of volunteers began the lengthy process of decorating, carrying in trees and hanging lights. According to Sarah Rudich, managing director, all hands have been on deck to create the ultimate holiday atmosphere for Holly Nights. With Pennsbury in normal operations welcoming large student groups for tours, this has been no easy feat. Still, a colonial Christmas celebration was certainly starting to take form.
The manor house is completely decorated with an entire holiday feast spread across the dining room table. The main entree, a large goose, sits front and center with various side dishes, desserts and drinks meticulously placed around it. Though all of the food is artificial, it looks good enough to eat.
“It was all lovingly put together by our volunteers,” Rudich said.
Further inside the manor is another, slightly smaller dinner display of fox and various wildlife. Rudich explained how this meal has a deep historical connection. In 1681 when Penn was trying to market Pennsylvania, the area’s abundance of elk, fox and other game was always a selling point.
A separate room is dedicated to one of Penn’s favorite desserts. A neatly stacked mountain of chocolate pays homage to his deep love for hot chocolate, though the drink was more spicy than sweet in his day. Another room holds a vast display of lemon syllabub, a traditional period dessert.
In spaces like these, visitors can immerse themselves in the sights, sounds and, new this year, smells. As they take in the artificial desserts, they’ll actually be met with the sweet aromas of lemon and chocolate. Exceptionally fragrant will be the make-your-own pomander balls, which consist of orange and cloves among other ingredients. These were popular to give as gifts during Penn’s time and due to their high cost, usually signaled wealth.
Outside the manor, 400 lanterns will illuminate the grounds during Holly Nights. A yule log bonfire will take place in the orchard where guests can enjoy cider donuts and hot mulled cider to wash them down. Candlelit tours of the manor will be available, as well as period demonstrations, including open hearth cooking, blacksmithing, joinery and beer brewing. As visitors get a glimpse into holiday seasons past, they’ll be serenaded by the sound of carolers singing favorite classics.
Every 30 minutes, guests can also enjoy live entertainment from a wide array of performers. These will include Pennsbury High School Brass Ensemble, harpist Martina Miller, Truman Holiday Band, Cairn University Bell Choir and Voices of Bucks County to name a few. Men of Harmony will close out both evenings from 8:30 to 9 p.m. by the main Christmas tree in the manor’s circle. Maps and schedules will be available on site.
Pennsbury Manor is expecting to welcome more than 2,000 people and at least three generations. Rudich explained how a number of grandparents began attending during the early days of Holly Nights and have since passed the tradition on to their children and grandchildren.
The event has truly become a community staple, despite the fact that Penn didn’t celebrate Christmas. During his time, every day was considered a holy day. Dec. 25 was treated no differently than the 26th or 27th, but a special reverence was placed on the beauty of the winter season, which is what Holly Nights is all about.
If you go: Holly Nights will take place Dec. 7 and 8 from 6 to 9 p.m. at Pennsbury Manor, 400 Pennsbury Memorial Road, Morrisville. Admission is $14 for adults, $12 for seniors and $6 for children. Members are free. Parking is free. Bypass admission lines by purchasing tickets online at www.pennsburymanor.org/ until noon on Dec. 7 for either night. After that time, tickets will be available at the door. Holiday decorations will be available for viewing on a general Pennsbury Manor tour through Dec. 30.
Samantha Bambino can be reached at sbambino@newspapermediagroup.com
