Christmas at Mount Vernon
It’s the Christmas season once again here at Mount Vernon, and things are lovely as always in December. The chocolate makers have the whole estate smelling like warm chocolate as they grind it by hand. The decorations are up in the Education and Orientation Centers (but not in the Mansion since Christmas trees and Santa figurines were definitely not a part of colonial Christmas). At night, Martha Washington and Dr. Craik lead visitors through the Mansion by candlelight. The Greenhouse is filled with music and dancing. Former White House pastry chef Roland Mesnier has transformed humble gingerbread and icing into an amazing Mount Vernon gingerbread house complete with furniture and animals. And best of all, Aladdin the camel is back to greet visitors, representing the camel that George Washington brought to Mount Vernon to surprise his family and guests on Christmas morning in 1787.
Image by L. Toshio Kishiyama.
