A Very Merry Charleston Christmas
Discover the enchantment of Christmas from long ago up the the present.
All is calm, all is bright strolling through Charleston at night with clear Christmas lights matching the twinkle of stars in the dark sky above. Wreaths and garlands of cedar and pine tied up with red bows on piazzas and doorways signal the arrival of this most wonderful time of the year.
Delight in the Christmas spirit the moment you walk through the lobby at the Belmond Charleston Place, and watch the custom-designed train display in action with a fully operational replica of the famous Venice Simplon-Orient-Express luxury train, a five-story mini hotel, a European rose garden with statue, and new locomotives.
Experience the Festival of Trees located upstairs - a gift to the city for all to enjoy.
Fruit boards adorn the tops of doorways throughout the city, camellias bloom in gardens along the side streets, and calamondin oranges, persimmons, and Lowcountry Popcorn Berry wreaths adorn wrought iron gates. On these dark streets shineth The Everlasting Light.
Holiday enchantment awaits in unexpected ways. It might be the crowds of wacky shoppers dressed in their “ugly Christmas sweaters,” or the trays of cookies doused in powdered sugar that remind you of your great Aunt Sadie’s “nut fingers.” Christmas is a potent blend of magical thinking and tangible, sensual reality. Now is the time to believe in angels, twinkling stars, and goodwill to all.
Christmases of Yesterday
Below are some of the highlights.
Lace up your walking shoes, grab your wool holiday scarf, and head down King Street to immerse yourself in Charleson’s history and holiday spirit. Marvel at how storied homes deck their halls with heirloom decorations passed down from generation to generation.
Walk down to 350 Meeting Street to view the Joseph Manigault House. They take their holiday decor very seriously with stunning results. Built in 1803, this is an antebellum masterpiece with a towering spiral staircase wrapped around a crystal chandelier. Decorations throughout the home reflect plant materials that are historically accurate to what would have been available in the early 1800s.
If you notice a dazzling display of Victorian Christmas decorations featuring trees with all the trimmings, you have arrived at the Aiken Rhett House, 48 Elizabeth Street. Built in 1820, a Victorian Christmas in the South will captivate you.
Enjoy an evening on the Battery discovering the Edmondston-Alston House by candlelight and listening to the sounds of the Charleston Caroling Company. Then, warm up in the courtyard with a glass of hot cider and listen to Christmas stories told by a local storyteller.
One of my most unforgettable evenings happened at 150 Meeting Street at the festively decorated Circular Congregational Church. Plan to attend the candlelight performance of The Holiday Edition of The Sound of Charleston, where you will hear George Gershwin’s Porgy and Bess, gospel spirituals, jazz, light classics, and music of the Civil War along with your favorite holiday classics.
Just a short distance away at 51 Meeting Street is the Nathaniel Russell House with a dining room table laden with sugared fruits, cakes, and sweetmeat - all popular fare in the early 1800s, when religious services and family meals were the highlight of the holiday celebrations. It will be illuminated by candlelight, the way the Russells would have lit the house before electricity. Enjoy a glass of apple cider or wine during this festive historic occasion.
Take a short drive to see America’s oldest unrestored plantation. Drayton Hall is a magnificent 18th-century plantation dressed up for the holidays just a little north of the city on the Ashley Rives. If you linger awhile, there’s a spectacular candlelight tour.
Perhaps you can stop in to attend Drayton Hall’s first annual Holiday Sip and Stroll, on Dec. 14th. They will offer the opportunity for you to purchase traditional mulled wine, or enjoy wine and beer by the glass as you walk around the grounds and enjoy music from The Charleston Caroling Company.
Wishing everyone a wonderful holiday season! Thank you for following me on Substack and commenting on what you like. I love hearing from you!!!
xo, Pat
May all your Christmases be bright!!!
