The Hanging of the Greens

Interested in learning about traditional 18th-century Christmas decorations? Join us for our annual, “Hanging of the Greens,” and learn how to make your own, and help us decorate the Hugh Torance House and Store.

Decorating with evergreens, especially those bearing fruit such as mistletoe, ivy, and holly along with evergreen boughs from cedars and pines, was a common practice to welcome the season. The evergreens used for decorations symbolized the promise of Spring and everlasting life, a custom dating back to Roman times and adopted by many cultures through the ages. The custom of kissing under the mistletoe also comes from the British Isles, where the Nordic goddess Frigg vowed to grant a kiss to all who passed under the mistletoe to prevent violence and loss. Today, mistletoe is associated with winter luck and love, and kissing under the mistletoe remains a custom to this day.

Tickets are free, and…