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Discover what made Washington "first in war, first in peace and first in the hearts of his countrymen".
The Mount Vernon Ladies Association has been maintaining the Mount Vernon Estate since they acquired it from the Washington family in 1858.
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In the 18th century, George Washington celebrated Christmas with his family at Mount Vernon. While it may not have been as flashy as it is today with all the decorations and gifts, the themes of spending time with family and friends and taking a break from the hustle and bustle of working life have remained the same.
Learn about the holiday practices observed by the Washingtons and their enslaved workers at Mount Vernon.
Stop by Mount Vernon during the holiday season to meet the famous Aladdin — a tribute to a very special visitor in 1787.
Epiphany, or the Twelfth Night, is an Anglican celebration recognizing the day the three wise men visited Jesus in the manger. Instead of celebrating on a single day, the Washingtons celebrated a holiday season beginning on Christmas Eve and lasting 12 days until Epiphany on January 6.
Epiphany had added significance at Mount Vernon, as January 6 marked the wedding anniversary of Martha and George Washington!
Take a look at the Christmases of Washington's life and the historic events they accompanied.
For Martha Washington, the Christmas season was a festive religious occasion and an opportunity to impress her guests with a variety of holiday dishes.
One of the few surviving recipes directly associated with Martha Washington, the Great Cake likely would have been served as part of a grand Christmas dinner or Twelfth Night party.
Christmas pies such as this appear to have been a holiday custom in the Washington household.
Celebrate the holiday season at the home of our first president with this selection of events for the whole family!
The replica slave cabin at the Pioneer Farm at Mount Vernon (MVLA)
On the estate, the Washington family wasn't the only ones who celebrated Christmas. This time provided a rare opportunity to rest and visit with family and friends at Mount Vernon and on neighboring plantations.
For a particular group of enslaved people, however, the Christmas holiday did not bring relief from their labor. Cooks, housemaids, waiters, and others working in the house were required to do extra work through the holiday, as the Washingtons hosted additional guests. The rest of the enslaved community was often given four days off, as well as extra food or possibly spirits.
General George Washington reminiscences the crossing the Delaware River on the evening of December 25, 1776. A day that forever changed history.
Modern interpretation of Martha Washington's great cake recipe. Food photography by Renée Comet, styled by Lisa Cherkasky.
Dinner is an essential part of any Christmas celebration and at Mount Vernon, there were no exceptions. Known for setting an appetizing table, Martha Washington kept extremely busy preparing for an onslaught of guests during the holiday season.
While there are no descriptions of a specific Christmas dinner at Mount Vernon and few references to foods associated with the season, descriptions written by visitors have been examined over the years.
It was Mrs. Washington's habit before or after breakfast to start planning the meals for the day, and one description by her grandson reported that she "...gave orders for dinner," at this time, "appointing certain provisions, a pair of ducks, a goose or a turkey to be laid by, and to be put down in case of the arrival of company; a very necessary provision in that hospitable mansion.” Martha really pulled out the stops during the holidays.
Especially before the Revolution, the Washingtons often visited with close friends on or about the sixth of January (Twelfth Night). Martha Washington would have prepared a specially decorated “great cake” for the Twelfth Night. Among Martha Washington's papers is a recipe for this great cake, copied for her by a granddaughter, Martha Custis. This rich fruit-filled pastry was a custom staple for Twelfth Night festivities.
Martha's great cakeHow did the Washingtons decorate Mount Vernon during the holidays? Did they put up a Christmas tree? Jeremy Ray, Mount Vernon's director of interpretation, explains 18th-century Christmas decorations.
