Oak Hill’s Victorian Christmas Tours showcase traditions of another era
ROME, Ga. – Oak Hill & The Martha Berry Museum will ring in the Christmas season with a new tradition, Victorian Christmas Tours, that allows visitors to experience the holidays as they were celebrated during the time of Martha Berry’s childhood.
“Growing up in the Victorian era, Martha Berry saw the beginnings of many traditions found in presentday Christmas celebrations. She shared her childhood customs with the school’s earliest students, laying the groundwork for the holiday season at Berry today,” said Rachel McLucas, curator of the museum.
This year, the Oak Hill mansion has been decorated in a manner that the Berry Family of the late 19th century would recognize— decorations reflect the traditions and tastes of the Victorian era, and tours will highlight the customs that would have been familiar to Martha Berry. Guests will hear how Christmas came to be celebrated in the United States and learn about the unique traditions found in Southern households of the time. The carols popularized in the Victorian era will be performed by community musicians in the house parlor during the tours.
The tours will be on Saturday, Dec. 16, from 12 to 5 p. m. Tours begin on the hour with the last one starting at 4 p. m. Tickets cost $ 5 for adults and $ 2 for students, and children under 5 are free. Tickets must be reserved in advance by calling 706- 368- 6776 or emailing oakhill@ berry. edu. Parking is provided at Oak Hill & The Martha Berry Museum.
For more information, contact the Martha Berry Museum at 706368- 6789 or oakhill@ berry. edu and visit www. berry. edu/ oakhill. Oak Hill & The Martha Berry Museum, part of Berry College, is open Monday through Saturday from 10 a. m. to 5 p. m.