A Country House Christmas is in store for this holiday season at Sewerby Hall and Gardens.
A beautiful display of lights and decorations will be displayed every weekend starting on Saturday 19 November.
The audio trail, along with videos of Christmas life and traditions in the house, with audio about individual rooms, will provide visitors with an insight into how the family and the staff celebrated Christmas in the early part of the twentieth century.
As part of the event, there will be video explanations of the remarkable connections between the East Riding and Christmas, such as the tradition of eating turkey for Christmas lunch, which was first introduced to the country in the 16th century by William Strickland of nearby Boynton Hall.
There is a new exhibition called ‘Elves’ that shows that they aren’t just for Christmas! The Night Before Christmas, a poem written in 1823, describes Santa Claus as a ‘jolly old elf’, which was the first time elves were associated with Santa Claus. Elves were associated with Christmas centuries before they were associated with Norse and Germanic culture.
Marie Gascoigne, general manager, of Sewerby Hall and Gardens, said :
“The Christmas season is one of our favourite times of the year here at Sewerby! The house will look stunning, as ever, and there will be lots of chances to learn about the rooms and life here at Christmas, as well as the fascinating history of elves!
“We are really looking forward to welcoming visitors for the festive season once again!”
‘Elves’ explores their origins in mythology, the shift in perception after Christianity arrived, and local connections with them, including Willy Howe’s burial mound near Burton Fleming.
During the exhibition, visitors can learn about elves’ role in magic and witchcraft, culture, and their changes throughout history, as well as how they were portrayed by the Brothers Grimm in ‘The Elves and the Shoemaker’ and by Tolkien.
There will be an Elf Trail for younger visitors along with the exhibition until 31 December.
Christmas cards can also be made in December.
As well as being open every weekend, the house will also be open daily from 17-23 December, and from 27-30 December, as well as during the Sewerby Winter Woodlands.
Check out www.sewerbyhall.co.uk for information on opening hours, admission prices, and all facilities available, including the Clock Tower Café.
