Museum gives visitors old-fashioned Christmas
RURAL LIFE CHRISTMAS
WHEN: Sunday, Dec. 7, 10 a.m.-6 p.m.
WHERE: Rural Life Museum
ADMISSION: $7/ free for children age 10 and under
INFORMATION: (225) 765-2437
WHERE: Rural Life Museum
ADMISSION: $7/ free for children age 10 and under
INFORMATION: (225) 765-2437
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The Rural Life Museum will usher in the season with A Rural Life Christmas, a 19th century Louisiana Christmas celebration, on Sunday, Dec. 7.
During the 1800s farm families in Louisiana worked many long hours to harvest crops in the autumn. By December, harvesting sugar cane or other crops was complete and families could celebrate. They decorated their homes with smilax, pine, and holly, cooked festive foods, and prepared for the Twelve Days of Christmas.
The museum’s event highlights some of those activities. Authentically costumed artisans and re-enactors recreate holiday festivities. The visitor can learn about holiday entertaining from cooks in the plantation kitchen, savor the distinctive aroma of cane syrup coming to a boil at the syrup house, or taste cracklin’s cooking in a large iron kettle.
Domestic activities will be in evidence: there will be spinning, weaving, and candle molding, as well as demonstrations of furniture making.
The event will run from 10:00 a.m. until 6:00 p.m. Throughout the day there will be a great variety of activities. Depending on the visitor’s interest, he will be able to find something to enjoy at any time of the day. Artisans will provide ongoing living history demonstrations. There will also be traditional entertainments such as storytelling, magic shows, wagon rides, dancing, and games all day long.
Civil War buffs will be interested in the encampment of the Seventh Louisiana Regiment, Company K, who will be in their winter quarters demonstrating life in the 1860s.
A Rural Life Christmas is known for its rich variety of music reflecting Louisiana’s diverse musical traditions. This year it will range from dulcimer and blue grass music from the Upland South, to black gospel choirs, to Cajun dance music, to bell choirs and tuba and euphonium performers. A new group will be the Baton Rouge Area Youth Symphonic Band, performing at the bonfire.
Hot cider and cookies will be served free of charge to all visitors. Jambalaya dinners will be available for sale. Christmas shopping can be done in the gift shop, where customers will find handcrafted items, folk art, and cypress wreaths.
The day’s festivities will conclude when the Cajun band Tous les Soir leads the procession to a blazing bonfire. It is a south Louisiana tradition to set bonfires to light the way for Papa Noel. Every year he finds his way to the Rural Life bonfire.
The Rural Life Museum’s Christmas gift to the community is to offer free admission on December 7 to children 10 years old and younger. Older visitors pay $7 each.
During the 1800s farm families in Louisiana worked many long hours to harvest crops in the autumn. By December, harvesting sugar cane or other crops was complete and families could celebrate. They decorated their homes with smilax, pine, and holly, cooked festive foods, and prepared for the Twelve Days of Christmas.
The museum’s event highlights some of those activities. Authentically costumed artisans and re-enactors recreate holiday festivities. The visitor can learn about holiday entertaining from cooks in the plantation kitchen, savor the distinctive aroma of cane syrup coming to a boil at the syrup house, or taste cracklin’s cooking in a large iron kettle.
Domestic activities will be in evidence: there will be spinning, weaving, and candle molding, as well as demonstrations of furniture making.
The event will run from 10:00 a.m. until 6:00 p.m. Throughout the day there will be a great variety of activities. Depending on the visitor’s interest, he will be able to find something to enjoy at any time of the day. Artisans will provide ongoing living history demonstrations. There will also be traditional entertainments such as storytelling, magic shows, wagon rides, dancing, and games all day long.
Civil War buffs will be interested in the encampment of the Seventh Louisiana Regiment, Company K, who will be in their winter quarters demonstrating life in the 1860s.
A Rural Life Christmas is known for its rich variety of music reflecting Louisiana’s diverse musical traditions. This year it will range from dulcimer and blue grass music from the Upland South, to black gospel choirs, to Cajun dance music, to bell choirs and tuba and euphonium performers. A new group will be the Baton Rouge Area Youth Symphonic Band, performing at the bonfire.
Hot cider and cookies will be served free of charge to all visitors. Jambalaya dinners will be available for sale. Christmas shopping can be done in the gift shop, where customers will find handcrafted items, folk art, and cypress wreaths.
The day’s festivities will conclude when the Cajun band Tous les Soir leads the procession to a blazing bonfire. It is a south Louisiana tradition to set bonfires to light the way for Papa Noel. Every year he finds his way to the Rural Life bonfire.
The Rural Life Museum’s Christmas gift to the community is to offer free admission on December 7 to children 10 years old and younger. Older visitors pay $7 each.
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