Dec 21, 2012

Colonial Williamsburg was a success when it opened to the public in 1934. But when visitors continued to arrive into the fall and the Christmas holidays, town fathers were at a loss for attractions, so they placed live candles in the windows of all the restored buildings and paid staff members to baby sit them through the evenings so the buildings would not burn.

But as time passed, officials decided that a Christmas decorating contest would give residents of the town the incentive to put on a show for visitors. Today, the contest is more competitive – and creative – each year, with bragging rights and a cash prize on the line.

: Each Christmas season, residents of Colonial Williamsburg compete for prizes, and praise, by creating remarkable decorations for their doors and windows using only materials that would have been available in the 1700s. Mushrooms appear to be the theme here. (Susan Reimer/Baltimore Sun)

: The music teacher’s house, with pipes and sheet music in the wreath. (Susan Reimer/Baltimore Sun)

: The carpenter used wood shavings to create the wreath for his shop. (Susan Reimer/Baltimore Sun)

: Each Christmas season, residents of Colonial Williamsburg compete for prizes, and praise, by creating remarkable decorations for their doors and windows using only materials that would have been available in the 1700s. Double wreaths or a figure eight? (Susan Reimer/Baltimore Sun)

: Each Christmas season, residents of Colonial Williamsburg compete for prizes, and praise, by creating remarkable decorations for their doors and windows using only materials that would have been available in the 1700s. A game of cards, anyone? (Susan Reimer/Baltimore Sun)

: Dried corn creates a candle-like effect in this wreath. (Susan Reimer/Baltimore Sun)

: Wheat is used to create an unusual wreath on this door in Colonial Williamsburg. Susan Reimer/Baltimore Sun

: Wreath makers can use pine or grapevine. Or both. (Susan Reimer/Baltimore Sun)

: Wooden spoons, cookie cutters and sugar cookies are used to adorn this wreath in Colonial Williamsburg. (Susan Reimer/Baltimore Sun)

: This entry by a Jewish resident of Colonial Williamsburg features a dreidel. (Susan Reimer/Baltimore Sun)

: Feathers have become a popular element in wreaths. (Susan Reimer/Baltimore Sun)

: Small tankards and pipes, with raw cotton for smoke, adorn the wreath outside this pub. (Susan Reimer/Baltimore Sun)

: Window sill decorations will mimic the wreath on the door. (Susan Reimer/Baltimore Sun)

: Each Christmas season, residents of Colonial Williamsburg compete for prizes, and praise, by creating remarkable decorations for their doors and windows using only materials that would have been available in the 1700s. (Susan Reimer/Baltimore Sun)

: Each Christmas season, residents of Colonial Williamsburg compete for prizes, and praise, by creating remarkable decorations for their doors and windows using only materials that would have been available in the 1700s. Notice the hot peppers. (Susan Reimer/Baltimore Sun)

: This blue-ribbon winner features cookies telling the story of the cow jumping over the moon. (Susan Reimer/Baltimore Sun)

: A shoe adorns the wreath outside the cobbler’s shop. (Susan Reimer/Baltimore Sun)

: Sometimes simplest is best design. Boxwood, dried fruit slices and a pomegranate are used for this wreath. (Susan Reimer/Baltimore Sun)

: A detail from the weaver’s shop in Colonial Williamsburg shows cotton and fabric in the wreath. (Susan Reimer/Baltimore Sun)

: Wreath designers, both amateur and professional, are “branching out,” as seen in this display. (Susan Reimer/Baltimore Sun)

: Balance and symmetry are essential in the designs of the decorations adorning the buildings in Colonial Williamsburg. (Susan Reimer/Baltimore Sun)

: Store owners in Colonial Williamsburg are asked to include an element from their store in their wreaths. Can you guess what is sold here? (Susan Reimer/Baltimore Sun)

: Each Christmas season, residents of Colonial Williamsburg compete for prizes, and praise, by creating remarkable decorations for their doors and windows using only materials that would have been available in the 1700s. (Susan Reimer/Baltimore Sun)

: Window sills in Colonial Williamsburg get a holiday touch, too. (Susan Reimer/Baltimore Sun)

: Each Christmas season, residents of Colonial Williamsburg compete for prizes, and praise, by creating remarkable decorations for their doors and windows using only materials that would have been available in the 1700s. Oyster shells are a popular addition to wreaths. (Susan Reimer/Baltimore Sun)

: A detail of this wreath shows lotus pods, Chinese lanterns, pine cones and straw flowers. Floral stays and wire can be used. So can glue guns. But they must be invisible. (Susan Reimer/Baltimore Sun(

: Horse hair, seed pearls and porcelain curlers adorn the wreath outside the wig-maker’s shop in Colonial Williamsburg. (Susan Reimer/Baltimore Sun)

: The back side of magnolia leaves and seashells highlight the corner of a window. (Susan Reimer/Baltimore Sun)

: Cord and delicate Chinese lantern flowers adorn this wreath, along with straw flowers and avocados. (Susan Reimer/Baltimore Sun)

: A wooden sled above the door and leather toy balls in the wreaths complete the children’s theme on this door. (Susan Reimer/Baltimore Sun)

The rules are strict. Wreaths and other decorations can only be made of materials that would have been available in the colonial town in the late 1700s. Floral wire – even a glue gun – can be used for construction, but they must be hidden from view. Of late, oyster shells and feathers are popular. Taverns and shops are urged to include their wares in their decorations, thus you will see tankards in one wreath, a leather shoe in another and an entire wreath made of wood shavings above the door at the woodworker’s shop.

Holiday wreaths in Colonial Williamsburg

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