The Dwelling House was the shaker tk tk all lit up.
Photo Credit: Heather Marcus
I’ve been planning to take my two young daughters to the Christmas at Canterbury Shaker Village celebration for years (one the featured events on our list of the Best Historic Christmas Celebrations in New England), but when December arrives it always feels like such a short month and something more pressing almost always takes up those first two Saturdays, and the next thing I know, we’ve missed it again. Recently, I was finally able to shuffle some commitments and we found time to make the trip. I’m so happy we did.
A pathway leads visitors between two simple white structures (the Brethren’s Shop and the Carpenter’s Shop) with the yellow Carriage House and the shingled Horse Barn in the distance at the entrance to the village. Photo Credit : Heather Marcus
We got our afternoon started in the downstairs kitchen of the dwelling house, where we decorated Christmas-tree-shaped cookies. From there, my master crafters took their time and made ornaments—fans made from an assortment of beautiful papers at the Sisters’ Shop and flat felt Scottie dogs decorated with colorful ribbons and pom-poms at the Spin Shop. Kids and adults had a great time working side by side on their crafts, and the volunteer staff was so welcoming and patient.
As dusk settled in, white lights twinkled throughout the village. There were large white bulbs strung in loose lines along posts and white candles in many of the windows. Wooden lanterns lit the pathways between the houses and shops. There is something about this time of year, when it starts to get a bit raw and cold outside, that adds extra appeal to the idea of being inside and cozy. Venturing inside each of the buildings, we escaped the chill and were immediately warmed by the heat from the small but mighty wood stoves. Simple, fresh holiday greenery and handmade decorations filled every dwelling, with wreaths on doors, trees in hallways, swag in windows and garlands along banisters.
In our travels enjoying Christmas at Canterbury Shaker Village, we were able to try our hands at some other traditional skills as well. Lucy proved to be a natural at working the vintage sewing machine, and Ella enjoyed working the loom. Both girls were fascinated by the broom maker, Everett Bailey. A pleasant jovial man who wears the Shaker outfit, complete with vintage straw hat with a thick black ribbon and a simple black vest. He’s been volunteering here for more than a decade. In a different outfit, he would have passed for a pretty believable Santa. As we were leaving, he gave the girls a small piece of sorghum, the thick grass used to make the bristles of their brooms. Impressed with the handiwork and eager to support the work of the village, we purchased a broom from the museum store as an early Christmas gift.
Our final stop at Christmas at Canterbury Shaker Village was a visit with Santa himself, decked out in a beautiful vintage Santa suit, a holly crown and “a real white beard,” as my older daughter noted. The annual Christmas at Canterbury Shaker Village festivities are spread over two weekends in early December. In a holiday season that always feels so rushed, we enjoyed the opportunity to slow down and savor a simpler way of life. The Shakers valued craft and experience long before it was in vogue. We didn’t get to everything during our visit, but thanks to the lights and the warmth and the feeling of crafty accomplishment, we were filled with Christmas spirit when it was time to go. Hopefully we’ll be back next year to experience what we missed this time around. In the meantime, our new decorations will have a special place on our tree—and that new broom might be perfect for sweeping up fallen needles.
Here’s a look at our visit to Christmas at Canterbury Shaker Village in photographs.
CHRISTMAS AT CANTERBURY SHAKER VILLAGE
Lucy examines an unlit light, one of many strung throughout the village to light the pathways in the evening. Photo Credit : Heather MarcusA simple holiday wreath adorned with wooden pegs, berries and ribbon at the Brethren’s Shop. Photo Credit : Heather MarcusElla along the path by the red embossed tin sided Power House. Photo Credit : Heather MarcusWood for the village stacked high in the East Woodshed. Photo Credit : Heather MarcusA dirt path leads the girls past the Creamery. Photo Credit : Heather MarcusRed ribbons decorate a wreath on the entrance door to the kitchen in the bottom floor of the Dwelling House. Photo Credit : Heather MarcusThe girls outside the Dwelling House’s kitchen window. Photo Credit : Heather MarcusLucy’s decorated Christmas tree cookie. Photo Credit : Heather MarcusThe 500 lb. Paul Revere Bell atop the Dwelling House. Photo Credit : Heather MarcusPracticing stitches on a vintage sewing machine in the Sisters’ Shop. Photo Credit : Heather MarcusA large purple bow and handmade fan ornaments decorate the entrance to the the Sisters’ Shop. Photo Credit : Heather MarcusA happy maker with her finished ornament fan. Photo Credit : Heather MarcusAlong the stone path that leads to the Spin Shop. Photo Credit : Heather MarcusFresh swag with a red Scottie Dog ornament and plaid ribbon hangs in the window of the Spin Shop looking out to the Dry House. Photo Credit : Heather MarcusThe North Shop in early evening. Photo Credit : Heather MarcusExterior of the Spin Shop all aglow. Photo Credit : Heather MarcusEverett Bailey demonstrates the art of broom making in the Carpenters’ Shop. Photo Credit : Heather MarcusThe Dwelling House was the shaker tk tk all lit up. Photo Credit : Heather MarcusA strand of lights casts circles of light on the ground. Photo Credit : Heather MarcusThe perfect Santa. Photo Credit : Heather Marcus
FOR MORE INFORMATION:
Canterbury Shaker Village. 288 Shaker Road, Canterbury, NH. 603-783-9511; shakers.orgChristmas at Canterbury 2018
December 8th and December 18th, 2018
3:00 – 8:00 PM
Heather Marcus is the senior photo editor for Yankee. She works closely with the art director and contributing photographers to tell our stories about people and place in a compelling way. Living and growing up in New England, she continues to be inspired by the communities, the landscape, and the wonderful visual opportunities the region affords.
My fondest memory of visiting some years ago when our 3 daughters were small was hearing some of the last surviving elderly angelic Shaker women happily telling about being raised at the village and singing “This a gift to be simple”!
I visited Shaker Village in NH with my friend back in the early 70’s, I think. There were still 2 Shakers alive then.
My fondest memory of visiting some years ago when our 3 daughters were small was hearing some of the last surviving elderly angelic Shaker women happily telling about being raised at the village and singing “This a gift to be simple”!