Save Our Heritage Organisation
Magazine
December 2001 - Volume 32, Issue 4
Whaley House Christmas
By Janet O'DeaSOHO's mission to return the Whaley house back to its historical heritage includes dˇcor to celebrate the upcoming Christmas time traditions. Since this is SOHO's first Christmas celebration at the Whaley house this will also be representative of the beginning of the new Whaley house Christmas collection.
Do you wonder what Christmas decorations were really like when the Whaley's lived here? Come to the Whaley house this December to see for yourself. Traditional decorations such as a tabletop Christmas tree decorated with popcorn and berries; home made ornaments made of items found in the house such as dried fruit and paper are part of the traditions. There were also tin ornaments, wax angels, paper cornucopias, glass beads and balls, all popular to hang on the tree. Even though glass ornaments were readily available, by the 1880's, the end of our interpretive period (1856-1885), the average tree was still decorated with ornaments made of paper, metal, wax, and wood decorations. Just as in the rest of the year, admission to the Whaley house is free with your SOHO membership card. You may be surprised by the understated elegance and the way that native plant arrangements add to the beauty and festive feeling, all period traditions and with San Diego style. Once you see the beauty of the décor you may find yourselves making cornucopias next year for your own tree.
Volunteer efforts to create and decorate the Whaley included research, making decorations, gathering greenery, making garlands, and finally adorning the house with the hand-made creations. Come and visit to acknowledge our SOHO members and the volunteers who donated their time and talents. We had fun getting ready with Girl Scout troop #1307 and leadership from Helena Weeks and Darylene Jacobs.
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