George Washington's Fredericksburg Foundation

Centuries later, things similar A DAY TO SAY 'I DO'

By CATHY DYSON
Published in the Free Lance-Star: Jan. 7, 2008

Actors portraying characters from
1776 dance to music Saturday
at Historic Kenmore during the
Twelfth Night event.

Saturday's party at Historic Kenmore was more than a re-creation of the popular Twelfth Night celebration in Colonial Virginia.

It presented some parallels to modern life.

As Col. Fielding and Betty Lewis--known in the 21st century as Bob and Susan Bailey--entertained guests with music, dancing and parlor games, the conversation often turned to topics of the day.

In January 1776, the time period of Saturday's re-creation, a main topic was the Revolutionary War.

Mary Ball Washington, as portrayed by
Elizabeth Heflin, takes part in the
Twelfth Night observance Saturday
at Historic Kenmore. The event re-created
an observance from the 18th century.

The mistress of the house, Betty Lewis, was distressed that her 16-year-old son was waiting for his commission to join the Continental Army with his famous uncle.

Betty Lewis was George Washington's sister. As she and her husband hosted their Twelfth Night party in Fredericksburg, Washington was battling the British in Boston.

In a few months, Betty's teenage son would join him. George would come back from the Revolutionary War, but other Fielding guests weren't as lucky.

One of them was Dr. Hugh Mercer, who died from bayonet wounds at the Battle of Princeton.

So, as partygoers danced, laughed and played the Colonial version of a game called Life, war loomed in the background.

Mary Ball Washington, as portrayed by
Elizabeth Heflin, clutches a fan during
the Twelfth Night observance.

The same probably was true at some holiday gatherings this year.

Two days before the Twelfth Night party at Kenmore, about 150 families from Virginia said goodbye to sons headed to a war in the desert. The deployed Marines are from Delta Company of the 4th Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion at Quantico Marine Corps Base. They will be in Iraq through October.

As Susan Bailey, portraying Betty Lewis, acknowledged that "life will never be the same as we know it," she realized emotions from that era are the same as modern ones. "There's more that we have in common with people from the 18th century than we're different from them," she said.

But Saturday was meant to be the party of the year in the custom of Twelfth Night, so masters and mistresses focused on fun.

The event was the first at Kenmore in modern times, even though the Lewis family regularly held such galas in the home's heyday.

Charles Yates, portrayed by Gregory Fisher,
and John King, 5, play the 18th-century
game drafts, which is similar to checkers.

Colonial Virginians celebrated the 12 days of the holiday from Christmas Day to Jan. 5. Christmas Day was set aside for religious observations; parties began the next day. Friends and family visited and exchanged gifts, and the reveling culminated at Twelfth Night.

Leah Thomas of Midlothian was glad to see the custom remembered. She observes the 12 days of Christmas through her Episcopalian church and appreciates the old-time traditions.

Her 10-year-old son, Austin, was impressed with an aspect of Kenmore that may not be so prevalent in the 21st century.

The Lewises greeted him at the door and thanked him for coming. So did other Colonial re-enactors, who served up refreshments, harpsichord music and card games. "I like the hospitality experience, really," he said.

Because so many friends and relatives gathered at Twelfth Night parties during the Colonial period, weddings often were scheduled. Notable couples married on Twelfth Night include George and Martha Washington and Thomas and Martha Jefferson, according to George Washington's Fredericksburg Foundation.

Photos by Christopher Wehling / The Free Lance-Star

To reach Cathy Dyson: 540/374-5425
Email: cdyson@freelancestar.com