Part and parcel of every Christmas season is a desire to revisit the way things used to be. Or at least how they are imagined to have been.
As if time could be stopped for revisiting some best of that story by Charles Dickens — constrained, naturally, to only the most pleasant sights, sounds, and smells of it. Or the essence of a personal favorite crafted by Norman Rockwell, briefly released just after Thanksgiving, kept out until calendar-end. [1,2]
It is in this spirit that “Holiday Nights in Greenfield Village” returned, reliably, yesterday evening. [3,4]
Now more than two decades on as an annual offering, Holiday Nights may be better anticipated as a particularly appointed, as opposed to transformed environment. It is the essence of the whole that makes Greenfield Village unique, attractive; only now, between the hours of 6:30pm and 10:00pm (culminating with fireworks), in the come-what-may outdoor weather of southeast Michigan in December.
As one visitor wrote of it after a trip from California to see it with his wife two Novembers ago, “I was pleasantly surprised to learn that Henry Ford was maniacally dedicated to authenticity and to preserving as much of the original buildings and artifacts as humanly possible. [5]
Greenfield Village is a concentrated restoration/recreation of many of America’s finest times and places ….
The electic formulation of these eighty acres of collected structures, farm animals in residence, and raw engines of mechanical power seem conspired to pigeonholing these gatherings to any given period. Fresh-cut greenery suggests a certain theme, of course, as do nicely roaring campfires placed throughout.
But there are, too, ubiquitous incandescent lights, glowing both on street fixtures and buildings, as well as in strands. Some harken to the time of invention by Thomas Edison. Others spotlight Martha-Mary Chapel and Robert Frost Home (where an appropriately socially-distant Santa Clause spoke into professional mic’ing, along with reading names, naughty and nice from computer printer at his side, from second-floor perch) utilizing the latest in energy-efficient technology. [6-9]
For the sake of argument, call it “the days when a Model T could be found on every street.” Introduced in 1908, it was in production for about two decades after. Along with a horse-drawn carriage or two, several authentic, fully operational examples could be seen on the streets of Greenfield Village — although options for rides have been eleminated (along with a number of other prior-year offerings and sit-down dinner options, due to COVID-19 restrictions set by Michigan orders). [10-15]
Notwithstanding, a veritable cornucopia of wonderful sights, interactions, and, yes, opportunities to eat, abound. Chilly, but comfortable temperatures last night on grounds cloaked in darkness, were punctuated by nicely separated vignettes where for example, nicely sized bonfires burned, silent movies were projected against screen, and carolers sang.
In total, nearly one hundred different settings dot a grounds in a fashion that provides a welcome reminder that this Christmas, too, may be thoroughly enjoyed in its essence.
Holiday Nights opened Friday December 4 and runs this weekend through Sunday December 6. For the balance of this year, a range of additional days to visit includes December 11 through 13, 15 through 23, and 26 through 28, 2020. Tickets are still available.
See The Henry Ford website for current details.
References
- “Czechoslovak-American Marionette Theatre demonstrated just how hard it can be to appear effortless” Dell Deaton (December 30, 2019) Saline Journal.
- “10 Most Famous Paintings By Norman Rockwell” (August 6, 2020) USA Art News.
- The Henry Ford (home page).
- “Holiday Nights in Greenfield Village” (December 4-6, 11-13, 15-23, and 26-28, 2020) The Henry Ford.
- “Greenfield Village, Michigan: Henry Ford’s Historic Legacy” Alan Kubitz (November 10, 2018) Reason and Reflection.
- “The History of the Light Bulb” (November 22, 2013) United States Department of Energy.
- “Thomas Edison: Father Of Invention | Full Documentary | Biography” Biography (August 8, 2020) YouTube.
- “Edison at Work” The Henry Ford.
- “Martha-Mary Chapel” The Henry Ford.
- “Ford Model T – 100 Years Later” CarDataVideo (August 12, 2008) YouTube.
- “Model T Driving School” Eric Brefka (December 8, 2016) Vimeo.
- Coronavirus (COVID-19) (home page).
- “Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19)” CDC: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
- “Novel Coronavirus Reports” CDC.
- “Emergency Order under MCL 333.2253 – Gatherings and Face Mask Order” Robert Gordon (November 15, 2020) Michigan Department of Health and Human Services.
