Christmas at Blenheim Palace

Having a yearly pass to the Palace was made worth while just for getting to visit at Christmas time. The entire Palace and much of the grounds are completely decked out with Christmas trees, ornaments, and music. You can't turn many corners before you run into more of the most impressive trees you've ever seen. If you fall in love with the wonderful scented trees, you are able to purchase a fresh cut from right on the grounds version to take home with you. 

They celebrate the season here by honouring Charles Dickens and using quotes from his 'A Christmas Carol' and donning the halls with period appropriate ornamentation. I have a very good friend who happens to think Dickens is one of the very greats and I couldn't help having her run through my thoughts as we toured the various displays. 

 

Not one to over look an opportunity to daydream something more romantic, I couldn't help picturing the spirits of the festively decorated busts waiting for the castle to clear out so they can creep from the shadows and toast the season themselves. It was hard not to be carried to a time when ladies in large hoop skirts and gentlemen in pressed suits would have been greeted in the entrance hall by their hosts. 

We were welcomed by the sounds of a choir trying with gusto to fill the building with beautiful Christmas music and when the needed a rest were replaced by a multi piece brass band. Although they filled the hall magnificently the sheer size of the Palace means that before too many turns the music is lost to the walls. 

While we were in the Palace that day they had a large staff of people preparing the massive library for an upcoming party to be held there. There were many more trees, tables and little nutcrackers peeking out from their napkin resting place. I wondered momentarily what one has to do or be to be invited to this kind of event, I suspect be willing to pay large amounts of money for whatever they were planning to put on that plate.

Finally we found our very own Dickens to read excerpts from his famed story leaving me with the desire to rush home and reread it myself. Visiting Blenheim at this time of year can't help but lift the spirits, make you feel very festive, and leave you wondering how in the world you get the job of decorating all those trees!