Holiday Lights Trolley Ride

Offered Nov. 18 and 24-30; Dec. 1-31:

No tours Dec. 2, 9, 16, 18, 24 & 25; See Calendar for Times

Listen to Christmas music and enjoy hearing about the history of many of the Christmas traditions of today. Victorian Cape May is outstanding at Christmas and this is a ride to share with friends and family! Rides begin and end at the Washington Street Mall Information Booth (GPS address 526 Washington St.

$20 adults; $15 children (ages 3-12)

Santa’s Trolley Ride

Nov. 25 & 26; Saturdays & Sunday, Dec. 2-23

See Calendar for Times

Bring the kids to the Physick Estate at 1048 Washington St. for a ride around town with stories and songs led by Mrs. Claus. Santa will greet the children with a sweet treat at the gazebo on the grounds. Rides begin and end at the Physick Estate except Saturday, Nov. 18, when rides with begin and end at the Washington Street Mall Information Booth.

$20 adults; $15 children (ages 3-12)

Order tickets online at www.capemaymac.org or purchase at the Washington Street Mall Information Booth at Ocean Street or the Carriage House Visitors Center or the Hill House Office at the Physick Estate, 1048 Washington St.

Rides presented by Cape May MAC • Call 609-885-5404

For information about accessible Trolley Tours, call 609-884-5404

Victorian Christmas Traditions

Holly was more popular than mistletoe for various reasons, the most important being price. Holly cost less than half the price of mistletoe, and there was more of it. Holly can be grown in any hedge, while mistletoe grows only in the branches of specific trees, such as apple and hawthorn. Thus, mistletoe was frequently seen as the purchase of the wealthy classes or those who hosted parties. As such, it became something of a status symbol to have some in your house. A few weeks before Christmas, street vendors often scrounged the neighborhoods of London for holly. It was a precarious trade, however, since vendors often had to trespass onto private grounds and land to obtain these festive branches. If caught by the master of the house or its servants, the vendor was lucky to have only the holly taken away from him. To obtain mistletoe, vendors had to trespass in orchards and often faced danger from dogs, traps and spring guns. Thus, they scrounged for mistletoe much more rarely.

EVENING

CHRISTMAS TREE LIGHTING CEREMONY -- page 13 5pm-7:30pm

Emlen Physick Estate Tour -- page 6 5pm-8:30pm

Atlantic Brass Band Concert -- page 13 5:30pm-7pm

Holiday Lights Trolley Ride -- page 19

Ghosts of Cape May Trolley Tour -- page 54

Cape May Stage: A Tuna Christmas -- page 87

7:15pm, 8:15pm

Ghosts of Christmas Past Trolley Ride -- page 19 7:45pm, 8:30pm, 9:15pm

Purchase tickets at the Washington Street Mall Information Booth at Ocean Street or at the Physick Estate, 1048 Washington St. Call 609-884-5404

H TROLLEY TOURS BEGIN ON OCEAN STREET ACROSS FROM THE INFORMATION BOOTH H Tours & Activities sponsored by Cape May MAC • www.capemaymac.org

Friday, November 17

OTHER TOURS & ACTIVITIES

Cape May Point State Park- Office & Museum- 8am4pm. Call 609-884-2159.

Historic Cold Spring Village- Guided Village Walking Tour, 11am, 735 Seashore Road, Cape May. Reservations required: 609-898-2300. (see page 80)

Nature Center of Cape May- 1600 Delaware Ave. Call 609-898-8848 or visit www.njaudubon.org/centers/

Saturday,

OTHER TOURS & ACTIVITIES nature-center-of-cape-may/ (see page 65)

NJ Audubon Cape May Bird Observatory- 701 E. Lake Dr., Cape May Point. Call 609-884-2736 for hours or visit www.birdcapemay.org for event locations. (see page 65)

Welcome Center at the Transportation CenterMaps, Information- 609 Lafayette St.- 10am-4pm.

November

Cape May Point State Park- Office & Museum- 8am4pm. Call 609-884-2159.

Cape May’s The Last Waltz- 7pm-9pm, Cape May Convention Hall, 714 Beach Ave. Call 609-884-5508.

Nature Center of Cape May- 1600 Delaware Ave. Call 609-898-8848 or visit www.njaudubon.org/centers/

18 nature-center-of-cape-may/ (see page 65)

NJ Audubon Cape May Bird Observatory- 701 E. Lake Dr., Cape May Point. Call 609-884-2736 for hours or visit www.birdcapemay.org for event locations. (see page 65)

Welcome Center at the Transportation CenterMaps, Information- 609 Lafayette St.- 10am-4pm.

Sunday, November

OTHER TOURS & ACTIVITIES

Cape May Point State Park- Office & Museum- 8am4pm. Call 609-884-2159.

Nature Center of Cape May- 1600 Delaware Ave. Call 609-898-8848 or visit www.njaudubon.org/centers/ nature-center-of-cape-may/ (see page xx)

19

NJ Audubon Cape May Bird Observatory- 701 E. Lake Dr., Cape May Point. Call 609-884-2736 for hours or visit www.birdcapemay.org for event locations. (see page xx)

Welcome Center at the Transportation CenterMaps, Information- 609 Lafayette St.- 10am-4pm.

CALENDAR CONTINUED ON PAGE 22

Victorian Christmas Traditions

Wassail punch was a popular winter drink made from a mixture of fruit, cider and spices. Victorians served it to carolers who went from house to house singing Christmas carols and hymns. After all the carols were sung, the carolers were invited into the houses of Victorian families to share a sip of wassail from the communal wassail bowl. This tradition of inviting carolers for a sip of wassail began in the Elizabethan era.

or at at

H TROLLEY TOURS BEGIN ON OCEAN STREET ACROSS FROM THE INFORMATION BOOTH H Tours & Activities sponsored by Cape May MAC • www.capemaymac.org

Monday & Tuesday, November 20 & 21

OTHER TOURS & ACTIVITIES

Cape May Point State Park- Office & Museum- 8am4pm. Call 609-884-2159.

Nature Center of Cape May- 1600 Delaware Ave. Call 609-898-8848 or visit www.njaudubon.org/centers/ nature-center-of-cape-may/ (see page 65)

NJ

Welcome Center at the Transportation CenterMaps, Information- 609 Lafayette St.- 10am-4pm.

Victorian Christmas Traditions

During the Victorian era, oysters were plentiful and cheap. Small oysters were often sold as fast food on the streets, as well as pickled to keep for later. Bigger oysters were either put in stews and pies or eaten on their own. Oysters were also frequently consumed in public houses and went nicely with a pint of stout beer. Knowing this, it comes as no surprise that, in this era, the demand for oysters, which were also known as “the poor man’s protein,” was high. For those who could not afford any other meat, it was oysters and not turkey that was most often the centerpiece of the Christmas dinner.

Wednesday, November 22

OTHER TOURS & ACTIVITIES

Aviation Museum- Cape May County Airport- 10amCape May Point State Park- Office & Museum- 8am4pm. Call 609-884-2159.

Nature Center of Cape May- 1600 Delaware Ave. Call 609-898-8848 or visit www.njaudubon.org/centers/ nature-center-of-cape-may/ (see page 65)

Welcome Center at the Transportation CenterMaps, Information- 609 Lafayette St.- 10am-4pm.

CALENDAR CONTINUED ON PAGE 24

Victorian Christmas Traditions

The Victorians were extremely fond of entertainment and parlor games, and there was no better time for that than Christmas. Parlor games were entertaining, helped pass the time, and cheered everyone up during times when there was little else to do. At times, however, these games were downright dangerous and reckless. Take snapdragon, for example. During this game, a bunch of raisins were piled into a bowl with rum and then the rum was set on fire. The task was to snatch the raisins out of the bowl and eat them while they were still ablaze.

May

A Tuna Christmas -- page 87

Friday, November 24

OTHER TOURS & ACTIVITIES

Black Friday on the Mall- Washington Street Mall, 2pm4pm. Call 609-884-5508.

Cape May Point State Park- Office & Museum- 8am4pm. Call 609-884-2159.

Nature Center of Cape May- 1600 Delaware Ave. Call 609-898-8848 or visit www.njaudubon.org/centers/ nature-center-of-cape-may/ (see page 65)

NJ Audubon Cape May Bird Observatory- 701 E. Lake Dr., Cape May Point. Call 609-884-2736 for hours or visit www.birdcapemay.org for event locations. (see page 65)

Welcome Center at the Transportation CenterMaps, Information- 609 Lafayette St.- 10am-4pm.

EVENING 11/2411/2511/26

Holiday Lights Trolley Ride -- page 19

Cape May Stage: A Tuna Christmas -- page 87

Ghosts of Christmas Past Trolley Ride -- page 19

9:15pm

Purchase tickets at the Washington Street Mall Information Booth at Ocean Street or at the Physick Estate, 1048 Washington St. Call 609-884-5404

H TROLLEY TOURS BEGIN ON OCEAN STREET ACROSS FROM THE INFORMATION BOOTH H Tours & Activities sponsored by Cape May MAC • www.capemaymac.org

Saturday, November 25

OTHER TOURS & ACTIVITIES

Black Friday on the Mall- Washington Street Mall, 2pm4pm. Call 609-884-5508.

Cape May Point State Park- Office & Museum- 8am4pm. Call 609-884-2159.

Nature Center of Cape May- 1600 Delaware Ave. Call 609-898-8848 or visit www.njaudubon.org/centers/ nature-center-of-cape-may/ (see page 65)

NJ Audubon Cape May Bird Observatory- 701 E. Lake Dr., Cape May Point. Call 609-884-2736 for hours or visit www.birdcapemay.org for event locations. (see page 65)

Welcome Center at the Transportation CenterMaps, Information- 609 Lafayette St.- 10am-4pm.

Sunday, November 26

OTHER TOURS & ACTIVITIES

Cape May Point State Park- Office & Museum- 8am4pm. Call 609-884-2159.

Nature Center of Cape May- 1600 Delaware Ave. Call 609-898-8848 or visit www.njaudubon.org/centers/ nature-center-of-cape-may/ (see page 65)

NJ Audubon Cape May Bird Observatory- 701 E. Lake Dr., Cape May Point. Call 609-884-2736 for hours or visit www.birdcapemay.org for event locations. (see page 65)

Welcome Center at the Transportation CenterMaps, Information- 609 Lafayette St.- 10am-4pm.

CALENDAR CONTINUED ON PAGE 26