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Fredericksburg Area Museum hosts annual Colonial Tea Party Date published: 2/12/2009
by Collette Caprara for the free lance-star Today, we may think of tea simply as a refreshment. In the Colonial era, the beverage played a much bigger role. The afternoon tea served as a hub of social life, and was a tradition with its unique rules of etiquette. This Saturday, area families can step back in time to that experience as the Fredericksburg Area Museum hosts its annual Colonial Tea Party. "A tea was not just having something to drink," said the museum's education assistant, Paula Gorsuch. "It followed a formal process. You'd come and sit and talk while the tea was steeped and poured and the food was passed to the guests. "Visiting was the essence of it. And, because tea was so expensive, being invited to partake of it was something special." In accord with the maxim that teas should include "a meat and a sweet," refreshments at the tea will include miniature ham sandwiches and a pastry, as well a caffeinated tea for adults and an herbal tea for the youngsters. At the gathering, Gorsuch will explain the history of the tea tradition and rules of etiquette. Although the museum's annual tea began as a mother-daughter Valentine's celebration, now, due to popular demand, the program has expanded to a broad spectrum of participants. (All are invited, but space is limited and pre-registration is required.) While visitors are welcome to "come as you are," a special feature of past teas was the arrival of little ones donning hats and pearls. "The tea is a great opportunity to come and enjoy a time when no batteries were required, and you could just sit and relax, visiting with your neighbors and talking about happenings of the day," said Gorsuch. The tea is also a wonderful opportunity for area residents to become familiar with the museum, a key educational and cultural resource of Fredericksburg. The museum's site at Town Hall/Market Hall had been the hub of the city's social, commercial and legal activity in the 1800s--and is a perfect location for exhibits that explore the history and development of the area. Last fall, the museum's exhibit space expanded with the grand opening of the Catherine W. Jones McKann Center. The museum features hands-on activities and Discovery Carts, in which visitors can examine period reproductions, including a grinding stone, sugar nippers and a Civil War haversack. Guests can also explore the museum's Yahakin (Indian shelter) that features artifacts from the Powhatan American Indian tribe and furs of animals indigenous to the area. The Colonial Tea Party is one of a series of Second Saturday programs that will introduce participants to the museum's exhibits--as well as to historic sites throughout the city. "Through the programs, families can see what happened in their hometown and what they can explore right in our own backyard," said Gorsuch. "They can take time to stop and smell the pear trees." Collette Caprara is a local artist and freelance writer.
Date published: 2/12/2009
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