Williamsburg's 75th Grand Illumination

The 2009 Republican Party of Virginia Advance is over but we are still in Williamsburg enjoying the colonial sights and feel of an earlier time when the pace of life was a bit slower.

Growing up in the Richmond area made it easy for us to often drive to Williamsburg for the day. It has changed tremendously since it was a sleepy little city in eastern Virginia ... when free shuttle buses carried visitors from stop to stop ... when a couple of 12-year-old friends were allowed to roam the area by themselves (we felt so grown up) ... before Busch Gardens and Kingsmill and numerous upscale communities. But Colonial Williamsburg has grown and prospered and attracted many more visitors as Virginia shares it with the world ... resulting in necessary changes.

One change is tonight's Grand Illumination which is a big deal since it is the 75th anniversary and the 50th anniversary of the fife-and-drum corps' performing at the Christmas celebration.

The Grand Illumination used to be simpler and a much smaller event than now (although it felt big at the time). I go back to the year I was 12 visiting with my friend and her family. She and I roamed the colonial area by ourselves throughout the day but met up with the rest of her family at an appointed time to experience the Grand Illumination together.

Visitors gathered at the Capitol end of Duke of Gloucester Street before dusk. At the appointed time, the fife-and-drum corps began playing and leading a parade up Duke of Gloucester Street followed by the Town Crier and the crowd that had gathered. While passing houses, the town crier would call out the owner's name and implore him to light the candles in his windows. I cannot remember the exact wording but it was something like, "Mr. Henry, light your candles!" Usually each house had someone posted at every window facing the street and candles would be lighted as the assembly passed, repeating the process with every house on each side of the street. Bystanders along the way joined in the parade as it traveled toward Merchants Square.

In the years that followed we attended many times but I had not been to a Grand Illumination in years.

As one of the guides told us today, the event has grown too large and is too crowded these days to do it like before. Instead there are fireworks and fife-and-drum players and entertainment of all kinds at appointed areas. Tonight it was cold so torch fires and bonfires all around town were welcome relief from the chill. Candles in the windows were simultaneously lit at 6:15 in public buildings, shops, and homes, and the festivities continued until 7:30. Did I mention it was cold?

Colonial Williamsburg ... a special place not only in Virginia's history but also in America's history. Growing up in this historical Commonwealth was a blessing and helped form the history lover that I am.