Annual Winter Celebration at Lindenwald Announced for 2019

KINDERHOOK – Winter celebrations around the world are as varied and vibrant

as the cultures they epitomize. One common thread through many of these celebrations is the

presence of light. Light in its many forms is used to represent the hope for spring’s return, the

importance of the sun in agricultural cycles, to welcome guests and remember loved ones, and

symbolize the resiliency of the human spirit. Light brings people together.

The staff at Martin Van Buren National Historic Site invites the public to join us for “Winter

Celebrations: The Lights of Many Cultures,” on Friday, December 6 and Saturday, December 7.

The Garden Club of Kinderhook will decorate the first floor of Van Buren’s home. Park staff and

volunteer docents will be available to explain both the history of the site and the meaning behind

the decorations. The house will be open for tours from 12:30 to 3:30 both days, with a tour

beginning every half hour.

The event is free, but due to limited space in the mansion, we ask that visitors reserve a spot

on a tour in advance. Visitors may make reservations online at any time or by phone MondayFriday between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. by calling 518-758-9689.

Please plan to check in at the park visitor center fifteen minutes before the beginning of your

tour. The Friends of Lindenwald will provide light refreshments.

The America of Martin Van Buren’s time was a rich tapestry of cultures with their own

traditions, learning from each other and at times combining to form new traditions. The America

of today is the same. Our celebrations represent the brightest parts of that tapestry – the ability to

see our differences not as barriers, but as many lights illuminating the darkness.

For more information, call Martin Va