The Lockwood-Mathews Mansion Museum will present Ken Turino, Manager of Community Partnerships and Resource Development at Historic New England, for an illustrated, virtual talk titled, The Spirit of Christmas Past: Four Centuries of Christmas in New England. Mr. Turino will take questions from viewers after his presentation.

This well-illustrated lecture traces the development of the celebration of Christmas, from the time it was outlawed in 17th century New England through the beginning of the 21st century, when all the trappings of a traditional Christmas were in place. For many, the celebration of Christmas today is the most important holiday of the year. However, many of the customs which we take for granted as part of the current holiday festivities and religious celebrations are actually a product of more recent history. The presentation will look at how Christmas was transformed from a rowdy celebration to a family-centered event. Among the topics discussed are how the Christmas tree became popular, halls were decked, and Santa Claus came to town.

Kenneth Turino oversees community engagement projects throughout New England and is responsible for exhibition partnerships at the Eustis Estate Museum, The Governor Langdon House, and the Sarah Orne Jewett House Museum and Visitor Center. Ken is an adjunct professor in the Tufts University Museum Studies Program where he teaches courses on the future of historic houses. Mr. Turino is also Vice President of the Board of Trustees of the House of the Seven Gables in Salem, MA. Along with Max van Balgooy, he is an instructor for AASLH’s Reinventing the Historic House workshop and author of Reimagining the Historic House Museum: New Approaches and Proven Solutions (AASLH 2019). Ken has written about and speaks regularly on the history of Christmas.

The lecture admission is free, but we welcome donations to support the Museum’s cultural and educational virtual programming during the COVID-19 crisis.

Photo Credits: 

WM. H. Zinn trade card, courtesy of Historic New England

Mincemeat trade card, courtesy of Lynn Museum, Lynn, MA

Ken Turino at The American Association for State and Local History in Kansas City in 2018, courtesy of AASLH