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towering backdrop in the massive Banquet Hall as
a concert performance fills the rooms with the
sounds of Christmas. The tree, laden with or-
years ago when George Vanderbilt opened his
House on Christmas Eve in 1895.
M
a
The Christmas season will
be celebrated again this year
atBiltmore House with season
el music, flowers, greenery
and decorated trees through
out the massive rooms find
halls. This Christmas maxts
the 85th anniversary o
Biltoore House. Gecrgtf
Vanderbilt formally opened bis
new home on Christmas Eve in
1885 with a party for his family
end friends.
According to WEIism CecO,
owner cf BUtmore Estate,
strong emphasis is placed on
making the annual holiday
celebration an authentic tradi
tional Victorian Christmas.
The decorations have been
cssembled by Biltmore
employees snd will be on
display Nov. 29 - Dec. 31.
V Cedl said there will b at
lst 25 trees throughout the
House, decorated with
traditional and European style
ornaments. The Estate green
houses are furnishing Biltmore
House with hundreds of poin
settias, azaleas and other
seasonal plants. BUtmcre's
maintenance crews have
gathered natural foliage,
greenery, baskets of nuts,
fruits, berries and holly for use
throughout the mansion.
Large wreaths, ropes of white
pine end garlands of juniper
win adorn windows, mantels
fixdfcskxmtes. A large topiary
Oirisfccss goose made of moss
will provide the focal point for
the Banquet HaQ table. Yule
logs, Victorian ktesing balls
and colorful wrapped giftbozes
add to the display.
The recent. -opening of 32
more rooms "Downstairs"
where the servants' quarters,
kitchens and recreational
areas are located, has added a
new feature to Biltmore's
Christmas observance this
year. In contrast to the
opulence of the "Upstairs"
where the Vanderbilt family
lived and entertained, visitors
can now see how the servants
decorated their rooms for the
holidays. The servants made
most of their own decorations,
ntnfring zssny items from the
kitchens. Wreaths were made
of nuts, candy and cinnamon
sticks, and painted nuts and
popcorn balls were used for
tree ornaments.
In addition, Cecil said there
will be 10 Christmas concerts
at the House with perform
ances st 1:00 p.m. and 3:00
p.m, on Saturdays and
Sundays. The concert sche
dule is: Nov. 29-30, AsheviHe
Symphony String Quartet;
Dec 8-7, Western Carolina
University Early Music
Ensemble ; Dec. 13-14, Going
Baroque; Dec 20-21, Ashe-
ville Symphony Chamber
Ochestra; and Dec 27-23,
Asheville Symphony Brass
Quintet
A limited production of ECt
more Wine will be offered for
sale at Biltmore House as a
special feature of the
Christmas Celebration.
Biltmore House and
Gardens is open dairy from 9
a.m. to 5 p.m. except
Christmas and New Year's
Days.