The annual Green Wreath ceremony and the candlelight tours have become ingrained in the local identity. For many Hamiltonians, a visit to the Castle is a ritual that connects them to the city’s past. The event also highlights the relationship between the historic site and the military, owing to the battery of guns often fired during celebrations, linking the MacNab legacy (Sir Allan was a militia officer) to the city’s longstanding military heritage.
It is important to note, however, the distinction between the "Castle" and a royal palace. While the home was grand, the MacNab family was not royalty. Their decorations would have been modest by modern standards. The home would have been heated by fireplaces and lit by candles, creating a dim and intimate atmosphere. The focal point of the dining room would be the feast, featuring local game, preserved fruits, and perhaps roast beef or goose—turkey was not yet the ubiquitous centerpiece it is today.
The interpretation does not shy away from the class dynamics of the house. While the MacNabs entertained in the grand dining room, the narrative acknowledges the servants who worked tirelessly below stairs. The "ghost" of the Victorian class system is present in the contrast between the family’s leisure and the staff’s toil, a dynamic that remains a point of fascination for visitors. dundurn castle hamilton christmas
A Victorian Yuletide: Historical Tradition and Modern Interpretation at Dundurn Castle
. As the former home of Sir Allan MacNab, a prominent railway magnate and politician, the 40-room villa is meticulously decorated to reflect the opulent holiday traditions of 1855. hamiltoncivicmuseums.ca +3 The Victorian Atmosphere Visitors are greeted by a house "decked" with cedar boughs, dried flowers, and lush ribbons—all historically accurate arrangements curated by the Garden Club of Hamilton . Unlike today's month-long festivities, the Victorian Christmas was a shorter, more concentrated celebration; the tree was typically raised on Christmas Eve and removed by Boxing Day. YouTube +3 A Tale of Two Worlds The experience offers a unique "upstairs, downstairs" perspective of the holiday: hamiltoncivicmuseums.ca +1 The MacNab Family The annual Green Wreath ceremony and the candlelight
The interpretive magic of Dundurn lies in its ability to tell two parallel Christmas stories. Upstairs, in Sir Allan’s lavish drawing room, a grand feast is laid out. The long mahogany table holds fine china, crystal goblets, and silver candelabras. A visitor can imagine the MacNab family—Sir Allan, his second wife Mary, and their children—exchanging modest, handmade gifts. In the 1850s, gifts were often practical or handcrafted: embroidered handkerchiefs, leather-bound books, or wooden toys. The emphasis was on family, religious observance, and hospitality. In contrast, the downstairs kitchen and servants’ quarters tell a very different but equally important story. Here, the “below stairs” staff—the cook, maids, and footmen—worked tirelessly from dawn to prepare the multi-course dinner of roast goose, plum pudding, and mincemeat pies. Their own Christmas celebration would have been smaller and held later, after the family had retired. By highlighting both spaces, Dundurn Castle honestly portrays the social hierarchy of the era, reminding us that the Victorian Christmas was not a universal experience of leisure, but one of labor and class distinction.
Furthermore, the site’s proximity to downtown Hamilton allows it to contrast the historic "white Christmas" ideal with the reality of a post-industrial city, offering a nostalgic escape while reminding visitors of the deep roots of their community. It is important to note, however, the distinction
Upon entering the castle’s grand front hall during the holiday season, visitors are immediately struck by the absence of what they might expect: no towering, electric-lit plastic tree, no flashing lights, and no inflatable lawn ornaments. Instead, the décor is purposeful and organic. The centerpiece is a lush, fresh evergreen tree, but it is adorned not with tinsel and glass baubles, but with hand-strung popcorn, dried cranberries, paper cornucopias, small candles (unlit for safety), and tiny handmade gifts. This reflects the authentic Victorian practice that was popularized by Queen Victoria and Prince Albert in the 1840s. The greenery throughout the house—roped garlands of cedar, pine, and hemlock draped over mantels and staircases—is not just decorative. Historically, evergreens symbolized life and resilience during the dark, dead winter months, a pagan tradition absorbed into Christian celebrations. The subtle, earthy scents of pine and beeswax candles create an atmosphere of warmth that no electric light could replicate.