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Celebrate The Holidays Where The American Christmas Began

A Stay in the Mansions of Tarrytown House Estate Combines With
Candlelight Tours in the Style of Early America

TARRYTOWN, New York — Many Christmas traditions were brought to this country by Dutch, English, and German immigrants who settled along the shores of the Hudson River. This season, take a break from decking your own halls and explore the roots of the American Christmas in Sleepy Hollow Country, with a stay at Tarrytown House Estate and a festive candlelight tour at a nearby historic site.

Author Washington Irving, whose home, Sunnyside, is just down the hill from Tarrytown House, is often called the "Father of the American Christmas." As early as 1809, Irving told of St. Nicholas "riding over the tops of trees," in a wagon delivering gifts to deserving children. Irving further described the Dutch ritual in which families hung their stockings in the chimney to be filled with presents by the gift-giving, magical man who would gradually become the American Santa Claus.

Visitors to Washington Irving's home, Sunnyside in Tarrytown, will learn about his contributions to the American Christmas celebration. A lantern-lit path leads the way to the author's cottage which will be decorated with red ribbons, holly and evergreens and bathed in the warm and festive glow of candlelight. The tour concludes with hot cider served beside a roaring bonfire and costumed carolers singing holiday songs.

An 18^th century celebration of "Twelfth Night" will also take place with evening candlelight tours at Van Cortlandt Manor. Guests walk through the orchard lit by candle-lanterns, to the tenant house to meet the Lord of Misrule, who will be presiding over the celebrations. Holiday decorations, live music, and fabulous desserts on display will add to the fun as guests ring in the season by candlelight.

Historic Lyndhurst mansion will host a Champagne Holiday Preview benefit. Guests will enjoy champagne and hors d'oeuvres amid glowing lights and holiday music. Fairytales are the theme. The rooms of the mansion will be decorated to reflect tales such as the Nutcracker, Cinderella, Sleeping Beauty, Peter Pan and many more.

Another way the area will be celebrating is through Tarrytown's Third Friday Night which will have a holiday theme. The town comes alive with late night shopping, dining, art openings, wine tasting, live caroling, dance performances, photos with Frosty and Rudolf, a live ice sculpture demonstration and many activities for children.

These are just a few of the many ways that Sleepy Hollow Country celebrates a traditional Christmas. Those who visit the Hudson Valley with family and friends will experience a holiday season that brings back the true spirit of Christmas, especially when festive activities are coupled with a stay at Tarrytown House Estate.

The Mansions of Sleepy Hollow Country package at the Estate helps visitors discover the many American Christmas traditions that took root in the Hudson River Valley. The package includes overnight lodging in the historic and elegant King Mansion, which dates to 1840, a sumptuous breakfast for two, plus a tour of one of these historic landmarks: Washington Irving's Sunnyside and Lyndhurst in Tarrytown; Kykuit, the Rockefeller estate in Pocantico Hills; the Union Church of Pocantico Hills; colonial Philipsburg Manor in Sleepy Hollow or Van Cortlandt Manor in Croton-on-Hudson.

Package rates start at $269 per night, double occupancy. To make reservations or for more information call 1-800-553-8118, or visit www.tarrytownhouseestate.com. For an extended list of holiday events in the area, visit www.hudsonriver.com or www.hudsonvalleyvoyager.com.