
I wrote last year about how quickly things become a tradition in our family. What I didn’t mention is how those traditions grow in both scope and importance. Three years ago, Faith took me to Old Sturbridge Village (OSV) for their “Christmas by Candlelight” exhibit. It’s great fun and walking around in the cold and the dark helps to better understand the way the people who first settled in New England, lived, worked and worshipped. One thing about this event is that OSV isn’t the easiest place to find. Getting there from our house involves a U-Turn at the end, and Greata (my GPS) never gets the location right.
Last year, we zeroed in on a Thai restaurant as a landmark. “The Thai Place” is pretty easy to remember, so a dinner of Thai food has been inserted into the Christmas by Candlelight tradition. Greta has a ‘saved-places’ entry for The Thai Place and Faith and I have already have our favorite menu items committed to memory. Another newly established aspect of this composite tradition is the Gingerbread House contest at Old Sturbrige Village. The houses are pretty, creative and a great source for doors, since the doors are new every year.
Of course, we need new doors to participate in Norm Frampton’s wonderfully creative and equally pretty Thursday Doors weekly blogfest. Norm gathers the list of doors from around the world, each week on Thursday. He checks that list, and finding none that are naughty, he hands it off to his blue frog elf who organizes it for public display. Norm is going to be tucked away in his workshop for the next two weeks, giving elves and door aficionados a long winter nap, but there are plenty of doors to view today.
If you are joining what might become a holiday tradition, by taking a break from blogging, let me wish you a Merry Christmas (if you celebrate) a Happy New Year and a joyful season regardless of what or how you celebrate. I will be posting through the holidays, although I might keep some posts short and sweet.
Gingerbread doors are the perfect doors for Christmas! :-)
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Thanks Ruth. I think they are nice Christmas doors.
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The only thing that could have taken this post right over the top would have been one gingerbread house with a beautiful red dog outside. :-) I made a gingerbread house every years for too many years to count. I love the creativity behind them, and these were certainly made by some creative sugar artists. Thank you for sharing. :-) Merry Christmas and a happy and healthy 2018 to you, the Editor, Faith, and Maddie.
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Thank you so much, Judy. Best wishes to you and yours, as well. If I made a gingerbread house, I would put the red dog in a cot near the door :)
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That’s right!!!
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I love the little Congregational Church. What, exactly, constitutes a congregational church as opposed to another kind?
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Thanks Cheryl, I liked that one, too. Congregational churches (I’m not a member of one, so I may not have it all) are independent Protestant churches. The congregation runs the church. They subscribe to a generally common service and practices, but there is no organizationally higher authority.
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That was a tasty stroll! Loved it!
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The gum drops were hard to leave behind – thanks Pam!
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Some traditions are well worth developing and cultivating and this sure sounds like one of those. The gingerbread doors are adorable.
All the best Dan and thank you so much for your amazing support all year long :-D
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Thanks Norm! I look forward to another year of doors, and another Christmas by Candlelight (and good Thai food). But for now, I’m content to slow down a bit and enjoy the season.
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Merry Christmas, Dan!
WP still won’t let me *like* one of your posts. Stupid WP.
Gingerbread houses and doors was inspired, and perfect for the season 🙂 Like you, I really like the houses with icicles along the roof line … just like home!
Hope you have a great holiday!
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Thanks Joanne. I was really impressed with the icicles. I love the creativity on display in these houses. Wishing you a great holiday, too.
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I made a village of ginger bread long ago when my son was young and a house went to each of his friends – whoa! never again did that ever happen! No tradition… Glad to hear you’ll be posting, Dan, so many are going away.

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A Village?!? I’m flitting between “what a wonderful thing to do” and “what were you thinking?”
I don’t even want to think about how long that had to have taken.
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Like I said – it never, ever happened again!!
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Wow! Very impressive collection! OF COURSE there’s a gingerbread train — LOVE IT!
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Well yeah, I mean what’s Christmas without a train ;-)
Thanks
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This was fun, Dan. Delicious looking doors too. I enjoyed hearing about your family’s traditions. Holiday hugs!
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Thanks Teagan. The houses with the chocolate roofs were particularly hard to walk past.
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What a perfect post at Christmas. The gingerbread houses are so creative. Love the icicles and the shingles. How can you get better than gingerbread doors?!
Merry Christmas Dan, and to the Editor, Faith, Maddie, MiMi and MuMu, and of course, Sally and Sammy. Wishing you a healthy, happy and safe New Year.
—-Ginger—-
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Thank you so much, Ginger. I think these doors are now part of our Christmas celebration.Several were entries by adults, but most are by children of various ages and I love the creativity on display.
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I like the gingerbread house with the animals. It’s cute! On another note, if only the door next to the train had a squirrel waiting on the porch, it would have been perfect.
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Thanks Mary. It’s always hard to decide which one you like best (you are asked to vote) but when I saw the candy train, I was set to vote. A squirrel, a red dog, a black and white cat, all would have been great additions, but I was pretty happy with these doors. I was very happy to see a number of churches, especially the one with the nativity display.
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Do you ever find out who won?
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They do eventually announce the winners on their website. Here’s the links to last year’s winners – http://www.osvchristmas.org/2016-gingerbread-contest-winners.html
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Thanks! ☺
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Very creative and delicious doors. I am so impressed on the use of cookies and candy on all of these. Gumdrop walkway–why didn’t I think of that?!
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Thanks Lois. It was hard to decide which one to vote for (until I saw the train). The gumdrops were a close second. I also like the square-grid pretzels for windows and shutters.
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I make a chocolate-dipped, peanut butter filled cookie with those little square pretzels–my husband’s all-time favorite in my cookie repertoire.
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Oh my goodness. Those sound delicious. I never thought I would like pretzels with other things, but I really do.
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Beautiful doors – and delicious!!
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“No Nibbling Allowed” Although, the gumdrops were in danger of being removed. Thanks!
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Perfect door, Dan. I will be posting as well and as usual. Merry Christmas to you and your family.
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Thanks John. I’m glad you will be on schedule. I couldn’t take a two-week break in the action in Antionville.
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Yes. Never fear the serial is still here. (or something like that)
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Merry Christmas, Dan.
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Same to you, April.
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Beautiful and very creative!
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I am always impressed with the creativity, especially by the children.
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Reblogged this on KCJones.
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Thank you so much!
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Dan, that was a trip back in time! Did not know walkways led to the side doors for friends! I’ve never seen that! I’ve been to OSV for a brief stop on the way to visit a cousin in Grafton , MA. Agree, it’s lovely! Merry Christmas! 🎄🎄🎄 Christine
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Thanks Christine. I think you will find many folks in New England that say they use the side door more often.
OSV is a special place. They do a very nice job of preserving the history of this area.
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I am always amazed by gingerbread creations! I think the closest we are coming this year is baking gingerbread cookies. Thanks for the tour around the contest. They were lovely. I hope that you have a very Merry Christmas and a wonderful New Year. :)
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I share those same dishes for you. Thanks.
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Delightful! We actually don’t have that many Congregational churches on the west coast. Instead you might find an Ashram. Have a lovely holiday, Dan!
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We didn’t have many in western Pennsylvania.
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This is a tradition I can get behind, but not one of the Gingerbread houses I’ve made or decorated turned out as well as these. The churches, and train are fantastic.
I wish you and family a wonderful, Merry Christmas Dan!
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I offer those wishes back to you Deborah.
The skill and creativity on display at this show are really amazing. I love the way they work in all the other “materials”
All along, I’ve been shopping at Lowes and Home Depot for building supplies. I should have tried the candy aisle.
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Hi Dan – love the tradition you’ve set up with Faith … special. Those gingerbread enterprises are amazing to look and quite make my mouth salivate for one or two … or perhaps a door or two! Have a wonderful Christmas and New Year … cheers Hilary
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Thanks Hilary. I am drawn to the gumdrop walkway and the chocolate roofs. They are so interesting. I hope you also have wonderful holidays.
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Hello
I don’t celebrate Christmas (for special raisons), but I wish you a wonderful moment in your family and with friends .
(sory for mstakes in english)
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Thank you for the holiday wishes. I appreciate your following (and I love the photos you share). I hope you have a wonderful new year!
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What a gorgeous pepperkakehus og landsby❣️
Happy Holidays and a great new Year to you and yours, Dan❣️🌿❤️🎄🤶🌿🎅
The Fab Four of Cley
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Thank you so much! I hope you enjoy the holidays.
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I’m all in favor for traditions when they create shared fond memories. Looks like yours do :)
I’m starting the No Blogging tradition as soon as I read my favorite bloggers. Enjoy your holiday traditions! The gingerbread houses are also part of mine :)
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I hope you have a great holiday!
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Our town runs a gingerbread house competition, Dan, and it’s so much fun. Those are beautiful, and so many. Thanks for sharing and Merry Christmas. Have a wonderful new year. :-)
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Thanks! I especially like the ones by children. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year 🙂
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Beautiful tradition, Dan. Great job, too. Merry Christmas!
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Thanks Audrey. It is like stepping back in time when we visit.
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I’ve always enjoyed viewing what once was. Humbling and causes me to offer a respected pause. Inspiring.
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How do people maintain the will power “not” to eat those houses? I got hungry just looking at your pictures, Dan. LOL It’s awesome you have your traditions around the holidays. IMHO, that is what makes the holidays special. 🤗
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Thanks Amy. I wanted to snack on the gum drops 🙂
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A-HA. There is an honest person around! 😉
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There were too many people watching
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😂
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Sounds like a lovely tradition, indeed. I plan to head to the circle tonight, rather hoping the snow would stick, again, no, but I want to go anyway.
Great gingerbread houses :)
I know several people whose holiday dinners are local Chinese, so Thai for OSV night seems right to me!
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These are excellent doors and excellent gingerbread houses! Usually someone at work brings one in for our Christmas lunch, but unfortunately not this year. However, I did attempt to make a Christmas tree out of profiteroles. It was kind of successful (?) but the assembly was harder than I’d expected! Can’t imagine the time and effort that would’ve gone into some of these houses!
In my family (we’re in Australia), we’ve always used side doors and back doors more often than front doors. Maybe there’s some New England down the line somewhere ;)
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Isn’t Australia where we sent all the fun people?
These houses must have taken hours to design and make. I would get fat if I tried, I’d be snacking on all the building materials.
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This was so much fun and a great way to celebrate Christmas at Sturbridge Village and see doors in delicious gingerbread houses.
I would say Gum Drop Lane sounds like a lovely place to live (last photograph)! 😁
Merry Christmas again! 🎄🕊
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Thanks Robin. I was about to sneak a few of those gumdrops.
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