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Compare and contrast English Christmas customs of the period with how the season may have been observed in the difficult early years of America’s first permanent English colony through special interpretive programs. In 17th-century England, the holiday season – extending from December 25 to January 6 – was a time of merriment and feasting.

Outdoors, visitors to Paspahegh Town, ships' pier with 1607 ships and palisaded fort can explore life during the Jamestown colony’s early years. Historical interpreters convey seasonal stories, including the English colonists’ first Christmas at sea in December 1606, and the Virginia Indian hospitality shown to Captain John Smith’s trading party in 1608 during a winter storm.

At James Fort, visitors can see wattle-and-daub buildings decorated with greenery and demonstrations of fancy cooking. Paspahegh Town interpreters will demonstrate typical winter activities, including food preservation and hunting techniques.