What was Christmas like for your great-great grandparents?

Visit the Schumacher Homestead from 2-7 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 7, for a Christmas Open House to explore how the holidays were different for Swiss Settlers in the mid-1800s and discover what traditions they passed along to their descendants.

Visit the homestead at 8350 Bixel Road, where the Swiss Community Historical Society will host live music, tours of the farmhouse, demonstrations in the workshop, and activities for children. There will also be refreshments in the house and summer kitchen.

How did the Swiss settlers travel from place to place? The refurbished Risser sleigh will be displayed on the front porch.

How did they get work done during the short winter days? See the farmhouse lit by candles and firelight beginning at dusk.

How did they cook without electricity? Watch hearth baking of gingerbread in the main kitchen.

Live music and events in the living room will include:
2 p.m. Bluffton youth strings
3 p.m. Wendy Chappell-Dick 
4 p.m. Rainbow Dulcimers 
5 p.m. children's Storytime in the living room

A Christmas shop will be set up in a second-floor bedroom. For children, there will be candle-making in the flagstone cellar. Demonstrations of period woodworking tools will be given in the workshop, weather permitting.