Fairy-tales... Folkloric stories, originals by the brothers Grimm and Hans Christian Andersen, have been circulating for centuries and continue to resound with newer generations in diverse renditions. Have you been watching  Once Upon A Time, Sunday nights on ABC? This is our new favorite show on TV! Amid the exhausted flurry of reality programs, this classic good versus evil breathes freshness through clever fictional writing. A modern twist appealing to a new audience. What is it about the holidays stirring magic, enhancing these fables? The bond between Christmas and fairy-tales is quite strong... To gain more insight, we turned off the flat screen and headed to Tarrytown, New York, enjoying an evening of candlelight and classic visual storytelling...

One of America’s finest Gothic Revival mansions, Lyndhurst Castle, overlooks the Hudson River sitting atop a hill of sweeping lawns and outstanding landscape.We visited to enjoy a unique annual opportunity beholding the castle emblazoned in its full fairy-tale splendor. Each lavishly decorated room showcases a particular tale, from Goldilocks and the Three Bears to Alice in Wonderland. What would Alice enjoy if they celebrated a holiday tea party in this romantic castle? We feasted our eyes on the wonderful pageantry created by display designer, Robert A. Pesce, and were awestruck as we strolled down the halls, peeking into private rooms for a closer look...

These are just a sampling of the colorful magistracy we enjoyed. Many other dioramas include The Wizard of Oz, Beauty and the Beast, and as visitors ascend the main staircase, we encounter a huge beanstalk emerging from the center of which I'm sure Jack would approve! We were so bewitched, I eagerly sought the published book, A Fairy-Tale Christmas by Karen Andersen to add to our home library. Unfortunately, the castle's gift shop did not carry it, so a simple online quest accomplished the task with ease once we returned to our own "cottage". Not only are the original fables beautifully written, easy for a storyteller, but the author also includes pleasing photographs chronicling the displays accompanied by spirited recipes to flavor the chapters, like Snow White's Apple Turnovers.

This weekend is the last of the evening castle tours. If you can steal a bit of time from holiday partying, it is well worth the visit as an inspiring respite. The shimmering opulent color and visual textures combined with the clever translations appeal to children and adults alike... Once upon a time.
Wishing everyone a very Happy & Healthy Holiday! xoxo-Sonya