Folk Tales, Sparkling Pine Forests and Nordic Traditions Will Delight the Senses at Chatsworth This Christmas
Deep Midwinter: A Nordic Christmas at Chatsworth
5 November 2022 to 8 January 2023
The Norse god of mischief, enchanting folk tales and the heady scent of pine forests evoke the magical atmosphere of a Nordic winter this Christmas at Chatsworth. Deep Midwinter: A Nordic Christmas at Chatsworth takes inspiration from Sweden, Denmark, Finland, Iceland and Norway where long winters are embraced with traditions to celebrate light and the beauty of nature.
The Devonshire family has a long history of celebrating Nordic culture and its connection to wilderness and nature, with pieces in the Devonshire Collections that have inspired this Christmas season being woven into the displays.
Visitors to Chatsworth will be taken on a journey into the forests and folklore of the Nordic region. A processions of radiant candlelight elicit the Swedish festival of light that brightens the dark days of midwinter each December.
Giant Finnish Christmas Himmeli decorations line to rooms with almost 50,000 paper straws used to create this striking installation. These delicate geometric structures have been popular in Nordic countries for centuries, pre-dating the tradition of the Christmas tree. Traditionally, Himmelis hung above dining tables to ensure a good crop for the coming year.
A delectable handmade gingerbread house sits proudly on the piano in the Ante Library. Building a gingerbread house is a time honoured Christmas tradition for many Nordic families and the aroma of ginger and spices will add to the immersive experience.
Norse god Loki will delight and surprise with stories, music and magic tricks, marking a welcome return to character-led performance this Christmas after a three-year hiatus due to Covid-19. Full of mischief, Loki will have a few tricks up his sleeve in the Great Dining Room where the richly dressed table is encircled by woodland, bringing to life the Norwegian fairytale, The White Bear.
The fully immersive experience will be drawn on the scent and sounds of the natural environment enchanting all who walk through the Sculpture Gallery’s ancient pine forest with dappled winter light dancing through the canopy of leaves above.
A monumental wall of ice laced with intricate carvings of oak trees and woodland creatures will greet visitors as they enter the Oak Room. A giant woodcut bauble hangs from the Oak Stairs ceiling lantern hinting at The Little Fir Tree, the Hans Christian Andersen tale about a fir tree so anxious to grow up and experience greater things that he cannot appreciate living in the moment.
Among the items from the Devonshire Collections to inspire the Chatsworth Nordic Christmas are the Botanical illustrations of wild native Danish plants in Flora Danica, bought by the 11th Duke of Devonshire (1920-2004) and a delicate and extremely rare strand of raw silver, collected by the 6th Duke (1790-1858) originating from Ilsoe mine, Konsberg in Norway.
Clothing worn by the 11th Duke of Devonshire on his treks and expeditions into the wild - including his walking boots, rucksack, and gloves - also bring the story back to the Devonshire family’s connection to wilderness and nature.
The evocative fairytales of Hans Christian Anderson are woven into the experience with postcards to collect featuring stories such as The Snowdrop and The Teapot. Younger visitors will have the opportunity to follow a trail from the house out to the garden in the guise of Loki, following the clues to explore the Nordic-inspired lights.
The Christmas experience continues outside with an illuminated walk around the garden while visitors can soak up the festive atmosphere at the Chatsworth Christmas Market from 5 November to 23 November. Chatsworth’s shops in the Orangery and the Stables will offer a selection of Nordic gifts, decorations and homeware for those inspired by Christmas in the house.
Also making a welcome return to the house will be the wish trees to enable visitors to make a special Christmas wish to hang on a tree before they leave.
Tickets are priced at £29.50 for adults, £18 for children, and £78 for a family (two adults and up to three children), and include access to the house, garden and farmyard, as well as car parking and access to the Christmas market between 5-23 November. To book tickets click here.
For anyone wanting to only visit the Christmas market, a Christmas market car park ticket must be booked in advance via the website.
Where To Stay
Why not keep the festive magic alight with a one or two night cosy retreat on the Chatsworth Estate in one of our Hotels or Inns on our Christmas at Chatsworth Package. Including accommodation, a warming winter meal and a heart breakfast. As well as tickets to experience Chatsworth House & Garden dressed in this years Christmas theme, plus car parking. Find out more here.
