On June 12, New York State Parks, Recreation, and Historic Preservation proudly hosted their Majesties King Willem-Alexander and Queen Máxima of the Netherlands; Minister of Foreign Trade Liesje Schreinemacher; Ambassador of the Kingdom of the Netherlands to the US Birgitta Tazelaar; Consul General of the Netherlands in New York Ahmed Dadou; and Cultural Attaché Monique Ruhe at Schuyler Mansion State Historic Site. The group visited as part of their U.S. tour celebrating cultural ties and reinforcing economic opportunities, and Lieutenant Governor Antonio Delgado helped us welcome them.
Their Majesties King Willem-Alexander and Queen Máxima and New York Lt. Gov. Antonio Delgado are welcomed to Schuyler Mansion by Historic Site Manager Heidi Hill and Parks Commissioner Pro Tempore Randy Simons. Photo by Mike Groll/Office of Governor Kathy Hochul.
As part of their visit to New York, their Royal Majesties visited with next-generation environmentalists to engage in conversations about the impacts of climate change and positive actions that could be taken, both here and in the Netherlands, to foster climate resiliency in communities.
In settlements along the Hudson River Valley and in Albany on the hill where the New York State Capitol sits today, enslaved and free African descendants once gathered with family and friends to celebrate Pinkster. During the holiday, the Dutch attended religious services but also gathered socially to play games and eat holiday foods. Enslaved Africans had leave to travel and gather during the festivities, which was not allowed during most of the year.
Left: Pinkster event signage outside of Schuyler Mansion State Historic Site. Right: Pinkster coverage from the Albany Morning Express, 1880.
Over the past few decades, the Pinkster celebration has enjoyed a resurgence in New York State. And in recent years, historic sites in New York State Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation’s care have served as venues to carry on the deeply rooted cultural tradition.
A History of Pinkster
Settlers in New Netherland, a 17th century Dutch colonial province on the east coast, practiced their religious observance of Pentecost (Pinksteren in Dutch) or Whitsunday in the Americas. Pentecost signifies the Holy Spirit being sent to the disciples, roughly fifty days after the resurrection, as described in the New Testament of the Christian bible.
In 1803, a published account of Pinkster in the Albany Centinel newspaper described the scene: “readiness, on Monday morning, blacks and a certain class of whites, together with countries and colours, begin to assemble on Pinkster from every part of the city and from the adjacent country miles around, forming in the whole a motley group of thousands…”
Crailo was once a fortified home belonging to Hendrick van Rensselaer, a member of a wealthy Dutch family involved in settling the Upper Hudson Valley during the mid-1600s. For the van Rensselaers and other Dutch colonists, holidays on the Hudson began with the Feast of St. Nicholas on December 6th. According to the legend, the Dutch St. Nicholas, known as Sinterklaas visited homes and filled good children’s shoes with treats and gifts. In 1675, Crailo’s owner, Maria van Rensselaer, purchased suntterclaesgoet, or “Sinterklaas goodies,” (possibly a special type of cookie) in Albany, in what might be the earliest reference to Sinterklass in New Netherland and New York.
St. Nicholas Day began the holiday season in Colonial New York, and Epiphany, commonly known as Twelfth Night, marked the end of the Christmas season. In Western Christianity, the Feast of the Epiphany commemorates the arrival of the Magi, or Three Kings, to Bethlehem. This was traditionally celebrated on January 6th, the 13th day and the ‘twelfth night’ after Christmas.
Liaisons Plaisantes plays in one of Schuyler Mansion’s parlors.
In the 17th and 18th centuries, Dutch and English residents of Albany and the Upper Hudson Valley celebrated Twelfth Night with both religious services and high-spirited entertainment. While there are no primary sources that describe exactly how the Schuyler family celebrated the holiday at Schuyler Mansion in Albany, letters and journals do mention popular customs such as calling on friends, throwing parties, and hosting elaborate meals. Alongside this, were the traditions of wassailers, or carolers parading through the streets and the Twelfth Night cake – an elaborate confection with a bean baked inside. The person who found the bean in their cake slice was crowned “King” for the evening and led the evening’s toasts!
Twelfth Night cake ready to be cut
Each January, Schuyler Mansion and Crailo recreate some of these colonial era traditions with their own 17th and 18th century-inspired Twelfth Night celebrations. Schuyler Mansion’s “Salutations of the Season!” features live musical performances, reenactors in 18th century clothing, refreshments, and an evening of cheer. While across the Hudson at Crailo, Dutch colonial reenactors prepare traditional Dutch foods over the open hearth, play historic games, and celebrate “Twelfth Night” in true 17th century style.
Cooking over the hearth in Crailo State Historic Site
Dutch Twelfth Night Fare
Schuyler Mansion’s “Salutations of the Season!” and Crailo’s “Twelfth Night” will be held January 5, 2019 from 4:00 PM to 7:00 PM. These evening programs are a unique opportunity to celebrate the end of the holiday season in historic fashion. The celebrations also represent the rich and storied history of New York’s upper Hudson Valley – settled by the Dutch, taken by the English, and then a hotbed of military and political activity in the era of the American Revolution.
“Salutations of the Season!” and “Twelfth Night” single-site Admission: $6.00 Adults / $5.00 Seniors & Students / $1.00 Children (12 and under) / $4.00 Friends Members. Combination Tickets for Admission to both Crailo and Schuyler Mansion: $8.00 Adults / $7.00 Seniors & Students / $2.00 Kids / $6.00 Friends members. For further information about this or other programs at Crailo and Schuyler Mansion State Historic Sites, please visit www.parks.ny.gov, find us on Facebook, or call us! Crailo: (518) 463-8738 / Schuyler Mansion: (518) 434-0834.
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