The Historic Daniel Boone Home

A bayberry candle burned to the socket, puts luck in the home, food in the larder, and gold in the pocket... The days were short, the nights were long. Mid-December passed by, heralding the shortest day of the year, December 21st. Also known as the Winter Solstice, that day marked the turning point as the days would gradually grow longer. However, the nights would remain dark and long for some time. It was the time of year when one of the pioneer’s commodities became even that much more valuable; the humble candle. We take for granted the ease in which we can summon light into existence. A mere flick of the switch and the darkness is banished away. Light, like many other aspects of their lives, was hard fought for and did not come cheaply or easily. If the family was wealthy, they could afford candles made of beeswax. Most, however, relied on handmade candles of tallow, or animal fat. These candles were labor intensive to make, were smoky, smelled, and did not enjoy a long burning time. But they served their owners well enough, although the thought of nicer, cleaner candles must have surely been on their mind. A true treasure, and one saved for the season of Christmastide, was the Bayberry Candle. Originally made by the colonists on the New England Coast, these candles were made from rendering the berries from the Bayberry shrub, a plant common along the shore. They were at once a considerable improvement over the tallow candles, but were even more labor intensive to make as it typically took several of Bayberries to produce enough wax for dipping candles. Thus, these well scented and clean burning candles were saved for special occasions. Tradition holds that if you are given a bayberry candle by a friend, you should burn it to the nub on Christmas Eve or New Year’s Eve and good luck will visit you in the new year. You can still buy true Bayberry Candles today online and at historic sites and museums such as the Nantucket Historical Association in Massachusetts! Happy Christmas from all of us, and may you find good luck in the new year!

As 2020 comes to an end, #SCCMOParks is preparing for the new year... We just can’t wait for you to learn and play with us again in 2021! Events scheduled from ...January through April are waiting to be discovered in the new Winter/Spring 2021 Parks Activity Guide. Don’t miss Date Night in the Park, Power Pumpers, Archery Lessons, woodworking with hand tools, and so many more fun outdoor events. For details, check out the digital guide at https://bit.ly/2021SpringParkActivityGuide. See more

Since you can’t come to us this year for Christmas Candlelight Walks at The Historic Daniel Boone Home due to the pandemic, discover Christmas Traditions of th...e Past every Friday in December from the comfort of your own home through St. Charles County Parks virtual programming. These heartwarming stories are guaranteed to lift your holiday spirits as our award-winning interpretive staff and volunteers take you back in time to reminisce about Christmas traditions of the 1800s. This must see experience features Fezziwig’s Party scene from A Christmas Carol presented by Anne Williams, St. Charles County Parks Outstanding Volunteers and renowned storyteller. Follow us on Facebook to experience additional stories of past traditions and memories of our Christmas Candlelight Walks over the years. Until we can see you again in person...stay safe and happy holidays from all your friends at #SCCMOParks . See more

Discover Christmas traditions of the past with #SCCMOParks! Christmas shopping looked different 200 years ago, but that is when the spirit of gift giving starte...d to became increasingly popular. Join Shawn Conley, Robert Braun, and Andrew Braun, volunteer interpreters at The Historic Daniel Boone Home, as we experience Christmas Shopping without all the hustle and bustle on the Missouri frontier. Then follow us on Facebook to experience these festive virtual program videos throughout the month of December. Until we can see you again in person...stay safe and happy holidays . See more

Theft can happen anytime and anywhere... when visiting #SCCMOParks, keep your vehicles locked and valuables at home. And if you see any suspicious activity in t...he parks, call the St. Charles County Police Department at 636-949-3000. A friendly reminder from your friends at St. Charles County Parks. See more